The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-31
Industrial Conference Working
to Prevent Conflicts Be
tween Labor and Capital
BOARD WILL HAVE
ARBITRATION POWER
No Decision Will Be Final Until
It Has Been Fully Discussed
BY Both Parties

Washington, Dec. 2S.-Tentative
recommendations for the establish
ment of machinery to prevent or re-
tard labor conflicts in private industry
we're announced today by the presi-
dents industrial conference with a
view to obtaining constructive criti-
cism before a. final plan is adopted.
The plan as outlined now contem-
plates the creation Of a national indus
trial tribunal and regional boards Of
inquiry and adjustment, which would
! move to the settlement Of disputes
before there was any stoppage Of pro-
duction Decisions would have the
full force and effect Of trade agree
ment between the parties to the dis
pute.
Remarking that some public utili-
ties, such as railroads, are essential to
the very existence of the people,: the
conferences tentative statement ex-
pressed the opinion that the Inter
ruption in such essential public utiii~
ties is intolerable," but the conference
states that further consideration is
required Of the problem whether some
method can be arrived at that will
avert all danger of interruption to ser
vice
Government employees, the third
class into which the wage earning
public are divided, should have: the
right to associate for mutual protec-
tion, the statement declared. but mo
interference sby any group with the
continuous operation Of government
functions through concerted cessation
Of work Or threats thereof can be. per-
mitted."
When the conference reconvenes
January II, public hearings will be
held -tosebtain.exper advice as to the
drafting Of the final recommendations
in the light Of such criticism Of the
tentative report as may be received.
While stating that at this time it
was believed more essential to devise
machinery for averting conflicts than
to undertake discussion of the
causes Of unrest the conference indi-
Gated clearly the general principles on
which it has based its recommends
TONS
"Our modern industrial organiza-
ton" the tentative report said, "if 1t
! is not to become a failure, must yield
to the individual a. larger satisfaction
with life. *'s Not only must the
theory that labor is a. commodity be
abandoned, but the concept OF leader
ship must be substituted for that OF
mastership. Human fellowship in
industry must either be an empty
phrase or living fact.
pending the growth Of better rela-
tionships employers and employees,
the practical approach to the problem
is to devise method Of preventing or
retarding conflicts tv providing ma
chinery for the adjustment Of differ
ences To be successful such tribunals
must be so organized as to operate
promptly as we'll as impartialy.
The plain fact is that the public has
long been uneasy about the power OF
great employers. it is becoming un-
easy about the power Of great labor
organizations The community must
be assured against domination by eth
er.
1.-THE plan which follows does. not
propose to do away with the ultimate
right to strike, to discharge, or to
maintain the closed or the open shop. "
The national industrial tribunal,
suggested by the conference, would
/ consist Of nine members appointed by
the president, three each representing
the employers, employees and the pub
lie The tribunal would, in general,
be a board Of appeal. whose decisions
must be unanimous. but provision was
made for public majority and minor
ity reports in cases where no agree
ment was possible.
Industrial regions. probably II In
number conforming to the federal re-
serve system. would be outlined and a
regional chairman appointed for each
! by the president. Vice chairmen would
be named by the tribunal if the work
in any region required 1t.
Panels Of employers and employees
! for each region would be prepared by
the secretary of commerce and the
secretary of labor. respectively. after
conferences with the employers and
workers Of that region. Each panel,
approved by the president, would be
classified by industries among the en-
ployers and by industries, with sub
! classification into crafts. among the
employees Lots would be cast to de-
terrnire the order of names in each
pancl.
When dispute arose in any region,
the chairman would request each side
! to submit it to a regional board Of ad-
justment. consisting Of the chairman
/ one representative chosen by each
side. and two unchallenged members
of each panel. APP, ntment Of repre-
sentatives of both sides to any dispute
would constitute an agreement to con-
! tinue the status that existed when the
trouble arose. Decisions Of such re-
gional boards would have to be unani-
nous or the question would be re-
! ferred by unanimous vote to an UNI