Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-09-11
CAPITAL AND LABOR CON-
FERENCE

FERENCE
An industrial conference composed
of leading representatives of labor,
capital and agricultural interests,
win convene for weeks session be-
ginning October 5, in an attempt to
work out a solution of the present
economic crisis. President Wilson
will likely preside. All sorts of prop
hesies as to what will result from the
conferences are rife in Washington.
Mr.. Gompers is scheduled to lead la
rbor in the conference. just what may
result from constantly acceding to
Mr.. Gompers is questionable. From
the first appearance of the first cloud
in disturbed skies down to the pres
ent day this doughty little man has
stood for higher wages" and "rec-
IGNITION of the unions"-and practi-
cally nothing else.
1t tht is the genuine pathway to a
reduction in the rost of living the ex-
periences of the past two years have
not given any indication to that eff
feet.
1t may be that Theodore N. Vail,
who is acknowledged as one of the
worlds greatest business men, may
represent capital in the conference.
Mr.. Vail id recent interview in the
American Magazine, says that the
predominant, the determining factor,
is the amount of production per unit
of labor or effort He adds lit is
far more important to get labor in
terested so that it will put forth in
telligent, enthusiastic ecort than it is
to get labor to accept lower pay"
In this connection it is interesting
to note that Lloyd George has found
that the only "speedig up" in produc-
ton in England sas been by the farm
ers. Doubtless the same thing is
true in our own country, for the speed
pleasure gasoline wagons have found
the farmers working from sun up to
sun down, land happy In the indus
trial centers it is all quite different,
since the chief interest appears to be
in Shorter hours and more pay" Not
withstanding that there is work for
all, the writer counted fifty-four able
bodied men watching a truck driver
unloading an actresses baggage at the
rear entrance to big New York no.
tel in the week before Labor Day.
PRODUCTION WAITS
Production waits, we are told by
the best authorities, and yet the num-
Der of railroad employees has increased
lao, 900 under government control,
while the volume of business is about
the same as it was before the war.
The daily average coal production is
286, 900 tons at the present time,
while it was 1893, 900 tons year ago
and even then IL per cent smaller
than the computed production in 49,
II. Americas shelves are bare of
goods, and even though the consump-
ton of merchandise in the United
States today is greater than ever be-
fore, the highly organized classes of
the country bewail their lot, since
they claim they have
Nothing to do but work,
Nothing to>eat but food,
Nothing to wear but clothes
To keep one from going nude"
In these days when we are taking
stock" of ourselves and our affairs
the balance sheets agree with the
statement of Mr. Vanderlip, the great
banker who says of our country that
Eve are the darling of the gods" In
recognition of this fact long pull,
and strong pull, and pull all to-
gether, will land Democracy squarely
! on her feet once more.
THE GUN OF PHILIPPP"
Some time in July w. D. linn re-
ceived a letter the contents of which
appear below from one of his Ohio
friends. 1t is dated July 18th at Au-
rora:
| Dear Mr. Zinn-I am sending you
this little excerpt about the "Gun of
Philippi", which has been on the city
square now Sc years. The boys who
remain now-only five Of them-had
their celebration and dinner, and vot-
ed to continue the meetings in the flu
ture so long as man remains. The
poem read (which appears below
was by w. G. Rose, but not member
of the old battery. ! thought you
might be interested in this matter, so
am sending you the account. l al
ways read your articles in the Ma
tional Stockman with interest. Yours
truly, JOHN GOULD"
Here is the extract referred to:
The Gun of Philippi."