New-York tribune., 1918-02-10

agreed not to discriminate against men
because of membership in any union
affiliated with the American Federatio \
OF Labor: Administrators were named
Tor handling disputes. On this agree
ment the men showed readiness 10 pro-
duce oil, and the operators placed their
resources at government disposal, the
report declares.
Details are given Of the methods used
to adjust a strike on the telephone sys-
tenn of the Pacific Coast in November.
Some 5000 men and 5000 girl opera
tors were involved. Recognition of tie
girls newly formed union became the
burning issue. There We're. @Nsnds
or preferential shop. Wages for the
men had not been increased since 1919
They demanded 25 per cent Increase,
the company offered 1919 per cent.
The report says a false issue Of log
atty was raised, particularly agains-
the striking girls, and adds, Here, as
elsewhere, the attempt Of parties on
one side Of an economic controversy
to appropriate patriotism and stigma
TIE the other side with disloyalty only
served to intensity the bitterness o.
the struggle and to weaken the folce
of unity in the country"
The commission took up a task of
educatlon regarding national interest
A settlement was reached on the fol-
lowing basis: The girls locals wee
included in the trade agreement be-
tween the company and the brother
| mood; wage increases were provided
tor, further increase to be negotiated!
by an arbiter; recognition of the girls
union and the enforcement of all fu-
ture grievances was made effective by
the appointment of United States al
| miniStrators
\, The lumber industry Of the Pacific
Northwest, indispensable to the execu-
tion Of the aircraft and shipping pro
grammes, suffered breakdown of sew
eral months last summer, and accord
ing to the report is "stll in state of
seething unrest, wofully short of it's
productivity" The industry employs
about 10000 men.
The strike was broken, and while
"the men went back beaten for the mo-
ment, the conflict was only postponed
The men practised the so-called "strike
on the job" and the mediation commits
sion declares that there is every ex-
pectation that, unless present condi-
tions are changed, a complete strike
will occur in the spring.
The commission describes social con-
ditions as unhealthy, the unlivabe con-
dition of many lumber camps having
|
of employers are credited with COM
mendable understanding of the impli-
cations of operating camps unfit for
men, but old abuses were SO long con-
tinued and widespread that, even after
physical conditions were bettered, a
sense of grievance remained.
The migratory, drifting character OF
the workers is described 80 per cent
of those in the camps being called
'womanless, voteless and jobless." The
work is intermittent, the annual
nary figure of over 600 per cent There
has been af failure to make of these
camps communities.
Dozen States Visited
The Presidents mediation commits
sion was appointed last September by
President Wilson to investigate causes
of labor unrest. The records of the
four men serving with Secretary Will
son follow:
zinc operator and ranch owner. with a
record as a successful conciliator in
miners strikes at Leadville; Colonel J,
l.. Spangler, Of Pennsylvania, retired
coal operator; John H. Walker, presi-
dent of the Illinois Federation of La
Dor. and F. P Marsh, president of the
Washington State Labor Federation.
The commissioners visited dozen
states and went into their work in
great detail, holding public and private
hearings, at which state governors and
other officials, workmen and industrial
leaders told of activities by the In
dustrial Workers of the World and
others which were lrampering the gov
ernments war preparations.
Mr.. Wilson and his conferrees first
visited the Southwest, where the cop
per mines had witnessed many violent
strike scenes, and then swung around
through the Pacific Coast States to
look into the shipbuilding situation.
Later they spent some time in Mime
sofa and other Northwestern states in
vestigating the connections of pacifsts,
prc~Sermans and aliens with the con-
stantly recurring labor disturbances.
Recently the commission has been
active in endeavoring to heal the diff
ferences between the Chicago packers