Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-11

labor MS much as they are of employing
capitalists.
The convention is dead against radi-
calism in any shape. Conservative lead
ers, like Gompers and Morrison in the
Federation of Labor. are anti radical
and anti syndicalist. On this basis alone,
the representatives of Capital and La
Dor can come together. They can be
Of mutual help. But the golden rule,
first to be observed. is confidence in each
other and belief in each others in
tegrity of purpose l believe this ia
being shaped for future action in the
hall and committee rooms of the con
ference.
The big outstanding features OF the
first week are measures which require
immediate action; the Gompers's reso
luton for the appointment of com
mittee of six to adjust the differences
between the steel workers and the Steel
Corporation, with the strikers return
ing to work, ad interim, and the pro =
posal formulated by A. A. Landon, OF
Buffalo, that an industrial truce be de-
clared everywhere for three months,
pending action of the conference.
Gompers's Effort to Fail
! have outlined the reasons for the
belief that the Gompers's proposal will
not receive Endorsement. On the surface
it appears incongruous for & body of
men committed to arbitration or any
other successful form of settlement for
industrial disputes, at the outstart, to
reject the first proposal for arbitration.
But the present steel strike presents an
unusual phase. 1t is confessedly in the
hands of radical members of the Anal e
gamated Association, and. in this mum =
ber, do not include President Tighe.
The strike, it is asserted. except in Ger
tain districts, is failure. The men
are returning to work. To undertake
arbitration now would give encourage
ment to the radical leaders and convey
to the ignorant alien element the i'm
preston that they had won, which would
be an encouragement to further strikes.
The proposition presented by the peo
pies group for truce in country wide
strikes, pending the attempted adjust
ment of labor disputes upon broader and
more equitable ground. is the next most
important feature. The only doubt ap
pears to be. if adopted. can its pro
visions be enforced? Would the strik
ing labor in California, or Massachu
sets, Illinois or Louisiana heed these
requests, unless enforced by direct ap-
peal from the White House?
| w nile luDOT nus lOrInulHleu 1tS uP-
mands. as was anticipated, including
recognition of unions, collective bar.
gaining. eight hour day and kindred
principles, the employers have gone {
| trifle further than was expected in theii
declaration. They have displayed theii
hand openly. They have justified tn,
statement that they were willing to make
concessions and adopt a conciliatory at
titude. In discussing the open shop
they concede that fair argument ant
persuasion are permissible in turning
an open shop into 'closed union"
Coercion for this purpose, however, i
| condemned. Another free admission j
the right of employees to strike, couchet
in the following terms:
"In private industry the strike or tn
lockout is to be deplored, but the righ
to strike or lockout should not be de
MED as an ultimate resort. after all pos
sible means of adjustment have beer
exhausted"