The Washington times., 1919-10-12
ROUND TABLE ONLY
SHOWS WIDE SPLIT
tcOntinued from First Page.)

Tabor charter" which Mr.. Gompers
nlnself presented TO the National
industrial Conference Is essentially a
document OF moral and ethical sig
nincance- II calls for a "living
wage" and the postulate that labor
is not q commodity"
without knowing it, Mr.. Gompers
differs with the radicals mainly as
% the means Of bringing about "the
day Of emancipation" but not as to
Lhe end. What could be more drastic
for instance, than the declaration
which Mr.. Gompers himself indorses,
that the industry which cannot pay
q living wage does not deserve to
exist and should not be permitted to
eEist?"
The employing classes are not un-
aware Of what Is in the mind OF la
Dor. They know the challenge, and
- determined to meet it. There is
- sinister touch to the way Ia which
ne two forces line up, ready for
fight, and each confident Of it's
strength Nothing stands out IA the
conference more clearly than this.
The story OF the rOUnd-table is
being revealed IN the private views
Of each side. On the side Of the EN-.
ployers, there is q conviction that
fundamental principles are at stake
that "Americanism" IS menaced IT,
they weaken in their stand. They say
any spirit Of compromise, or OF re-
treat, on their part would hearten
the radical spirit Of the times every
where.
labor. through long experience.
has adopted the doctrine that it
must fight for every inch OF terrain
Il gains; that gains made through
other methods prove to be illusoEy.
II may be stated 20 those who would
be hasty In rejecting this idea that it
is not lightly held, and that the data
supporting il Is impressive. After
the manner Of professional diplo-
mats, they enjoy the conference In a
somewhat morbid fashion as a "war
Of words" and are waiting 20 make
mince-meat Of their opponents the
moment they venture out in the field
OF economies. This, Of course, Is
what the employers viii politely, but
steadfaBtly, decline TO do. They have
been beaten too often in a straight
3 economic argument with the laborites
20 enter the lists there voluntarily.
The ImpatIent Labor Element.
There is a strong element In the
: labor ranks which Is in favor Of de-
1 handing a showdown" from the con-
( ference Withou delay-the element
which L. =. Sheppard, chief Of the
: Brotherhood OF Railway Conductors,
represented when he said.
"a man who Is building a house
4 does not start TO think about the paint
: Ae viii put on it before he has drawn
up the plans or built the foundation
s It seems to me it Is high time this
3 conference got down 70 fundamentals.
) Is 60 going to declare for collective
; bargaining. or Is il not?"
This coucretely expresses the atti-
tude OF the labor group. They want
{ 70 discuss principles. They have been Z
: discussed ever since labor economics
I became something for the world to I
1 think about. They were discussed at /
> GhG British Industrial conference, at 4
. the Canadian industrial conferences, 1
and at every great conference OF In i
dustry since conferences have been
held.
Employers EvuHlvcly Inclined.
The employers group does not /
want TO discuss principles: at least, Il /
does not want 70 be bound down. or /
20 be committed TO them. In fact /
the prevailing sentiment among the /
employers IS that they do not want /
"a be committed 70 anything /
definite" The differences in the j
statement brought before the confer /
I
employers on the other are strongly |
marked on points where there would i
seem 70 be an element Of similarity.
Labor asks for recognition OF the |
living wage" principle, a living /
wage" which has been worked out /
with painstakinE care by the Depart /
ment Of Labor and has been officially 1
promulgated by the government The 4
employers recognize no principle, but /
say that the worker should receive /
q wage sufficient 10 maintain him and i
his family at a standard OF living that i
should be satisfactory 10 a right /
minded man I'm view OF the prevailing /
cost Of living. which should fairly 1
recognize the quantity and quality OF Il
his productive effort and the value
and length OF his service, and reflect
a participation on his part. in the
prosperity OF the enterprise in which
he is devotinE his energies"
Fine As q Statement.
No one would raise objection to this
statement OF a wage principle merely
as a statement, but there is nothing
concrete. or definite. which guaran-
tees, or assures, a living wage, or any