The Washington times., 1919-10-22
PRESIDENT WARNS C0NFERENC
IT MUST REACH AN AGREEm|
President Wilson's Appeal to
Industry Conference


ence:
1 am advised by your chairman that you have
to situation which appears to threaten the Life
of your conference, and because of that presum
ing to address word of very solemn appeal to you
Americans 1t is not for to the blame for the
present condition. do not speak in spirit of crt
cism of any individual or of any group.
But having called this conference feel that my
temporary indisposition should not bar the way to
frank expression of the seriousness of the position in
which this country will be placed should you adjourn
without having convinced the American people that
you had exhausted your resourcefulness and your
patience in effort to come to some common agree
ment.
At time when the nations of the world
deavoring to find way of avoiding international war;
to confess that there is method to be found
for carrying industry except in the spirit and with
the very method of wari Must suspicion and hatred
and force rule in civil fei Are industrial lead
and Industrial workers to live together with
out faith in each other, constantly struggling for ad
vantage over each oshsr doing naught but what is
compelledi
An 1ntoerable Outlook
Ny friends this would be an intolerable outlook, a
prospect unworthy of the large things done by this peo
pie in the mastering of this continent indeed it would
be invitation to national disaster From such pos
sibilty my mind turns away, for my confidence is
abiding that in this land have learned how to ae-
cept the general judgment upon matters that affect the
public veal And this is the very heart and soul of
democracy.
1t is my understanding that you have divided upon
portion only of possible large program which has
not fully been developed Before is af-
fected, based upon present differences believe you
SHOULD stand together for the development of that full
program touching the many questions within the broad
scope of your Investigations 1t was in my mind when
this conference called that you would concern
yourselves with the discovery of those methods by
which measurable cooperation within industry may
have been secured, and if machinery needs to be
designed by which a minimum of conflict between
poyers and employees may reasonably be hoped for,
that we should make effort to secure its adoption
1t cannot be expected that at every step all parties will
agree upon each proposition method suggested
One End In View
1t is to be expected however, that whole, a plan
or program be agreed upon which will advance
further the productive capacity of America through
the establishment of and heartier cooperation
between all the elements engaged in industry. The pub
lie expects not less than that you shall have that
end in view and stay together until the way is found
leading to that end until it is revealed that the
who work and the who manage American industry
are SO set upon divergent paths that all effort at
operation is doomed to failure.
renew my appeal that with full comprehension
of the almost Incompatible Importance of your tasks to
this and to other peoples, and with full faith in the
HIGH natriosm and good faith of each other you push
70 cOncm sion