New-York tribune., 1919-10-07
Fifty : seven Delegates
Hear Secretary Will
sons Keynote Speech
A s king Productivity
Solution Is Work.
Under Just Rules
Members Are Earnest. but
Inclined to Go Slow
and Watch Each Other
By Chester M. Wright
Neso York Tribune

Washington Burecu
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6.-When the
National Industrial Conference, called
by President Wilson, convened this
afternoon in the Hall of Nations of the
Pan American Building it resembled
nothing so much as a large pussy-foot-
ing party-a gathering Of important
and responsible men and women side
stepping and jockeying for position,
individuals and groups going slowly,
watching to see where other indi-
viduals and groups were going before
moving far.
The only certain thing on the calen-
dar for the reopening of the confer
ence tomorrow morning is the cleo
tion of Secretary Of the Interior Frank
I'm n. Lane as permaEent chairman.
Secretary Of Labor Wilson opened
the conference at 2:3O o'clock this af-
ternoon as temporary chairman. He
delivered an address Of welcome in be-
half of the President and outlined
views in connection with the industrial
situation which are presumed, in some
measure, at least. to coincide with the
views held by the President.
Miners Leader Not There
There were fifty-seven delegates in
the conference when the roll was called.
There were four absentees, two among
the women's group and two among the
labor group: Lillian D. wNald, of New
York, named in place of Carrie Chap
man Gait, and Gertrude Barnum. Of
California, were the women absentees.
John l.. Lewis. acting president of the
united Mine Workers. and Frank Duffy
secretary of the United Brotherhood
OF Carpenters and Joiners, were the
labor absentees. 1t seems definite that
Mr.. Lewis will not join the conference
owing to the adverse vote of the
miners convention.
A new group was added to the list
already announced, this being the rail
way managers. Their representatives
are R. H. Ashton and Carl R. Gray.
At the eleventh hour the heads of the
various railwaymen's organizations got
together and decided to participate in
the conference. They accepted Presi
dents Wilson's compromise suggestion
that the four brotherhoods each have q
delegate and that the fourteen unions
affiliated with the American Federation
OF Labor be represented by the feder-
atoms delegates.
Much Hesitancy Shown
The conference got under wav 70 4
gloomy start. Probably no group ever
assembled in American life in which
greater power was represented. Ger
talnly no group ever assembled in
which q, wider variety Of power was
represented. Yet careful canvass Of
members revealed state of mind with
out plan, with good deal of inclina
tlon to indulge for a time in watchful
waiting, and with a good deal of won
derment as to what it was all about.
There is general agreement among
the delegates that there is something
wrong in the country. and that thew
have been called together to do some
thing about it. They don't know what
they are going to do. 1t is possible
mindedness, into which evidence may
may come.
Secretary Wilson's Keynote
Two sentences from Secretary Will
sons address placed the issue before
the conference in keynote form. "The
in returning to the highest productive
efficiency, having due regard to the
health. safety and opportunities for
rest, recreation and Improvement of
those who toll. The more productive
we are the sooner we will replace the
wastage of war, return to normal price
levels, and abolish the opportunity for
protiteering."
When it comes to the practical ac-
complishment of what the Secretary
had in mind, there will be points be.
ycnd which one section or another will
hot go. There are concessions which
one group or another will refuse to
make. To evolve some compromise ap-
pears the only possibility, and on all
sides it seems to be matter for spec
u'ation as to whether workable COM
promise can be effected.
at starts WELL" was the comment of
Samuel Gompers, at the conclusion of
the days session, indicating that there
is at least hope for results among the
labor men. Beyond that simple verdict
he would not go.
Does Not Favor Compulsion
There has been much speculation in
some quarters as to the possibility of
devising some form of compulsory
arbitration of industrial disputes. Any
action in that direction clearly was
not in the mind of Secretary Wilson
when he delivered his address. There
was significance to labor men in the
Secretary's assertion that it is not
sufficient that "either side to an in
dustrial controversy should be the sole
judge of what constituted Justice" and
that "thc means must exist by which
Continued on Qagc three