Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-09
BICPROGRAM
IS
W|LS0NPLAN
N a tt o n Wide Improve
ment of Toilers' Condi-
tions to Be Made.

Washington. D. c.. April 9.-Ofi-
cial advices received by the de-
partment of labor today indicate
that two important steps to aIIevi-
ate industrial unrest will be taken
by PRESIDENT Wilson Immediately
on hisr eturn to this country. These
steps are:
Issuance of a call for an immed-
late industrial conference, or par
Lament, for the purpose of devils
ing constructive program which
shall govern American industrial
life.
Continuation of the war labor
board. with full war authority. as
final court of industrial justice
during the readjustment period. or
until such time as the industrial
conference reaches final conclus-
ions and has them adopted by in
dustry at large.
Both these far reaching measures
have been urged upon the presi-
dent in Paris and it is understood
that the program has the support
OF so many of his advisers, in and
out of the cabinet, that executive
action to make it a reality is ex-
pected Immediately upon the pres
ident's return.
The plan of an industrial con-
gress is similar to that now being
tried by the Lloyd George govern
ment to ameliorate the industrial
crisis in Great Britain. 1t calls
for joint conference of repre-
sentatives of labor and capital to
lay down regulations which would
ultimately lead to a settlement of
the great problem now agitating
the workers.
For Joint Industrial Councils,
1t calls further for the estab-
IIshment of joint industrial coun-
ellis, made up of representative of
employers and employees. to func-
tion in plants, industrial districts.
and nationally, as a chain of indus
trial courts in which issues could
be amicably settled around a cour-
Gil table by the representative of
those directly concerned.
The joint Industrial council plan
is modelled on the Whitley plan.
now being tried out in England. |
An important difference, however.
would be the part played by the |
war labor board in this program. !
1t is likely that this would be main |
tanned as a supreme court of in
dustrial Disputes.
Universal Eight Hour Day?
Among the problems with which |
the industrial conference would be |
called upon to deal are the need of |
closer cooperation between work /
ers and employers in the govern |
ment of industry; the permanent |
and universal application of such /
as the eight hour day, |
conceded by the war labor board
during the war; the separation of |
and destructive ideas !
of reform in industrial relations; !
the furtherance of educational and
housing facilities for workers and
their families; the elimination of
practices and customs tending to
restrict production.
The fact that the proposed
scheme follows closely that being
tried outi England is regarded as
significant by the depart
ment of labor, particularly in view
Of the report of the employers in
1ustrial commission, just returned
from England, that there are mark
ed similarities in the general labor
situation of the two countries. Eng
and, it is held, has been meeting
her labor problems with more in
sight and foresight than this coun-
.ry.
Uncle Sam To Build.
Despite the failure of the last
congress to pas important appro-
Driation measures, the federal gov