Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-10-06
ROUND TABLE,
President Bert M. Jewell, Of the rail-
way employees department Of the


way employees department Of the
American Federation Of Labor also has
decided to accept the invitation to be
delegate at the conference. Roberts
said.
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait. president
OF the National American Wowan Stuff
rage association, today declined to join
the conference because of previous en-
gagements. Miss Lillian Valid, New
York, social worker and writer, was
named in Mrs. Cats place.
Fourteen railroad unions considered
Withdrawing from the conference be-
cause no effort was made to meet their
proposal that the conference be large
to include one representative from
each national and international union.
Only the United Mine Workers of
America are now without representa-
ton. their acting president. John l..
Lewis having declined his invitation TO
serve delegate.
Following IL the address of Secre
tary Wilson opening the industrial
conference this afternoon.
Ladies and gentlemen of the confer
ence
Il regret very much that the Illness
Of the president has made 1t impossi-
BILE for him to- be here to greet you.
| had hoped that he might be here in
clarity Of his vision, the soundness Of
his judgment and the felicity of his
speech have assisted you towards ac-
compliShment of the great purpose he
had in mind when this conference was
called.
The whole world IL face to face
with the most difficult peace time
problem 1T has ever had to deal with.
The wastage of war has been ire
mendous.
The power of replacement of things
destroyed has been seriously impeded
by the conditions that constitute the
aftermath of war. Industry has been
disarranged by the processes of read
justment to the needs of peace and
sufficient facilities foreign exchange
and domestic uncertainties.
MANY countries are without stable
government, and financial initiation In
all of the commercial values In all the
world has played havoc with the rela =
tive values of money, wages and COM
modities.
THE effect of these things has been
reflected in the high cost of living and
| the consequent demand for higher
wage rates to meet the increasing bur
den of the family budget. Yet increas-
| es in the wage rate do not always
! give relief. There are but two ways
! Dy WHICH the general STANDARD OF nNlng
| OF the wage workers can be improved.
! One is by increasing productivity
making more material available for
| wages. The other is by taking the
means of increased compensation out
of the profits of the employer. If wages
are increased and profits remain the
same the burden is passed on to the
consuming public in the form of an
| increased cost of living and comes
| back in that form to the wage worker
! himself. No portion of improved liv-
ing standards can come out of the
profits of the employers unless there
is profiteering. And what gives the
opener profiteer. The very condition
| that we are confronted with today -
the destructive agencies of war, result
| ing in shortage of supply as com
! pared with demand. The whole world
Is interested in returning to the high
est productive efficiency, having due
regard to the health, safety and OPP
portunities for rest, recreation, and
Improvement of those who toll"