South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-21
CONFERENCE WILL
MEET PROBLEM Of
WORLD INDUSTRY
Railway, Steel and Police Un-
rest Main Subjects Before
Meeting Oct. s.
ny LOUIS LUDLOW.

in the history OF the world. which
Is 10 begin here on oct s. viii be
called on 20 deal specifically with
these things
The demand Of 100000 shop
men employed by the railroads for
more pay than the government has
been willing 10 give them.
z-The decision OF the unionized
employees Of the United States steel
corporation 10 go on strike unless
the demand for the reorganization Of
their organization by the steel com
panv Is granted
a-The Boston police strike stu
alton.
4-The demand Of the Washing
ton. u. g.. policemen's union that
the right OF policemen 90 organize
and afiiIiate with the American fed
Grafton OF labor DE recognized.
In general way the conference
also win he called on TO consider the
following.
1.-The high cost OF living.
1.-THE demonstration of indus
try.
S.-The question Of putting the
wage system on new basis
Regarded Greatest Ever Held.
No conference ever convened in
the United states. 10 will be seen.
was confronted with more import
ant problems. In an industrial way
ft is regarded by students as the
greatest conference ever held. Pres T
Wilson - temporarily holding in
check numerous labor manifesto
tions by referring them 10 this Octo-
Der conference In pursuing this
course he is supported by samuel
Gompers. president of the American
Federation Of labor.
The railroad shopmcn were ready
10 vote 10 strike bv an overwhelming
majority. but when the president of
the United States and the president
OF the American federation of labor
ioincd iu asking them 10 await the
outcome Of the October conference
they decided 10 continue AT work.
The unionized employees Of the steel
corporation also yielded 20 the re-
quest that they await the october
conference The police situation in
Boston. while local i'm character,
really affects the entire nation. for it
has raised "a question. affecting the
police force in nearly every large
city.
Police Form Unions.
II develops that in 36 Of the
larger cities the policemen have or
ganized and their unions have be-
come affiliated with the American
federation OF labor. This Boston
case is looked upon the test. 1t is
generally conceded that If il shall
finally be held that the policemen in
Boston have a right 20 organize. af-
hIiate with the great labor organiza-
ton and go on strike. then the same
freedom must be granted 10 the po-
licemen OF other cities. The same
question has been raised here at
Washington. where the policemen
have organized and were about 10
go on strike when they were asked
20 yield action until after the OctO-
Der meeting. There are now assur-
ances that the federal government
will take a definite stand IN opposi-
ton 10 policemen's unions. Whether
the October conference viii sustain
this position remains. of course, TO
be seen
To Establish General Principles.
The October meeting, so il was
announced today will not attempt
70 rule with respect 20 disputes
about wages or hours OF labor. The
hope is entertained that the forty
FIVE men who will compose the con-
ference. men representing every inn
portant line or endeavor in. the
country, viii be able 20 lay down
some general principles for the
guidance OF both capital and labor
The hope Is that such controversies
as these between the railroad en-
pioyes and the federal government
between the steel workers and the
steel corporation. between the pol
iceraen and the cities they serve
can be adjusted by applying certain
general principles.
Pres't Wilson II is we'll under
stood. IN his address 20 the confer
Eftt VIII ~ OAeAAr "a ANtAAAANA0AA Az
the cost OF living rather than FUR
Their increases in wages. Most Of the
influential labor leaders have in
dorsed this course of action. but II
IS pointed out that IN spite OF this
fact many II the labor orEaniza
ti0ns stu continue TO prefer higher
wages 10 lower cost or living.
Moot TtrO N{eXvs
In dealing with the labor prob
lem the conference will be confront
Cd with the views Of both the con
servatives and the radicals i'm the
labor movement. Samuel Gompers
as the head OF the American fedora
tion Of labor. and his associates in
that organization represent the con.
servative view. To- T. " w and
the radical socialists are antaEon.
istic 20 Gompers and his followers
In making mp the personnel Of tn,
conference the radicals have MOI
thus far been recognized
Il was said ar the department OF
labor TODAY. when attention wa.
called 90 the fact that the radical.
AZ Seattle made demand on Pres
Wilson that they be represented ir