The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-10-11
THE B CONFERENCE

Moderate and intelligent optimism fairly well describes the
attitude of the National Civic, Federation toWapd~the industrial
conference at Washington which convened yesterday. This
federation is so called because it unites in its membership
representatives of capital and representatives of labor. 1t has
been in existence for 20 years and during that time has learned
much and helped to dinuse much information regarding the
underlying and real issues in the industrial field. 1t has found
that some things can be done and also that some things can
not be done, not in a single lifetime. 1t, therefore, takes a wise
and philosophical view of all crises. which in late years seem
to be almost the regular order.
In an extended discussion in advance of the conference the
federations former secretary and present board chairman,
Ralph NJ. Easley, named two or three things that the confer
ence would not succeed in doing, but wound up with one or
two pregnant suggestions of what it could and may do, which
is the basis of the hopeful view the federation takes of this
perhaps epOchal conference.
First of all, the conference will not "democratize" industry,
a process which is much talked about. Mr.. Easley is exactly
correct in defining what characterization of industry is
capable of for the present. 1t will stop short at labor partici-
patton in control of management, financial and marketing,
buying and selling, because labor itself does not stand for such
participation. That is, organized labor is opposed to it. So
for the near future at least the "parlor socialists" will not make
any Roadway in that direction. Organized labor demands
characterization" to this extent: recognition of labor in the
control of such matters as directly affect labor, and no more.
These include wages, sanitation, light and air, hours of work
and conditions of work. A voice in the further management
of the business, Mr.. Easley says, it does not ask and does not
favor. II
The Civic Federation itself has had enough experience,
having been at one time quite a champion of the principle of
compulsory arbitration, to be convinced that for the present
there is no relief to be found in that quarter, and the same may
be said of profit-sharing. which labor does not favor.
But this federation believes that a very hopeful line for
the present conference is voluntary arbitration, and Mr.. Easley
proposes a plan that has been suggested in Kansas though for
some reason not carried into effect, and Celebrates this plan
into something that is national in scope. He thinks the great
benefits that have been obtained through volunteer arbitration
in settling all the differences that were not vital and irrecon-
as recognition or nOn-recognltlOn OF the union,
etc-wiIl induce the conference to favor the establishment,
outside of the law, of arbitration machinery, through cham
bers of commerce and organized labor, in every city over
10000, which will stand ready at all times to offer its services
to settle disputes. And by a federation of these arbitration
committees and annual conferences of them from all the 303
cities, as well as weekly or monthly local meetings to discuss
local industrial problems and interests, .'the education value
would be tremendous Mr.. Easley thinks mo greater power
could be created to beat down the Bolshevist and socialist
forces, and it could also be equipped to beat down a force that
is becoming almost as dangerous, the paror socialists, ,or, as
Secretary of Labor Wilson puts it, the 'parlor coal diggers.A"
Switzerland is one of the countries favored by the original
members of the league of nations with an invitation to join