The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-29
labor CONFERENCE
HAD GOOD RESULT,
SAYS GEO.. JAMES
Capital Really Anxious to Meet
Labor Halt Way-Foreign
Responsible for
Most of Unrest.

Despite the breakdown Of the confer.
ence between capital, labor ard the pub.
Nc recently adjourned at Washington
toiowlng the withdrawal OF the labor
SeIesates a great deal OF valuable in.
tormatipn was gathered and the founda-
tlon lad for another conference that
Wut doubtless he able TO carry out the
onlects which the recent conference had
N view. Three important facts were
developed from the conference, in the
opinion OF George r, James president
OF the William r. Moore Dry Goods
company, who attended the conference
as a member OF the public GROIN.
one OF the principal ideas developed
~ the conference, Mr.. James said, Was
the need OF concerted action on the part
OF the american people In increasing
production In all lines. N everybody
would go to work and put forth bis
best efforts prices would dron and con-
ulllons would rapidly better themselves
attitude OF capital toward labor.
MI James stated. was another thing
that impressed him, The capitalists.
comprising the employer group at the
conference, appeared to be willing and
anxious TO find out the things that Ia
Dor wants and 10 do them to the best
Of their ability. ~
a third, hut BY no means the least.
important developnent of the conference
was the vast difference in the working
'f'hNbblo hIlOUk american ahOTfTg as
compared with labor composed largely
~ toreiTn element.
Collective Bargaining.
The right On collective BARGAINING was
generally recognized. Mr.. james said.
'ano secretary Wilson. who served as
CHAIRMAN, had prepared a most I'D.
mirablo plan fer advancing this tn ,ory.
The ~interjecton OF the steel strike,
however, brought about the wit,lGrs wal
Of the labor delegates ard ultimately
caused the adjournment Of the conf
ence.
Enlarging upon the three principal
thoughts developed at the conference.
Mr., James stated that there was little
. add to the first other than to stress
the great need ut this time Of 'nrn In
every walk OF life putting their shoJl-
ders to the wheel and worrying hard 10
increase production in all lines. This
action, he pointed out, would bring
about a reduction In present l.ieh rrIces
and thereby alleviate one or The great
est causes Of dissatisfaction in the ma.
ton today.
Regarding the second pronosition- fho
attitude OF capital toward labor-NIr
James stated that bic men like Roche
Teller, Judge Ebert II. Gary and men
Of that caliber were very anxious u
learn labor's demands for better work
ing conditions, hours, pay, cite Labor
AZ the conference was only represente,lt
by, union men, no non-union delegates
being included in the labor gIoup While
objective bargaining was fully ard gen
ersHy recognized, the rights OF nor,-
Union men to better working conditiors
vas alee recognized while the attitude
OF the labor delegates did lot include
rcn-union wc~tArs in anv manner
tSartling Offer Made.
REORGANIZATION Of the aliens ALREADY
IN America Is a pressing need, accord.
ing to the impression catund Mt this
conferences II was very clearly deyol-
oped that the foreign "lamert il mainly
responsible for the spirit Of unrest
throughout the country. Nj. James cited
an Instance that brought this fact "a
Me. ~ the slde OF the non-union men
graphicaily before the conferences.
The. head of the largest shoe factory
2 the world was a member of the en-
pioyer group. All of his employes vera
either born In America or had aeon
Americanized4 He invited Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fedora.
toh OIL labor, to use his efforts to Dr.
sahfSe these workers. Not ore IT them
belonged to q union. this man told TIC
delegates y sfurthermure, he added
t1at they did not want TO icin becatlse
lhey were thoroughly satisfied with their
wages. and working conditions. TIL
spuahVt utGldTeu ina ne lid not he
neVe a.. +. L. representatives could 20
among these employees and form a ,inion
and he stated that he would welcome
any. effort TO unionize them.
This Illustration, According to Mr.
Jan es,t simply goes to show that non.
union employees are entitled to recogni-
ton as well as union men; tia. in IN
stances where American bora men ana
women compose the majority the Shirt
OF unrest Is at its lowest ehb, and.
further, that employers stand ready ia
improve working conditions and increase
wages wherever their employees meet
them half way, ~
There were many prominent men and
women at the conference Mr., James
said, representing all walks OF life,
ana there were many interesting things
brought out. The vast amount of in
formation which was gathered will serve
as . splendid foundation for another
conference Mt some future date when
conditions are more settled and 1 believe
lhat from this second conference win
come 4 plan that will result In much
good that viii be advantageous to Ia
Dor, TO CAPITAL and to the public"
.