New-York tribune., 1919-06-12
Politics and Labor
Will Not Mix, Says
Commission Report
Industrial ConferenceB Board,
Giving Survey of Europe,
Deprec Gates S Legislative
Interference in Disputes

Solution Of the worldwide labor un-
rest problem rests largely upon the
separation OF political and industrial
issues, according to q statement issued
yesterday by the European commits
sion of the National Industrial Con-
ference Board after a meeting at the
Hotel Astor. The full report of the
commission, which has just returned
from Europe, will be issued later. The
statement yesterday was given out by
Charles ". Asbury, chairman of the
commission, ard contains some gen
eral conclusions, based upon the com
nisslon's visit to France, England and
taly.
The assumption ttat the present re-
iations between capital and labor can
be reorganizcd by legislation is erron-
eous, according to the statement, and
the studies of the commission in Eu-
rope show that "legi islative enactments
have net only not quieted discontent
but have really aggravated it by in
ducing q habit Of mind whcn leans
on the hone of new aids outside of in
Gustrial etficicncy.'
in England says the statement, the
determination of the labor element to
bring about radical changes is strong
er than in France or Italy. The radi
Gals and the more conservative type OF
union leaders are engaged in a con-
est for the leadership OF the labor
organizations. In addition to this
struggle within p.- ranks of the
unions here is a conflict between la
Dor i.ad c"pita in general over higher
and ~ Cont~O1 Cf i,,rr
Tie naticna izaton and sociaiistic CON
troll of all industri..: undertakings is
the object at which the chief English
labor leaders are aiming, says the
statement
The British government favors the
inclusion of all workers in the unions,
declaring it is advantageous to deal
with representative body. Employ
ers, on the other hand, allege that the
government, from political motives,
yields to the demands Of organized
labor at the expense of the employers.
The French government, it is set
forth in the statement, also has set the
machinery Of politics in motion in be-
half of labor issues. The passage Of
the eieht-hour law in France, says the
statement, was political expediency,
and the employers issued a printed
protest against it, although they we're
represented as accepting the wisdom of
shorter working day. The protest
pointed out that shorter working day
would draw workers to the factories
from the farms and so cripple agri
culture.
France has no unemployment prob
lem, and the ma jorty Of workers arc
orderly and do not belong to labor
unions. While speculative socialism
not expected to make headway in
France, says the statement.
In Italy the unemployment question
is growing because of the governments
unemployment donations. which arc
declared to encourage idleness. The
recovery Of industry in Italy is being
held up by lack of coal and raw mate
cause credit is not available.
Besides Mr. Asbury, the commission
includes S. Pemberton Hutchinson,
president of the Westmoreland Coal
Company; l.. Laurence Laughlin, eco
nomc adviser of the National Indus
trial Conference Board; Oliver S. Ly-
ford, vice president Of the Santa Clara
Lumber Company; Loyal A. Osborne
vice president Of the Westinghouse
Electric and Manufacturing Company,
and William H. Van Dervoort, presi-
dent of the Root and Van Dervoort
Engineering Company.