Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1919-10-25
TRUCE IN The
BIG STEEL STRIKE
Gompers Proposes Conference
Name Arbitration Board
WOULD GIVE LABOR VOICE
Workers To Return Pending Decision
Public Group Calls For Three
Month Truce Between Labor
And Employers.

=.
eran labor leader. by an adroii move
put upon the Industrial Conference the
responsibility for the further prosecu
tion OF the great steel strike. when he
proposed to that body that board o.
Six members be selected by the confer
snce TO arbi;rate the differences he
tween the steel workers and their EN-.
ployers.
Mr.. Gompers also presented what
must be regarded as "A conservative
program worked out by organized la
Dor for the improvement OF industrial
relations generally There is not
line in it approving or approaching
naturalization" OF industry. soviet
Ism or any other ultrd.radical doctrine
An immediate Industrial truce, to
continue for three months and the
creation Of a general arbitration board
by the President and by Congress were
proposals submitted for the consdera
ton OF the conference by the public
group
The plan for labor adjustment by
means OF arbitration was prepared by
Secretary OF Labor Wilson and was
presented by Gavin McNab. OF San
Francisco and is generally regarded
as the Administrations suggestion foi
prevailing troubles throughout the
country
A. 4. Lardon, OF Buffalo. represent
Ing the public. drafted the resolution
providing thar truce be declared and
that the status quo be resumed i'm
mediately by both capital and labor
psEdiag some general agreement as
TO standard OF relations which are
TO exist between the employer and the
employee
The proposal OF Mr.. Gompers that
the steel strike be- arbitrated and that
the steel workers return to their posts
Immediately was the most sensational
development OF the conference This
idea OF arbitration. OF course is not
new. Organized labor has URGED II
iron the beginning OF the controversy
but the oI@r OF Mr. Gompers. speak
ing for the whole labor group. to sub
nit the issues to board TO be- named
by this conference. OF which Judge
Gary himself is a member. came as q
distinct surprise
John ID. Rockefeller. Jr.. represen
tative OF the public. proposed in a
resolution that the conference approve
the principle OF representation in in
dustry under which the employees shall
have an effective voice in determining
their terms OF employment and their
working and living conditions"
The first concrete act OF the confer
ence WAS the adoption OF motion b,
Thomas l.. Chadbourne. a representa-
tive OF the public. that committee OF
nine be- appointed to investigate the
high cost Of living. The committee
will be composed OF three members OF
each gr0up-capital labor and the
public.
Mr.. Gompers' program embodied fun
damental principles which. he empha
the labor group. including the repre-
sentatives OF the four railroad broth.
erhoods
Gompers' Program.
Right OF wage-earners To organize.
Right OF collective bargaining.
Right OF wage-earners to be repre-
81 .tI OF hat
choosing in negotiations with employ
Crs.
Freedom OF speech. OF the press and
OF assemblage.
Right OF employers to organize and
bargain collectively.
Minimum eight-hour day. with one
day OF rest in each week. and with o
half holiday on Saturday encouraged
and overtime discouraged.
Payment OF a living wage.
Women TO receive the same pay as
men for equal work.
Prohibition OF labor for children un
der l6 years OF age.
ITO secure IA greater share of con
sideration and cooperation to the
workers in all matters affecting the
Industry in which they are engaged
a national conference board was pro
posed TO provide for the systematic
review OF Industrial relations and con,
ditions. the board 70 insist OF an
equal number OF representatives OF
employers ard workers. having due re.
gard to the various sections of indus
try and classes OF workmen.
BOARDING BILL PASSED.
Washington. ~ Senate and House