Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-08
Opening Industrial Conference

IT HE absence of President Wilson at the
initial session OF the industrial confer
enGe was sorely felt by the strong men and
women who had responded to his summons
.and gathered together to devote themselves
unselfshy to the solution Of problems which
now aflict the nation and may engulf il if
there is no patriotic cooperation on the part
OF the great forces represented in Wash
ington.
That conference needed Woodrow Wilson
as has assemblage of Americans since
he has been at the head of the government.
1t needed him to sit for time as Judge
might sit in court. to lay down the law as
judge eXpounds it to the crowded court
room then to say to the conference,
judge might say TO jury. that ain agree
ment must be reached. solution for the
problems must be found and standard of
industrial relationships set up which will
serve as a guide for all the elements of the
country now in conflict or which may here
after be in conflict. The President might
have added that there must be no mistrial;
there must be no deadloCks: there must be
no arrangement. There must be agreement
not for the benefit OF any single group any
single line of business or any single element
OF the countrys population. The agreement
must be reached for the salvation of the
nation.
There is only one man In the country who
can issue such dictum. There is only one
man. who speaking for the whole body OF
The American people, can give the authority
TO his statements which every man and
woman sitting in at this conference must
heed. And that man is Woodrow Wilson
1t is public misfortune that his sickness
Is so serious that he could neither be presen;
nor send communication TO the conference
me secretary of Labor presided at the
opening session with such grace and spoke
with such force as he is capable of giving
But William B. Wilson could not substitute
Tor Woodrow Wilson, nor is there man
in the country who could do so. And I, is
apparent that the conference proceeded in a
rudder!ess fashion a the beginning OF its
sessions. 1t had no fixed anchorage IL
proceeoeo with no fundamental doctrine be-
Tore it. 1t had no program to consider.
Even II he had been present President
wilson would have INDUCED in no dictation
he would have marked no hard and fast
lines for the conduct OF the conference He
would have sought 10 enforce no demands
OF his own conception upon the men and
women whom he had called together. But
lie would have outlined certain views of his
own which would have furnished a basis for
action Just as the President communicates
rom time to time his recon- mend ations to
congress for the consideration of that BODY
The only proposition advanced bv The Scc
rotary or Labor which might possibly fpurc
al all In the debates TO come was his declare
ton that the right OF the individual TO oui,
"ork when he pleased was inherent and the
right OF the plant owner to close that pyant
"hen he chose was guaranteed to him bv
me feoerai Constitution. This is in direct
connlct with the principle Of compulsory arbi
ration winch is the basis OF the Cummtns
rairoao Dill and doubt in conflict with
the views OF many Of the confcrecs. Whether
or not the secretary was expressing his indi
Viouai views upon this question or rejecting
the attitude of the administration is sill
an unanswered question.