New-York tribune., 1919-09-02
Labor and Capital May
Agree to Accept Truce
Mem York rtbNre
Washington Burcdu


Washington Burcdu
WASHINGTON. Aug. 3l-Although
much trouble has been caused Of late
by "llegal" strikes, the general situa-
ton to-day is greatly improved. accord
ing to the view Of labor leaders now
in Washington.
In discussing tho Improvement in
the labor situation, leaders say that
the Presidents various messages have
had a steadying effect. In this con-
nection, 1t is asserted, since the Presi-
dent made his appeal to the shopmen
to hold up his hands during tho present
difficult period there has been a re-
markable change in the general tonor
Of the strike referendum votes now
being held throughout the country.
Unions that votcd for strike on The
previous referendum are now revers-
participated in tho "illcgal" strikes
have swung over to the side Of modera-
tion and delibcration.
The three most conspicuous cases
of illegal acticn are the unauthorized
shipments strikes in New England, the
Middle West and elsewhere; the un-
authorized strike of railway men in
Californ a--purely D sympathetic strike
and the revolt of the radical element
Of the coal miners in Illinois, which is
as much against the duly constituted
union officials as II is against tho
operators
The leaders feel if organized labor,
as now constituted. is oYerthrown the
industrial balance wheel will! be
smashed To retain their control and
preserve their organizations they will
follow the men even into strikes Of
which they do not approve. The un-
qualified disapproval of the chiefs of
the railway organizations, together
Railway Administration, have ended
the California railway strike, and the
same combination, plus the Presidents
appeal, terminated the shopmen's
strikes.
Still Strike in Illinois
The "outlaw' coal miners in illinois
are still striking and still rebeling
against their organizations; but, while
there is radical element among the
coal miners that is considered hope
lessly Bolshevik, the hope is expressed
that the summoning of labor-capital
conference may lead to a postponing
of the dispute between coal operators
and operatives that has been appre-
hended as result of the sweeping de-
mands the miners are expected to make
at the convention III Cleveland next
week.
The influence Of the shopmen's
executive and committee of one hun
dred has, it is admitted, also con-
tributed powerfully to this change The
men-all except that section whose
real object is to destroy the unions
themselves-have been impressed by
the logic of the last circular letter
issued by the executive committee.
This letter showed the men that the
cent increas approved by the
President completed the cycle Of wage
increases among railway workers and
with all other workers. 1t also showed d
that any further increase would
amount to the beginning of a new
cycle of increases-and that for the
advance all by themselves would be
foolish, pending the determination Of
/ their course by the other railway or
carnations and also pending the trial
of the other metho. of increasing
wages-that is, decreasing prices.
II he tendency, according to all re-
ports and views in Washington, is
toward a general truce between labor
and capital until after the proposed
conference and also during the efforts
to reduce prices. If the cost of living
comes down, that will be the end of
some differences The conference may,
it J.; hoped. dispose of the others
The most deliberate labor leaders
are much pleased with the course of
the New York State Federation Of
Labor in proposing that the truce last
SIX months. The President mentioned