Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-10-24
PRESIDENT IN PLEA
TO LABOR FARLEY.
Makes Effort to Halt Bolt at In
duStrial Meet.
LETTER IS READ BY LANE
Wilson Warns Delegates to Conference
Against Disaster-Urges Action to
Insure Industrial Peace During
Reconstruction Period.

fort to prevent the dissolution Of the
national Industrial conference, Chair
man Lane read to the delegates the
letter dictated by President Wilson
from his sick bed and urging the inn
perative necessity for some action by
the conference to insure industrial
peace during the reconstruction period.
The president said the public ex-
pected the conference to stay together
until the way was found 10 the estab-
lishment of surer and heartier CO
operation between all the elements en-
gagged in industry or until it was re-
vealed that the "men who work and
the men who manage American indus
try are so set upon divergent paths
that all efforts of cooperation is
doomed TO failure"
If the nations industrial leaders and
workers are to be without faith in
each other. constantly struggling for
advantage over each other and doing
naught but what is compelled Presi-
dent Wilson said in his letter made
public here, the situation thus created
would be national disaster"
Text of Wilson's Letter.
The presidents letter follows:
ITO the Ladies and Gentlemen Of the
Industrial Conference:
i am advised oy your chairman
that you have come to situation
which appears to threaten the life of
your conference, and because of that
! am presuming to address a word of
very solemn appeal to you as Ameri-
cans. 1t is not for me to assess the
blame for the present condition. do
not speak in spirit of criticism of
any individual or of any group. But
having called this conference, feel
that my temporary indisposition
should not bar the way to frank ex-
preston of the seriousness of the POI
sition in which this country will be
placed should you adjourn without
having convinced the American people
that you had exhausted your resource
fulness and your patience in an effort
70 come to some common agreement.
AT time when the nations Of the
world are endeayoring TO find way of
avoiding international war, are we to
confess that there is no method to be
found for carrying on industry except
in the spirit and with the very method
of war? Must suspicion and hatred
and force rule us in civil life? Are our
industrial leaders and our Industrial
workers to live together without faith
IN each other, constantly struggling for
advantage over each other, doing
naught but what is compelled?
My friends. this would be an intol-
cradle outlook, prospect unworthy
Of the large thin rs done by this people
in the mastering of this continent; In
deed II would be an Invitation TO ma
tional disaster. From such a posi-
bility my mind turns away, for my
confidence Is abiding that In this land
we have learned how to accept the
general judgment upon matters that
affect the public veal. And this is
the very heart and soul of democracy.
Should Stand Together.
TT is my understanding that you
have divided upon one portion only
of a possible large program which has
not fully been developed Before
severance is affected based anon pres
ent differences, believe you should
stand together for the development of
that full program touching the many
questions within the broad scone of
your Investigations. 1t was in my mind
when this conference was called that
YOU would concern yourselves with the
discovery of those methods by which
n measurable cooperation within in
dusry may have been secured. and If
new machinery needs to be designed
by which n minimum of conflict be-
tween employers and employees may
reasonably be hoped for. that we
should make an effort to secure it's
adoption
II cannot be expected that at every
step all parties will agree upon each
proposition or method suggested. X
is to be expected. however, that as
whole, plan or program can be agreed
upon which will advance further + .
productive capacity of America throug,,
the establishment of Surer and
heartier cooperation between All the
elements engaged in industry. The
public expect not less than that Won
shall have that one end in view ana
stay together until the way is found
leading to that end or until 1t is re-
vealed that the men who work and the
men who manage American Industry
are so set upon divergent paths that
all effort at cooperation is doomed to
failure.
Il renew my appeal thar with fun
comprehension of the almost incom.
parable Importance Of your tasks TO
this and To other peoples, and with
fun faith in the high patriotism and
good faith Of each other YOU push your
task to a happy conclusion.
WOODROW WILSON"
Iii