The Corpus Christi caller. [volume] (Corpus Christi, Tex.) 1918-1987, 1919-08-26
LET S TALK IT OVER.

Americans iliHt = INftt tthh A'f's't
crisis by first getting together
and talking them over. This was
the "town-meeting' method, our
most important contribution TO
popular government u is the
democratic method. If it fails de-
gnoeracy fails. Federation, discus
sion and acceptance of the major
ity opinion so evolved Is the es-
sencc of our whole system Of gov
crnment. Tho evolution Of "A conf
mon mind rests ON meetings of up
positc minds from corner grocer
les go congress
The moments most pressing
problem is the relation Of labor 10
industry. Strikes, lockouts. wage
and hour fights of all kinds, col
lective bargaining, closed shop or
open shop, industrial management,
profit and power-sharing are
phases of this prohlcm Without
we can 50 satisfy labor as TO insure
continuous production, labor and
most Of our institutions will break
down
so far there is feast trouble IN
industry whc.e there Is the most
frequent meeting aud freest dis-
cussion Collective bargaining and
shop management through joint
committees seem 90 point the way
toward better relations. Common
knowledge is nj least the first step
toward common action.
Why not talk il over an a great
national industrial convention Z
Congress cannot meet the need
II does not contain the people
most interested or best informed
ii regard 10 the subject II does
not fairly represent the parties IN
controversy II has neither time,
ability nor machinery TO meet the
situation. The best il could do
would be TO appoint one more IN
vcsiigating committee to add an
other shelf 10 the library Of re-
ports of similar committees
why not bring together the
men aud women who know about
this question Ask the employers
associations and chambers of com
merco 40 send their best represen
tatives Let as have the friends
Of the open and the closed shop the
successful and unsuccessful eNpc-
rimentcrs with shop committees
and different forms OF labor rep
rcsentaiion in industry Call in
the best men from the unions Get
the help Of the investigators Of
the universities and students OF
labor problems everywhere In
yite representatives from state and
national governmental depart
mcnis of labor.
Such body. called Ivy the pres
ident, given full liberty of discus.
sion, with as carefully prepared o
program a. such liberty permits,
would, at the very least, focus a
flood of illuminating publicity
upon these most pulling prob
lens
n would hc q gathering of eN-
perts to meet a special situation
The clash of minds upon these
faost vital iseues would form the
center of vast education OF the
public
Snch q conference n England
recently avoided conflict that
threatened a general sioppagc Of
industry
A national conference of EN-
players aud employc, held now
might save many things besides
money la the future.
such conference has been sag
gesied by Basil NJ Manly. former
ioint chairman Of the s. War
Labor Board, and has met with
popular approval the country over.
The Manly plan called for repre-
sentativcs from labor and capital
the biggest and best Of both
sides 90 come together round tho
table anl talk IL over This sug
Qcsii0n was introduced IN congress
by Senator Poindexter Of Wash