New-York tribune., 1919-03-05
Municipal Executives Revolt
at Governors Gag and
DO Some Plain Talking
Railroads Il Bad Factor
ENorbitani Freight Rates Ag-
gravaic the Situation and
Bolshcvism L. Fosicrcd
BY Theodore NJ. knappen
Ncu J loyk Tribune
Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON, March 4. Declaring
that the governors were misreprcscnt-
ing the situation with regard to uncm-
ploymcnt and permitting false i'm
preston to e. abroad, the mayors Of
the governors aud mayors conference
rcvoltcd this afternoon, took charge Of
the meeting themselves, .crapped n
canned programme that had been pre-
pared by the Department of Labor
chased "A declared Bolshevik out of the
sacred precincts of the White House
and turned loose floods of denunca-
tory, plaintivc and mbonitory oratory
One or two i'll disciplined Governors
encouraged the revolt by telling few
plain facts and expressing some un-
vanished opinions, but there was no
explosion until somebody proposed,
after all the Governors had had their
allotments of the spot light, that the
Mayors be instructed to reduce their
remarks to writing for purposes of en-
balment in printed report of the
meeting. Finally it was agreed that
all the Mayors who had problems and
experiences of national interest would
be summoned to talk and that every
Mayor who thought he had an import
ant message to deliver could introduce
himself
BoIshevik Orator Appears
This having been agreed upon,
long haired, bewhiskered individual
arose and caused no surprise when he
proclaimed himself Bolshevik.
Mayor Peters of Boston, who was in
the chair. called upon him to produce
his credentials. Having none, the
way out was pointed to him. Declar
ing that he was one Of the down
trodden proletariat, the self-pro-
claimed Bolshevik shot through the
door just in time to avoid forcible
Oregon, announced a few minutes
later that he had "disposed of that
long -whiskered bird" but the manner
OF disposition was not disclosed.
Between the recalcitrant Governors
and the combative Mayors every sort
of national and local sore spot was
rubbed, and the situation voted
serious but easily cured if only some
body besides the Mayors would do
something. Some speakers declared
we had 'too much government, some
said we didn't have enough; some de-
manded that the Federal government
leave us alone, some demanded that the
Federal government assume more func-
tions; but everybody agreed that the
government at Washington was wrong
whether it acted or not.
Blame Federal Government
However, there was a surprising de-
gree of unanimity on these points:
First-Business lassitude and un-
employment are largely due to the
fact that the railways under ma
tional control, though representing
30 per cent Of the consuming ca
pacity of the nation, are neither eff
ficiently conducted nor buying the
supplies and making the improve
ments that they absolutely need.
Second-Road building and other
public and private improvements are
discouraged by the excessive freight
rates-in some cases four times as
much as formerly-on building ma
terials.
1hird-The Federal government is
urging other governments and pri-
vate concerns to get busy and pro
duce, but it is doing nothing but
talk itself, Congress being roundly
blamed for having deserted its re-
sponsibilities and adjourning without
passing bills essential to government
tai activities.
Fourth-The unemployment situa-
tion rs not generally bad now, but is
getting worse, and desperate Boil
shevik propaganda is actively at
work to aggravate the situation 80
that to the complications of unem-
ployment are being added the grave
problems OF irrational strikes, often
in defiance of organized labor.
Governor Coolidge, Of Massachu-
setts. started the meeting off in the
morning with statement that his
state was placing 90 per cent Of the
returned soldiers. One Of the best
barometers of the situation was the
"situations wanted" advertisements,
which, he said, were fewer now than a
year ago.
Rodger W. Babson, Of the Depart
1nent Of Labor. took the floor with q
long account of what the government
was doing to meet the unemployment
situation through the different depart
n'ents. The government was doing it's
beat but was being bafied by q new
kind Of sabotage sabotage of
capital, which was trying to force
lower prices Of materials and labor for
selfish profit.
This sort Of high sabotage was gum
ming the wheels Of prosperity. What
was needed was campaign OF publicity
TO stimulate business. just as such
campaigns were conducted during the
war TO stimulate saving and labor. Ad-
vertissng. Mr. Babson asserted, was the
only remedy for the sick national mind
mr. babson's programme is expansion
of public works, encouragement OF
building operations. construction OF