Evening journal., 1918-02-20

sued by federated labor from Wash
ington on February II, 1918.
On the other side there is equal!
gratifying evidence of widening per
ception, in places Of authority, Of th,
need Of a better coordination of thl
agencies intermediate between tn,
workingman and the Government in thl
service of which he is to work Will,
the war goes on. Self-respect and prop
er independence shine in the Fedora
tlOn Councils statement OF tho rights Of
those for whom IL speaks. "Willng CO.
operation comes not only from dOins
Justice but from receiving justice. Tit
worker is a human being" continue.
the executive council, whose life ha.
value and dignity 10 him. He is willing
to sacrifice for an ideal, but not for The
selfish gain OF another Justice beget:
peace. Consideration begets co-opera-
tion. These conditions are essential tC
war production. Production is neces
sary to win the war"
The labor which is to win the wal
could have no stronger assurance Oi
protection against sacrifice, in the name
Of patriotism but for the sake Of sell
fish private profit. than is contained in
the Presidents remarks on this subject
to Mr.. Hutcheson Of the Carpenters anc
JOlners. ut is the Governments duty
wrote Mr.. Wilson on Sunday night, "tC
see TO IL that there is no lawless and
constituencies profteering and that
duty the Government has accepted anC
will perform 70 the maintenance OF
cooperation this promise is as essen
tial as it is morally just.
The exact form in which shall be
established a central organ Of war labor
administration to prevent duplication
or conflict OF effort and at the same
time TO afford the tribunal needed for
the adjustment of such differences as
have arisen in the shipbuilding prob
lem, is a question now of supreme i'm
portance to the country. The attitude OF
fairness to labor which the President
consistently maintains. and the spirit OF
loyalty to the flag which labor is mani
Testing in every quarter, combine to
Justify the hope that the right machn-
cry will now be found.
In the line of that consideration which
Is to lead to cooperation we note with
interest the announcement of a con
ference next Monday in the office Of the
Secretary Of Labor between five repre-
sentatives Of the employers, selected
by the National Industrial Conference
Board, and representatives Of the
labor unions, chosen by the American
Federation OF Labor. The stated pur-
pose of the conference is the formula
tion of a national programme to gov
ern the relations between labor and
capital during the war. The conferees
will discuss such questions as wage
determination the dilution of labor;
the method of adjusting disputes; the
right OF wOrkmen in Government en-
ploy TO organize; piece work prices
and, we suppose, another question now
in the very front rank of concern TO the
nation, namely. the adequate and salts
factory housing Of the workmen and
their families when summoned from
their own homes TO centres Of Govern
ment activity. The need of provision Of
proper dwellings for the labor thus
temporarily transferred is obvious; no
problem OF the moment surpasses it in
urgency.
A reasonable platform, which The sun
heartily approves. Whether the plan for
war labor control results from the de-
liberations OF this conference Of Febru-
ary 25 or is finally shaped toward an
even more radical and thorough reor-
ganization Of the Department Of Labor
and a more centralized system Of adj
ministration, perfect team work must
be secured in order that the war may
be won-the war for the flag that both
capital and labor must follow side by
side to a common victory.