New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-21
Wilson Names
Board to End
Pacific Strikes
Takes Personal Charge of
United States Media
ton Efforts
Stsr Ccrruprl dcnccl


Wilson to-day took personal charge Of
the strike situation on the Pacific
Coast. which is interfering with prog
ress on government ship construction
and is threatening TO delay the air
craft programme. The creation Of q
commission Of five members. headed by
Secretary of Labor Wilson, was an
nounced by the White House for the
purpose of Immediately investigating
the labor situation In the Pacific Coasp
and Rocky Mountain states.
The new commission, it was stated
will represent the President and will
report directly to him. Its member
ship comprises, besides Secretary Will
son, Colonel J. L. Spangler, Of Penn
sylvanis; Werner z. Reed, of Colorado;
John II. Walker, Of Illinois, and f. P.
Marsh. of Washington. Felix Frank
furter, of New YORK. VINO mas been act
ing as confidential secretary to Secre-
tary of War Baker, will serve as sec
retary of the commission.
Though the strike disturbances in
the Pacific Coast ports are apparently
the immediate stimulus which moved
the President TO create the new labor
commission, il is believed here that he
has had the project in view for some
time. Organized labor has been con-
siderably perturbed at the meagreness
of its Washington representation on
the various war boards.
Gompers's Hand Seen
In consequence for some weeks
strong pressure has been brought 10
bear on the President to appoint la
Dor commission, the personnel of which
should be selected by the American Fed
Grafton. The new commission, though
headed by Secretary of Labor Wilson, ls
nevertheless considered essentially a
federation commission. Ii is believed
here that its membership was suggested
10 the President by Samuel Gompers.
The Presidents statement announc-
ing the creation OF the new commis-
sion, made public IN the form OF
memorandum TO Secretary OF LABOR
Wilson, read:
81 am very much interested in the
abor>situation in the mountain region
and on the Pacific Coast. have
listened with attention and concern TO
the numerous charges OF sconduct
and Injustice that representatives both
of employers and of employees nave
made against each other. | am not so
much concerned, however, with the
manner in which they have treated
each other in the past as am desirous
Of seeing some kind of a working ar
f1N ho
particularly during the period of the
war. on a basis that will be fair TO all
parties concerned.
Names personal Representatives"
"To assist in the accomplishment Of
that purpose | have decided to appoint
a commission TO visit the localities
where disagreements have been most
frequent as my personal representa-
tives.
at will be the duty OF the commits
sion to visit in each instance the Gov
ernor of the state, advising him that
they are there as the personal repre-
sentatives of the President with view
TO lending sympathetic counsel and aid
TO the state government in the develop
ment of better understanding between
laborers and employers, and also them
selves to deal with employers and en-
ployes in a conciliatory spirit, seek TO
compose differences and allay misun-
derstandings and in any way that may
be open TO them TO show the active
interest of the national government ~
furthering arrangements just TO both
sides.
"Wherever it is deemed advisable
conferences of employers and employees
should be called with the purpose of
working out d mutual understanding
between them which Will insure the
continued operation of the industry on
conditions acceptable to both sides. The
commission should also cndeayor TO
learn the real causes for any dlscon-
tent which may exist OIL either side,
not by the formal process OF public
hearings. but by getting IN touch with
workmen and employers by the more
informal process cf personal converse
ton. ] would be pleased TO have the
commission report to me from time to
time such information az may require
immediate attention"
The San Francisco strike situation
remained unchanged to-day. Confer
erces were reported to be continuing
between the shipbuilders' represer. a
tives and the striking workmen. The
situation, however, looks hopeful. it
was stated at the Shipping Boards
headquarters.
Labor and employers interests are
equally represented on the Presidents
commission. Colonel Spangler and Mr..
Reed are business men, and Mr.. Walker
and Mr.. Marsh are presidents, respec-
lively, of the Illinois and Washington
labor federations. Mr.. Frankfurter is
a special assistant of Secretary Baker
and has acted confidentially in num-
ber Of labor situations involving the
War Department.