New-York tribune., 1918-01-30
Plans Conference at Which
Set Of Principles for War
Will Be Formulated
Will Dispose of All
Industrial Questions
Employers and Employees
To Be on Board to
Prevent Strikes

WASHINGTON, jar. 29.--Nirtual re-
organization Of the Department of
Labor has been decided on bv Secra-
tary Wilson as the first move in nlan
to establish a war labor administr.-
tion, which will formulate broad na
tional labor policy fer the duration OF
the war
Inc step was recommended by q spc-
clal labor advisory committee, nam,d
by Secretary Wilson two weeks aco to
assist him in working out a programme,
~ war labor ministration was pro
posed in the Counc; of Nationa. Do
son, who put under Secretary Wilson )
direction all government activities -
!ating to labor problems.
Taking up first the task of BRINGING
capital and labor together for the pur-
pose OF ending strikes. it wns learned
tonight. Secretary Wilson will call on
both sides immediately to form Joint
board to meet in Washington to agree
on general principles to govern their
relations during the war. Each side
VIII be asked to name five representa-
tlVcs. who in turn will select one per-
son each. representing the general pub
lic. making Il board of twelve members.
| he war labor administration will be
centred III the reorganiZcd and en-
larged Labor Department. Secretary
Wilson will be supreme labor adminis-
traitor. and industrial service sections
of other government departments. al
though they will continue their ac-
tvities, will be centralized under his
control
Seven new labor department bureaus
Will be created The most important Of
these will be an adjustment bureau
which will deal with industrial dis
putcs. The others will be designated:
Conditions Of Labor, Information and
Education. Woman in Industry, Train
ing. Housing and transportation, and
Personnel.
officials who have studied the war
TABOR situat'on expressed the opinion
was in a fair way of solution BY hay
ing employers and employees agree on
the great principles Of their relations
it is hoped to settle all differences that
may arise before they develop into
strikes. Heretofore the policy has
been to take up the situation and at
tempt a settlement after he strikes
were immincn or actually under way.
The labor problem has given the GOV
crnment as much concern as any that
Eas arisen with the war. Strikes have
been more numerous throughout the
country than at any time in the past
ana thcrc has been great amount OF
labor unrest in nearly every industry.
Government departments anxious to
obtain speedy production Of war ma
tcrlals. it is generally admitted have
not helped the situation by allowing
employers engaged on war contracts to
bid against each other for labor Every
department. too. has dealt with it's own
labor problems in its own way, and this
general lack of definite policy, officials
say, has done as much as anything else
to bring about the present situation.
Congress will be asked for an appro-
priation to get the new administration
started. The employment service al
ready has $1,000,000 placed at its dis
posal by The Prcsi lent from his rcn-
cral emergency fund but the other bu-
rcaus will need considerable funds to
carry OF their work.
TO obtain the use f the facilities OF
the industrial service sections Of othcr
departments Secretary Wilson will call
a conference Of the secretaries Of Wa
and the Navy and tie chairman Of the
authority to make the services a pa~t
of the war labor administration.
In it's report to Secretary Wilson out
lining the plan for the new orsaniza-
ton the advisory council, headed by
John Lind, took occasion to suggcs t
that centralized administration Of
war material production would maxi
more effective the work of labor ad-
ministration.
owe should be ncglcctful Of our full
ruty in the case" said the report. "diG
we not point out that perfect admin
istration Of labor matters, in accord
with the plan outlined. would not be
sufficient to meet the emergency which
faces the country. Labor matters do
not stand b. themselves. They are
phases Of production, and no central
lied administra of labor can be
adequate which does not go hand IN
hand with the Capitalization of admin
istration Of production. How this later
centralization is to be accomplished it
is not for your council to consider, but
its judgment is clear that failure 10
secure such Capitalization spells fail
urc to secure a sound situation IN
labor, and failure to prosecute the war
vigorously"
Some officials had hoped that on
any board representing both capital
and labor the government itself would
be represented Labor Department Of
hcials, however, declare that the gov
ernment will be in the closest sort of
touch with these conferences, and that
the same purpose will be served.