New-York tribune., 1919-08-30
Corrers Uses Influence
TO Induce Men to De-
',, Their Threatened
y 'I<-Oui for Present
President Would
Boost Production
Said To BE Back of
Lanes Plan to Call
a General Conference;
Wage Issue Up Later
NeM York Tribune
Wdshtr 0toft Bvrec:

WASHINGTON. Aug. u0.--As q result
Of a conference held this afternoon be-
tween President Samuel Gompers of
the American Federation of Labor, the
executive committee of the Iron and
Steel Workers and President Wilson
the threa,ened strike Of steel workers
will be postponed for q short time at
least. Neither MIR. Gompers nor any
member of the committee would even
intimate what was said or done at the
conference, but members of the COM
mittee stated afterward that the init
nation OF yesterday tnau decisive &C.
ton was imminent in answer to the
utimatum of the United States Steel
Corporation regarding conference
would not be realized at once
1t is understood that John Fitzpat-
rick, D. j. Davis, Ed J. Evans, William
Harmon and William Foster. represent
ing the steel men. virtually have made
Mr. Gompers a sort of super chairman
Of their committee and are relying i'm
plicity on MS counsel. 1t is conject-
ured that Mr.. Gompers has counselled
patience and deliberation in view of
the general labor and industrial crisis,
with the thought that something may
shortly be done that will aim at deal
ing comprehensively with the whole in
trcate problem Of wages and the cost
Of living.
Only Two Ways
President Wilson. it was learned to-
day, Is fully convinced that something
more fundamental than the prosecuting
Of profiteors and the desultory trim
ming of prices must be done if the
nigh cost Of living is to be reduced in
rational way, and it is likely that he
disclosed to the steel men what he has
in mind
he Is reported to be convinced that
there are only two ways to lower the
cost OF living One is to reduce the
volume of the circulating media and
tne other is TO increase the volume of
Production.
So long as capital and labor are at
outs and the air is full of reports of
strikes or impending strikes and there
is general industrial dislocation there
no prospect Of increasing production.
SO 1t Is represented that the President
Is convinced that the first step toward
increasing production is to tranquillize
the labor situation. 1t is understood
mat Secreta Lanes statement of yes
'erday advocating the calling of a Joint
conference Of capital and labor for the
purpose of getting together on sort
OF new constitution of the relations of
labor and capital was put out with the
approval of the President as means
u afousing public interest and pre-
paflng for the early issuance of call
'or such conference.
Cabinet Considers It
The Cabinet already has given con-
slderatlon to the idea and the matter
mas oeen left 20 the council of national
uelehcc. which Is merely a committee
OF the Cabinet. for final onside rat ton.
II IS understood that the council will
meet next week. and seek TO lay down
the objects to be attained by the con-
terence and the basis Of representa-
non and that soon thereafter the
lresident VIII issue d call for such
conference, emphasizing in that con-
nectlon the plea he has already made
lor truce in labor capita! controver-
Ses pending the effort TO apply deep
gong remedies
Members of the committee ridiculed
To-Day the statement that Ii steel cor
fOA@'l'N survey nau ohOWH tndt only
III per cent of the men were in organi-
zations. They limited that fully half
o. the 100000 steel workers are al
ready in the unions and that the daily
adcltlons mount into the hundreds
=, Before seeing the President to-day
me steel workers committee sent the
Following telegram to James Mulho!-
'and, secretary of Iron and Steel Work
efs Council, at Gary, Ind:
our telegram received, stating that
steel workers are being Disseminated
against ard discharged Wholesale for
purpose Of forcing strike. The steel
companies are doing the same in many
other places. But in spite Of this per-
secutlon try TO hold men at work un-
th al amicable means Of settlement
nave been exhausted.
The executive council Of the Amer
icaA Federation of Labor is negotiating.
10y conference with President Wilson
Today. The steel companies show by
Welr actions a determination TO force
'ae issue before the President has mad
.Hahce to pass on merits Of contro-
versy We are doing all possible to
secure justice for the men and to pre-
vent the national disaster of general
stslke in the steel industry. Do not
Ss'FiKe under any circumstances until
.ne strike date has been set by your
committee