Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-21
TO SEND PERSONAL
ENJOYS TO COAST
President Appoints Special Com
mission of Inquiry Into
Labor Troubles.
ANXIOUS TO LEARN TRUTH
Labor Leaders, Employers, 1. w.
w. Members and State Cover
no-s Will Be Interviewed.
ANXIOUS TO LEARN TRUTH
tBy Associated Press. F,

WASHINGTON, September oo.-Labor
troubles on the Pacific Coast and the
Western Mountain states will be in
vestisated by special commission,
headed by Secretary Wilson, appointed
to-day by President Wilson to repre
sent him personally.
The commission will leave soon, and
probably Will spend several weeks in
the West comforting with labor lead
crs, employers. Industrial Workers OF
the World agents, State Governors and
others who can shed light on past
disagreements or exert influence for
future Industrial harmony
The President. in his announcement,
said he is anxious to learn the truth
of charges of injustice made by en-
ployers and labor men against each
other and to work out some fair basis
for avoiding the interference of labor
disputes with industry during the war.
The present strikes in Pacific Coast
shipbuildnG plants. which the Fed
eral Shipping Board is trying to settle
to avoid further delay in its shin
building program. is only one phase Of
the situation to be investigated 1t is
understood special attention will be
given to charges of American Fedora
tion of Labor officials that employers
in Arizona have encouraged and even
financed Industrial Workers OF the
World activities for the sake Of dis
crediting the labor movement among
miners and other employees. Recent
deportations Of workers also will be
the subject OF inquiry.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
ISSUED BY PRESIDENT
The official statement. which is in
the form of memorandum for the
Secretary OF Labor. reads:
II am very much interested in the
labor situation in the mountain region
and on the Pacific Coast. 1 have lis
tened with attention and concern to
the numerous charges of misconduct
and injustice that representatives both
OF employers and of employees have
made against each other am, not
so much concerned. however with the
manner in which they have treated
each other In the past. as 7 am de-
sirous OF seeing some kind of wofk-
ing arrangement arrived at for the
future, particularly during the period
of the war, on basis that will be
fair to all parties concerned. To as
sist in the accomplishment OF tina,
purpose I have decided to appoint a
commission to visit the localities where
disa greements have been most frequent
my personal representatives. Tho
commission will consist of William b.
Wilson. Secretary of Labor; Colonel j.
l.. SpanGler, OF Pennsylvania; Werner
u. Reed. of Colorado; John II. Walker,
of Illinois. and e. r. Marsh. of Wash
ington. Felix Frankfurter. OF New
York. will act as secretary OF the
commission.
TO SEEK REAL CAUSE
FOR ANY Discomfort
1T will be the duty of the commits
sion to visit in each instance the Gov
ernor Of each State. advising him that
they are there as the personal repre-
sentatives of the President with a
view to lending sympathetic counseI
and aid to the State government in
the development of better under
standing between laborers and en-
ployers. and also themselves to deal
with employers and employees in a
conciliatory spirit, seek to compose
differences and allay mIsunderstand-
ngs. and in any way that may DO
open TO them TO show the active in
terest of the national government in
further arrangements just to both
sides. Wherever it is deemed ao-
visabe, conferences of employers and
employees should be called with tho
purpose of working out mutual un-
derstanding between them which will
insure the continued operation OF the
industry on conditions acceptable to
both sides The commission also
should endeavor to learn the rea,
causes for any discomfort which may
exist on either side. not by the formal
process of public hearings, but by get
ting into touch with workmen and
employers by the more informal
process OF personal conversation. II
would be pleased to have the COM
mission report to me from time to time
such information as may require i'm
mediate attention.
tSigned) WOODROW WILSON"