New-York tribune., 1919-09-02
Capital and Labor
Expected to Agree
National Defence Council
to Consider Make-Up
and Date Of Parley
By Theodore NJ. Knappen
NeW York Tribune
WnebiuUto,, R,,~oon

NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-The Coun-
Gil of National Defence, which is being
utilized as the agency through which
the President is dealing, to a large ex-
tent, with the problems of labor and
the high cost of living, will at its meet
ing on Wednesday. it is stated, CON
slider the date and makeup of the con-
ference of labor and capital called for
by the President in his Labor Day mes
sage to the public. One of the things
to be determined is the number and
nature Of the delegates. As it is to be
a conference rather than a convention.
it may be decided to hold the number
of delegates to the smallest limit COM
patible with adequate representation.
On the other hand, it is desired to
have the conference large enough to
be thoroughly representative, SO that
its decisions will have wide authority.
In general the composition of labor's
delegation Will be determined by the
American Federation of Labor. Just
how capitals representation will be
determined is not so clear, but the
National Association of Manufacturers
and the industrial conference probably
Will have much to do with determin
ing that.
What Meeting Plans
In general there are two fundamental
things to be attained by the proposed
conference.
First An agreement in the un-
deriving economic principles of pro-
duction.
Second. The establishment of an
orderly method of settling dispute,
between labor and capital.
Under the first head it is felt that (
there must be a cordial agreement that
the protiteering restriction of produc-
ton, either by labor or capital must
be abolished, and that there must be
a general acknowledgment that the real
welfare Of both groups depends on !
maximum production. Capital would
accordingly give up the idea of re-
stricting output for the purpose of
exploiting prices, and labor would give
UP the idea Of providing more Jobs by
limiting the productivity of each la
borer
Under the second head the funda-
mental question j. held to be the gen
era recognition by capital Of organ
ized labor having TIE right to speak
for all labor. If this recognition is
obtained, the next step pro badly will
be the constitution of national per
manent board of labor and capital. to
which all disputes of general concern
shall, be refe red for settlement.
Following the principle established
in the composition of the War Labor /
Board and in the railroad adrninstra-
tion's scale of wage and conditions of
service, such q board probably would /
be a balanced board, having an equal
number of representatives of both I
sides, without an umpire, but with
provision for the delegation of dead |
locked disputes to referee mutually |
agreed upon.
Will Rely Upon Public
1t is not believed that there is now
any thought Of making this board |
governmental body. 1t is to be purely |
voluntary, and its decisions are to be /
enforced by the support Of public opin-
ion and such disciplinary measures as
each party may see tit to adopt for its
own followers.
1t is a common belief that the lead
ers of organized labor in this country
are now almost unit III opposing re-
striction OF production, so far as such |
restriction is inspired by the idea of
creating more jobs or encouraging IN
efficiency; it is conceded that it viii /
take a long campaign OF education 70 /
cause this idea to permeate through /,
out the personnel of organized labor
Hitherto the leaders have been loath
to preach 1t because the endless dis (
pute between labor and capital has !
been conducted on the narrow lines of
both parties grabbing off" all posi-
bic immediate advantages for their fol
lowers without considering the general
good and their participation in 1t, or
without taking the long and the sound
economic view. The propaganda in
favor of increased production and eff
hciency, to be effective, must, 1t is
held, come from labor itself
Captains of industry who are con-
vlnced that the complete democratiZa
ton of industry is something practl-
cally unworkabe are afraid that the
Presidential conference may under
take too much in attempting to deal
with the problem of industrial con
troversles.
They have learned. they say. that
the President has said he intends to
settle the differences between capital
and labor by getting for labor large
part in directing industrial enterprises
and a share in profits. They fear that
the Presidents devotion to ideals may
prove stumbling block 10 practical
Improvements in relations between la
bor and capital.