New-York tribune., 1919-09-05
3 Effort to Include Provi.
:. sion for Members Of Con-
= gress in Conference Is
r. Defeated in Committee
House Action Due To-day
Underwood Asserts Threat
i. Of Railroad Strike Is At
tempt TO Coerce Nation

ate to-day adopted a joint resolution
unanimously indorsing the Presidents
action in calling the October confer
ence OF representatives of capital and
'abor to study the present industrial
situation with a view to composing
their differences, and pledged its CO.
operation in the Presidents effort.
A joint resolution of Endorsement
was reported TO the two houses after a
Joint session of the House and Senate
committees on labor. The House is
expected to act upon the resolution to-
scribe that several members of the con-
ference shall be selected by the Presi-
dent from Congress, but this move was
defeated in the committee.
Resolution Senate Adopted
The text of the resolution as adopted
by the Senate follows:
"Whereas. The President of the
United States has called. or is about
to CALI. a conference of the repre-
sentatves of labor and capital and
agriculture for the purpose of dis
cussing questions relating to the
great interests as affecting each
other and the public;
"Resolved That the Congress Of
the United States indorses the action
of the President in calling such a
conference and pledges to him its
earnest support and cooperation for
the success thereof"
Anti-Strike Bill Endorsed
Following the adoption Of the reso-
luton lively debate on the labor ques-
tion was precipitated in the Senate by
speech by Senator Oscar Underwood,
Of Alabama. Endorsing the provisions
Of the Gummins bill which seek to for
bld strikes on the transportation
systems.
Senator Underwood argued for the
creation OF government tribunal with
power 10 tx both freight rates and
wages He believed that when such a
board LANDED down a decision on any
question OF wages it would be prompt =
ly accepted by tho railroad workers
anl That they would not resort to
.trlAos
II the workers did strike, Senator
DHdei.ood said. plenty OF other men
would be ready to take their places and
Eccr th- transportation lines in opera
ticr.
Senator Boral' contended that Con-
q Was without power TO forbi d
naeH ~ ~trAo. Even had Congress the
ro"er 20 do 50, he said. it would be
Sre'o political mistake TO oxcrcs sc
th'.- r. ver.
49, E not the question of wages that
IS ~ 1ac h"ttom of our present labor
fr,uries.' ne asserted. ITO solve this
ti 80 va must go back of tribunal Is
auG arbitration and determine how
ar W, are wiling TO go IN getting
rspitai arA labor together b. giving
tha workers share III the manage
,neat on3 shatc IN the profits Of in
GugtftH-
sera'or john Nbaru williams. OF
~ i@ ;pnt agreed v iii' senator Borai
toaf tnc roots Of 1hc present labor un-
res lay deeper than the question OF
wage. I,c co,npa,ed the movement OF
;de gallroad bro1horhoods to the Boil
saevlh movement in Russia
"Jhey may say they are striking TO,
more wages he said, "but they viii
De striking to legislate for Congress
and usurp the governmental functions
a The peon.e cf the United States.
- saw recently III the newspapers 6
threat Of organized railroad labor tc
force Congress TO adopt the Plumb plar
for operation and control Of the rail-
rreds. Slnnltane ously, the private sol
dicrs and sailors union announces that
II wsuld support the same Plumb plan
This looks familiar. You have the
conb'rat ON Of labor aud soldiers
which is tho cornerstone of soVietlsm
s+..s Class Movement pisccrncd
II want 10 say the time has come
for This country TO take notice. The
qnos1 on at issue Is not one of wagc
or securing higher standards of living
because strikes for such purposes arr
log,dma,c We arc facing a clas,
movement which is threatening tt
usurp the functions of the duly elected
Representatives of the people in Con
giess
The public has its right, and fol
one am tired of the combination O
arrogance and violence by capital OF
tho one hand and the combination o
insolcnce and violence OF labor Oh tn,
other. Every one knows as q matte
of practical common sense that If rail
road labor undertook a general strik'
1t would be a conspiracy to interrup
and naralyzc interstate commerce will
an ultcror purpose OF compelling Con
gress to accept Legislative pro
grsmn,e. Every one knows that il
such a case half of the babies in New
York, Chicago and in other cite
might starve.
- There must be a tribunal to com
pei industrial peace within the nation
in precisely the same way as ther
must be league OF nations TO in
force world peace. We have got t.
fight this thing out some day and VI
4 might as we'll fight i, out now. W
have got to realize there is something
else in this country besides capita
and labor and that that somcthin,
else is the public. and the public ha
right to some consideration.
Middle Class a Bulwark
THE issue before us as members O
Congress is whether We shall heed tn
threats OF the railroad workers. ! sal,
threats. | mean threats, and they meal
that I shall cover before them like
dog. Any one who tries that game her
is. going to learn that we have somethin,
in America that they have not in Rus
sia. We have middle class here whicl
upon provocation Will fight, which cai
fight and knows how TO fight. and it i
not TO be bullied and not to be cowed b.
capital or sovetized and Russianzcd b.
the msreprcsentatives of labor"
Senator Cummns, chairman of tn
Interstate Commerce Committee, sal,
tonight he did not expect the adoption
of those provisions of his bill seeking
to take away from railroad labor th'
right to strike, without q protractet
struggle.
He said he had called meeting o
the full committee to consider his bill
next Tuesday and expected the bill
would be reported within ten days. HI
would make no move to take it up il
the Senate, however, he said, until after
the peace treaty had been disposed Of
IIrdorwood Jdea Reiected