Evening star., 1919-11-13
NEW COMMISSION
ON LABOR-CAP|TAL
BEING ARRANGED
President May Postpone Ap-
pointment Until After Coal
Strike Is Settled. r.
BY n. o. MESSENGER.

President Wilson has before him a
list of names of men suggested as
available for appointment on the new
industrial commission he proposes to
create to take up the problems of
capital and labor. 1t is thought in
offcials circles, however, thats he may
not appoint the commission until the
differences between the coal miners
and the operators have been COM
posed.
One of the causes which contribut-
ed to the failure of the recent indus
trial commission was the unexpected
inter1ection of the steel strike into
the proceedings, with the demand
that the commission settle it.
This painful incident is still fresh
in the minds of the officials, and it is
suggested that as the new commits
sion is to consider broad and general
questions it were better to wait and
avoid complication by possible effort
to divert attention to a specific issue
between employers and labor.
Not to Consider Labor Solely.
The administration is at this time,
it is said, following a definite policy
with regard to labor questions. Ex-
pressed In a sentence, it is that
henceforth labor is to be dealt with
as being one of several elements, the
others being the welfare of the mass
of the people and the safeguarding
Of industry. In other words, labor is
no longer to be a preferential class,
to be considered solely.
This does not imply antipathy to
labor, it is explained. 1t only means
that when labor's demands menace
general conditions and the well be-
ing of the people at large, cognizance
is to be taken of other interests as
well as labors. The administration, it
is contended, can point to conspicuous
examples of friendliness to labor,sre-
futing any intimation of hostility.
Threats Discounted.
Threats of labor leaders to swing
the labor vote in a body against the
democratic administration have been
discounted, it is said, likewise the
possible formation of distinct po-
litical party to espouse labor's cause
democratic politicians, with an eye
single to immediate party politics,
have expressed their alarm over the
possibility of the democrats losing
posed had been gained by the pro-
nounced friendliness Of this admins
tration to labor.
While one or two members of the
Presidents cabinet are said to reflect
this state of alarm of the politicians, 1t
is declared that the dominant sentiment
in the cabinet is for the broader policy
of the square deal for the public, for in
dustry and for labor. too. This PROPOSE.
ton, it is said. has been the subject OF
earnest discussion among the cabinet
during the Presidents illness. Analyti-
cal consideration of President Wilson's
public utterances in the past few months
will, it is declared, indicate his recogni-
ton of the interest of the public and OF
industry in problems concerning labor.
mlnistration. recognizing the rights
Of all parties in the issue, s is said al, to to
/ August last, when certain of the rail-
road men in presenting demands ut
| tered what were construed as threats
of Industrial revolution in case of re-
fusal This was an unpleasant shock
| to the administration. it is said. and
was followed by reaction out of which
grew determination upon the policy
which is to be followed.