The Washington herald., 1919-03-02
AMERICA Near
LABOR CRISIS,
SAYS MANLY
Spark from Bolshevik Fire
via Ignite Situation,
He Declares.
UNREST GROWS ACUTE
War Labor Board Chairman
Sounds Note Of Warn
ing to U. S.

Declaring that the present IN
dustrial situation in the United
states has frequently been likened
to powder magazine which a
spark from the hsmes of Bolshe-
Yism might explode at any moment
and warning that we are entering
the worst period of industrial war
fare that this country has ever
known, Basil NJ. Manly. joint chair
man Of the War Labor Board, last
night sounded a solemn note rs
harding the crisis now existent in
America.
He spoke before a meeting Of the
Get-Together Club OF the National
Capital Press in the rooms OF the
Chamber Of Commerce.
We are rapidly reaching a condi-
ton Of Industrial stagnation and un-
employment which seems likely to re-
suit either in acute industrial un-
rest, with possible revolutionary man.
ifestations or the abject depression
which followed the panics OF 1873
and 1907" declared Mr.. Manly.
Mast Act Quickly.
From reports of competent ooserv-
ers which come to me from all parts
Of the country said Mr.. Manley,
lit seems to me far more likely that
We will have within the next few
months the worst period Of industrial
warfare that this country has ever
known unless adequate measures are
taken to prevent an increase in unem-
ployment and to conciliate the reason
able demands Of the workers"
He denounced the nonaction Of Con-
gress on labor problems.
20
Europe he definitely committed the
solution Of the problems Of reconstruc-
tton to Congress. Since that time
there have been scores OF glowing
speeches about reconstruction, hun
dreds Of pages Of the Congressional
Record are filled with reconstructive
eloduence. but nothing has been or
will be done to solve the problems at
fbis session
Tn Pennsylvania city officials OF
the steel towns, controlled by the
steel trust, are openly denying the
citizens the right to hold meeting
addressed by organizers and OFF,
GERS OF the American Federation of
Labor. They apparently make no
distinction between union man
and an anarchist, and have repeat
b sdly esIied in the police TO prevent
meetings Such actions as these
are making Bolsheviki of quiet, or
derry worknen. who loyalty stayed
at their posts during the war, at
a more rapid rate than could all
the emissaries Of Dnine and Trot-
sky working twenty~four hours a
day.
Belief In Force.
The war atmosphere in which
we have been living for the past
four years has created a belief in
force and Q contempt for settle
ments by discussion and concilia-
ton On one side we see a group
of agitators who are busily preach
ing that labor has only to use its
force to secure any demands which
D II may make.
Their slogan is Russia did ii,
with the Implication that the work
ers in the United States are in the
same condition as the peasants of
Russia and should use the same
methods. On the other side we see
snarehistic employers urging the
use Of force to suppress all move
ments Of workers for better condi-
tons regardless whether their de-
mands proceed from real griev-
ances.
These men who, as a rule, are
not themselves employers but the
agents of employers associations,
brand all labor leaders as Bolshe-
visits, whether they are /. W. WIS or
officers in conservative trade unions.
The President has already taken
a step by summoning a conference of
the governors and mayors to meet
1opsfAar hasr
to meet the situation. I regret. how
ever, that the President invited to
this conference only the political
heads Of the States and municipalities
and did not invite the men who ac-
tually' control the Industrial world
and are IN position to deal with
the situation on a basis of knowledge
and to make agreements which,
alone, would go far toward a COM
piete solution
with a conference composed OF
men, like Rockefeller, Morgan, Ar
monr and Schwab on one side and
the presidents OF the international Ia
Dor unions on the other. a program
could have been worked out which
could be put into effect directly
through the mere orders of these
rulers OF industry.
1T seems to be a characteristic
of the American people never to
do anything until the situation be-
comes desperate, and then they ac-
complish wonders. The situation
is now desperate and ! have faith
that we shall escape the chaos in
which Europe now lies and achieve
IN large measure, II not complete
fy. that better day and larger
democracy for which so much pre-
a5cfor,a brood had haap shed"