Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-10-31
WILSON IN PLEA
TO LABOR MEET
Lane Reads Presidents Letter
Urging Groups to Remain
In Session.
union Chiefs QUIT PARLEY
Executives Message Urges Action by
Conference to Insure Industrial
Peace During Reconstruc-
ton Period.

Washington, Oct. 23.-In a last eff
fort to prevent the dissolution of the
national Industrial conference. Chair
man Lane read to the delegates the
letter dictated by President Wilson
from his sick bed and urging the i'm
perative necessity for some action by
the conference to insure industrial
peace during the reconstruction period.
The industrial conference blew up.
The labor group withdrew after the
employers bloc had killed a new res
olution on collective bargaining. Pub
lie and labor supported it. but capital
cast a negative vote.
Samuel Gompers led his colleagues
out of the marble hall after a speech
in which he held the employers group
responsible for. the break. He said
the employers held the same attitude
as the 1. w. w.
The presidents letter follows:
'To the Industrial Conference:
81 am advised by your chairman
that you have come to a situation
which appears to threaten the life OF
your conference and because OF that
! am presuming to address word Oh
very solemn appeal to you as Amerl-
cans. 1t is not for me TO assess the
blame for the present condition L 90
not speak in a spirit of criticism OF
any individual or Of any group. But
having called this conference, ! feei
that my temporary tndisposition
should not bar the way to frank e4-
preston of the seriousness OF the po-
4 sition in which this country will De
placed should you adjourn wlthout
having convinced the American people
that you had exhausted your resource
fulness and your patience in an effort
to come to some common agreement.
"At a time when the nations of the
world are endeavoring to find a way OF
avoiding international war. are we to
confess that there is no method to De
found f6f carrying on industry except
in the spirit and with the very method
of war? Must suspicion and hatred
and force rule us in civil life? Are oul
industrial leaders and our industrial
workers to live together without faitf
in each other, constantly struggling fol
advantage over each other. doing
naught but what is compelled?
"NTy friends, this would be an intol
cradle outlook, a prospect unworthy
of the large things done by this people
in the mastering of this continent; in
deed, it would be an invitation to ma
tional disaster From such a posi-
bility my mind turns away, for m!
confidence is abiding that in this lant
we have learned how 10 accept th'
general Judgment upon matters tina
affect the public veal. And this Ii
the very heart and soul of democracy.
'Tt is my understanding that yo'
have divided upon one portion onl!
Of a possible large program which ha
not fully been developed. Before
severance is effected based upon pres
ent differences, l believe you shoul'
stand together for the development o
that full program touching the man,
questions within the broad scope o
your investigations. 1t was in my min
when this conference was called tina
you would concern yourselves with tn
dicovery of those methods by whic
measurable cooperation within In
dustry may have been secured, and
new machinery needs to be designe
: by which a minimum of conflict be
tween employers and employees ma
reasonably be hoped for, that W
should make an effort to secure it
. adoption.
"It cannot be expected that at ever
step all parties will agree upon eac
: proposition or method suggested.
is to be expected, however, that as
{ whole, a plan or program can be agree
j upon which will advance further tn
: productive capacity Of America +hroug
: the establishment of surer an
heartier cooperation between all tn
e elements engaged in industry. Th
] public expect not less than that yo
: shall have that one end in view an
: stay together until the way is foun
s leading to that end or until it is r.
e vealed that the men who work and th
men who manage American industr
are so set upon divergent paths ths
] all effort at cooperation Is doomed
failure.
Z 81 renew my appeal that with flu
comprehension of the almost incon
parable Importance of your tasks
this and to other peoples, and wit
D full faith in the high patriotism an
v good faith of each other you push vol
d task to a happy conclusion"
WOODROW WILSON,
CaIn nE