Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-27
Conference Not ValucIess

A LTHOUGH the national industrial con-
ference. called by tho President, broke
up after Il two weeks session without effect
ing common basis of cooperation between
labor and capital, its deliberations were not
altogether valueless in clarifying the issues
TO whose settlement further effort undoubt-
edly will be directed, probably by a new con-
ference to be created by the President with
out group distinction, but composed wholly
of representatives of the public, necessarily
including the interests of both capital and
labor.
Failure of the conference to reach agree
ment on a. common basis of principles from
which to proceed in the adjustment of the
issues between capital and labor was pri-
marily due to the impossible working con-
ditions under which the conference en-
deavored to function. The conference was
divided into three groups, classified as en-
ployers, labor and public. Under the rules
there could be conclusive action without
the affirmative vote Of all three. Under this
arrangement the impasse reached on the
following propositions: THE right of wage
earners to organize without discrimination,
TO bargain collectively, to be represented BY
representatives of their own choosing in
negotiations and adjustments with employers
In respect 10 wages, hours OF labor and rela-
tion and conditions OF employment is recog-
nlzed. Labor and public groups accepted
the principle set forth above with little oppo-
sltlon. but the employer group, with a dis
sentlng minority, rejected it. Had the reso-
luton been voted on by the conference with
out group distinction. it would have been
adopted by decisive majority At this stage
the labor group committed the folly of quit
ting the conference. Had it exhibited more
patience and remained in the conference
working tremendously with the public groun
IN further effort to increase the strength
OF It's position the probability is that the
nrpS clIrn of H..
concessions from within the EMPLOYERS
group; otherwise labor's eventual retirement
would have placed its cause more adyan
tageously before the. country with CORE
spondng disadvantage to the contentious of
the employers group.
Just how much labor had gained and which
would have Injured to its further ADVANTAGE
IN the negotiations had it shown less i'm
patience. is disclosed in the report of the
public group announcing final adjournment
IN TINS connection the report says, I'VE
deem 1t important to emphasize the fact that
the conference did not at any time reject the
principle OF the right Of workers to organ
lze and to bargain collectively with their
employers. Neither the conference as whole
nor any one group in the conference, op-
posed that right. The difficulty that arose
and the issue upon which the conference
talled TO agree was not upon the principle
involved but upon the method OF making it
effective"
with the vital principle that lies at the
foundation of all organized industry, thus
recognized by all groups, the conference
manifestly had progressed to the stage whore
all that was necessary to reach complete
understanding In the program OF bringing
aDouu better relations between labor and
capital was in the devisement OF the method
OF making it effective in its application n
the various controversies arising between
employers and employees. Certainly this
problem was not one of impossible solution
lor the conference. had its DISRUPTION moi
been summary precipitated