New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-19
Neto York Tribuns
E@,r1Aoo D,

Copyright. 1919 New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, Feb. 18.-At time when
labor and employers are on the brink
OF life and death struggle, the gov
ernment's proposal to hold an indus
trial congress, at which both sides be
given an opportunity to apply princi-
Piles similar to those recently used in
the peace conference, has met hearty
popular welcome. SO far, apparently,
few details have been settled, the gov
ernment's idea being to ascertain what
the reception of the plan might be be-
fore proceeding further.
AT present it can be said definitely
only that the scope of the invitations
to participate will be wide, the inten-
ton being to have every important
trade union and association of emplov-
ers represented.
The Ministry of Labor will act as
sponsor for the assembly, which will
meet before the end of February. but
1T IS uncertain yet whether the admin
lstratlon will actively participate in
the proceedings or allow EMPLOYERS and
employed to find their own settlement.
At any rate, it is intended to have the
discussions cover the widest area in an
endeavor to discover the root and
causes Of labor unrest.
Expect Labor Magma Charta
Optimists believe the result will be
real Magma Charta of Labor. Amonp
trade union officials the tendency
seems to be to remain noncommital
pending publication of the details, but
the leaders of labor are far more
favorably disposed. James Sexton. a
member Of parliament who represents
!
eve welcome this conference be-
cause of the moral effect upon labor.
Generally everything we can do to con
centrate attention upon the grave mat
ters confronting industry in this coun-
try deserves the most sympathetic con-
sheraton, and | am sure that a really
representative conference of workers
and employers viii be of great assist
ance"
W. R. Appleton, secretary of the
General Federation of Trade Unions.
was more critical,
we welcome the idea of a confer
ence,' he said, "but think the func.
tions of that body will have to be very
clearly defined. otherwise it viii tend
to diminish the effectiveness and in
huence Of parliament and may lead to
conflicts of opinion"
Wants Rank and File In It
Neil Maclean, one of the new Glas-
gov members of parliament, said that
If the conference were to be success
full 1T must not only include employers
and officials of trade unions, but the
rank and file from the workshops
81 say that" he added, "as having
come straight from Glasgow"
But If labor seems ready to respond
there is to be found among the big
employers less inclination to become
enthusiastic. The attitude of the most
important interests, like shipbuilding
and engineering, resembles that Of
man whose patience is about exhausted
yet who is resigned to any fate. One
and all say they are tired of confer
ences which, to their minds, are largely
synonyms with broken agreements and
ambiguous phraseology leading after
ward to trouble.
Some Call 1t Red Herring
Some say frankly they believe the
conference scheme to be only a red
herring dragged by the government
across the path. Others declare that
the men, having found employers more
inclined to make concession are now
going beyond all limits of reasonable
ness. They scott at the argument Of
the miners that shorter hours and
higher wages are not inconsistent with
increased production if modern labor
saving devices are installed. They re-
tort that the miners have always fought
the Introduction Of up-to-date ma
chinery, and when such machinery was
installed tried to prevent the employ
ers reaping any advantage therefrom.