The labor world., 1919-10-04
There WILL Be SOME PLAIN talk
ATLAb0R C0NFER ERENCE next week
All Shades Of Belief TO Be R epesented and Will Not Mnce
Words in Presenting Them labor Curious to Know II
John D. Rockefeller, IT,, Will Present His Union Plan

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2. - Great
hopes are entertained by employers
and employees who believe in fairness
conference called for October 6 by
President Wilson. The men who will
be present will represent all sorts of
beliefs and no doubt will not mince
words in presenting them.
1t is hoped this is true, for if there
ever was a time for plain speaking
it is now President Wilson is ex-
pected to give some extraordinary ad-
vice to the conference and will urge
its approval
GOmpers Will Lead.
Of course, President Samuel Com
pers will lead the labor delegates to
the conference. No man in our time
or any other period Of history, has
such a command Of the knowledge
necessary to put labor's side before
the world. His courage in every
crisis that has arisen in labor in the
past half century is a matter of his
tory. He knows what to say and
when to say it.
what Judge e. H. Gary has to say
about the relations between employ
ers and employees. After Haunting
the President Of the United States
who had urged him to meet represent
tatives of his employees to avert a
dangerous Industrial dispute, the peo-
pie of the country would like to
know his viewpoint
1t will be most interesting fea-
ture of the conference to hear Gary
and the President debate the right
of labor to organize and bargain COL
lectively with employers. The Pres
ident's position is known, for he has
said, and 1t applies to Mr. Gary:
1T is always dangerous for man
to have the floor entirely to himself.
Therefore we must insist in every in
stance that the parties come into each
others presence and there discuss the
issues between them and not separ-
ately in places where they have no
communication with each other"
What Will ~. d." Say?
Much curiosity is expressed as to
whether John D. Rockefeller, Jr, will
ShIOl lilo pAou VI vi
introduced in Colorado. AS it has
failed and the employees have rebelled
against the company union" it will
be interesting to hear Mr.. Rockefeller
tell what he thinks now.
Labor will present it's plan of bring
ing industrial peace. 1t is probable
that the reconstruction platform
adopted at the Atlantic City conven-
ton, said to be the greatest program
ever prepared to give practical relief
in the present disturbed conditions of
the country, will be submitted for con-
sideration.
The great motive behind the con.
ference is to get leaders of both sides
in industry together where they can
thrash out their grievances and find
way to harmonic them as much as
possible. For no one ever looks for
solution Of the labr prblem except
those who know nothing about it, 1t
never will be solved, but there can be
way found to link employers and
employees closer together on certain
fundamental principles.
Are Still Autocrats.
The great obstacle to this harmony
Of thought along practical lines is the
determination Of certain Of our great
corporations to maintain at all haz-
ards autocracy in industry It is
therefore to be a verbal battle be-
tween those who favor democracy in
industry and those who favor autoc-
racy. How can these two widely sep
arated beliefs be brought nearer each
other? Those who are fighting for
democracy in industry have a simple
program. They want the acceptance
by all industry of the right to organ
ize and to have a voice in fixing wages
and working conditions The indus
trial autocrat maintains he must be
the sole arbiter of the destinies of
those who work. He fixes the wages