Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-02-26
Aim Is That Agreement May
Be Reached Which viii
Govern Activities of Both
During War,
SETTLE DIFFERENCES
WHEN THEY COME UP
Secretary Wilson Favors Writ
ing Into Contracts Terms
Which Have First Been
Approved by Both Sides,
rev MORNING JouHs,L SPECIAL LEASED w,ssl


Washington, Feb. 25.-Meeting at
the call of the government, represent
atives of capital and labor began con-
ferences here today to reach an ar.
rangement designed to prevent
strikes and to assure maximum pro-
duction during the war of materials
necessary to maintain the American
armies in France.
Each side is represented by five
men who will choose two more to rep
resent the general pubic The rep-
resentatives of capital were named By
the national industrial conference
board and those of labor by the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
At the first meeting today the COM
mittee organized and heard Secretary
Wilson outline the purposes of the
conferences The conferees will meet
daily hereafter and probably for sew
eral weeks.
Shape National Policy.
On the basis of an agreement to be
reached the government will lay down
national labor policy for the dura
ton of the war and will, if necessary
to enforce ii, seek legislation giving
proper authority. Officials generally,
however. believe that Orc capital
Aid labor are brought into an agree
hent its provisions will be kept
without the necessity OF using legal
powers.
No sort of an agreement even If u
we're backed by legal authority, can
prevent entirely labor unrest and
some strikes, in the opinion of Sec
retary Wilson. Local strikes he said
today, would continue whatever might
he the attitude of labor leaders.
Bind by Contract.
A method even better than legisla-
ton, Secretary Wilson said, would be
to write the terms of the agreement
when made into all contracts let by
the government, making it binding on
both sides.
Secretary Wilson believes that no
differences now existing between en-
ployes and employers are so wide that
the conferences cannot settle them.
On the subject of limiting production
American unions generally. he said
are against limitation of output and
the practice exists only locally. The
low rate of production in shlpyards,
the secretary blamed on the great
amount of labor dilution. AS soon as
the newer men become more skilled,
he said, the rate will increase.
Open Shop Problem.
One problem expected to be hard
to solve is that of the open or closed
shop. Although both sides have agreed
in a general way that the existing
status shall not be changed, that
closed shops are to remain closed ana
open shops to continue open. there
are many practical difficulties in the
way. For instance plant not en-
gagged in war work may be called on
for large number of workmen to fill
vacancies in plants producing mun'-
tions. If the plant has the closed
shop 1t may be hard to fill the places
Of the men taken without taking on
non-union men or perhaps, as the war
continues, even women. Some pro-
vision, It is recognized, must be made
to care for situation of that kind.
Some officials believe it may be
necessary to establish standard wages
in districts to prevent the various in
dustries engaged in war work iror1
bidding against each other for men.
Employers not engaged on govern
ment contracts can be controlled in
this respect by the governments con .
troll over raw materials and transpor-
tation.
Two Million Workers.
The conferees represent some 10, :
900 manufacturing plants working on
government contracts and more than
100000 union workers Non union
labor has no representation and
neither have the railroad brother
hoods. Any agreement reached will
apply to unorganized labor, but not to
the railroad employees, whose claims
are to be dealt with separately
The most important thing the con-
ferences can accomplish, Secretary
Wilson said today, is to change the
attitude of both capital and labor to.
wards the rights of the public.
Capital" he said, feels that 1t has
the right to hire and discharge men
as it pleases and labor has felt that it
has an equal right to cease work with
or without cause. Both in the exef-
else Of these rights have disturbed
society because society is dependent
on production.
'Such fixed opinions on both sides
are as apt to cause clashes as are
Actual differences Having to do with
tangible things"