New-York tribune., 1919-10-07
Conference
On Industry
Begins Task
Continued from page 1

all men may know that justice has been
secured"
But more significant to labor men,
and more interesting to them, were the
Secretary's conclusions following his
assertion that "surely human intelli-
gence can devise some acceptable
method of adjusting the relationship
between employer and employee" 1t
was then that he said: "The right
Of any man to cease working for any
reason that is sufficient to himself
is the basic element of human liberty"
There was interest among the en-
ployers when he continued, saying:
The right of any person to refuse
to operate his plant at any time he
property right guaranteed by the Con-
stitution."
Safeguarded, Not Abused
Some indication of the trend which
the Secretary hopes the conference will
take may be gained from what followed
those statements. "It does not follow"
ne said, that because these rights exist
1T is necessary to exercise them They
must nevertheless be safeguarded. Hav-
ing done that and having devised the
machinery by which justice can be Sc
cured, it is not likely that the right
to cease work will be exercised by suf-
hcent numbers, or the right to cease
operating industrial plants will be
carried to such an extent as to serious
ly affect the welfare Of the balance
Of the people"
Secretary Wilson thus frowned upon
any plan of compulsory work. But,
whatever his stand may have been
organized labor certainly would re-
fuse agreement to any conference pro-
posal having compulsion in view.
Members of the labor delegation
would make no statement concerning
rhelr rfsa plans. They would not say
present or not. The delegation met
this morning and the executive coun-
en- OF the American Federation Of
Labor held another meeting tonight.
OF course, they will stand on the re-
construction programme ratified by the
recent A. F. of L. convention in At
lantic City, but the indication is that
they are not going beyond that, at least
until they see what other delegations
are going to do.
Labor Men Are Cautious
They are probably more united in
their position and in their wants than
any other group, and they probably will
evidence less disunity on the floor, but
as they sat there at the extreme left
this afternoon they gave the impress
sion of men determined to 90 slow and
watch closely.
From a representative of the public,
Gavin McNab, of San Francisco, came
the first insistence on hard work On
a motion to adjourn until 10 o'clock
tomorrow Mr. McNab arose to protest,
saying: Let US give the country an
example of harmony and industry by
working. Let us do that by avoiding
frequent adjournments. Pm going to
amend every such motion hereafter to
the erect that we ourselves work as
an example"
Thomas l., Chadbourne added his pro-
test to adjournments by suggesting
evening sessions. eve are all here to
work as rapidly as possible and to ad-
lourn as little as possible" William
u. Mahon's statement that the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor executive
council had meeting tonight. which
its members must attend, prevailed for
to-day against the evening session idea,
Farmers Are employers"
Definite steps toward a working or
ganization were taken when it was
moved that each of the three prin-
cipal groups appoint three members
and nomination and three for COM
mittee on rules. The farmers wanted
to know if they belonged tc any of the
principal groups, whereupon they we're
informed by Secretary Wilson that they
were classed with the employers. "As
I understand it," said Mr.. Wilson, "they
were included in the group of employers
by President Wilson when he made the
selections"
Committee members selected we're:
By the public: Organization-A. A.
Landon, E. r. Meredith, Robert S.
Brookins. Rules-Bernard M. Baruch.
Thomas L. Chadbourne, John D. Rookie
feller, jr.
Employers: Organization - Herbert
F: Perkins, ]. W. OIeary, Edgar l..
Marston. Rules - Edwin Farnham
son.
Labor: Organization - Frank Nor
rison, Daniel J. Tobin, L. E. Shepherd.
Rules-W. D. Mahon, Matthew Woll,
W. G. Lee.
Lane To Be Chairman
These committees will start the for
nal proceedings of the conference when
they report tomorrow. The organiza-
ton committee will report nominations
for chairman and secretary, Franklin
man, although no members Of the COM
mittee would admit that decision has
been reached. From the committee on
rules may come the substance of at
least two contests. These will be precip-
itated If the committee recommends
closed sessions and evening sessions.
The labor delegation has let it be
known that it will oppose closed ses-
sions.
Speculation as to the probable length
Of the conference led to no conclusion
Delegates guessed all the way from
three days to month. Gloomy dele
gates there were, willing to forecast
though not to be quoted, that the con-
ference would at once find it could get
nowhere and break up in despair
Others thought one plan after another
would be brought in to keep the dele
gates talking and concluding for a long
period.
Many Plans Are Expected
Certain it Is that plans will be pro.
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