Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-08
LABOR CONFERENCE
DECLARES HOLIDAY
Delegates Guests of Navy De-
partment on Trip to
{ Mount Vernon.


declared a holiday and more than
hundred delegates and advisers went
down to Mount Vernon this after
noon to have a look around and pay
tribute at the national shrine. They
are there as guests of the Navy De-
partment and left the city at
O'Clock on the presidential yacht May
flower.
Matters Before Conference.
Labor's proposed amendments to the
conference draft convention were sub
mitted late yesterday. Principal
changes suggested were: % that the
legislation should refer to commercial
undertakings as well as to industrial
establishments: and CD that tho
eight-hour day and the forty-eight-
hour week should be laid down as
maximum work periods in place OF
the simple declaration for the forty
eight-hour week. The forty-four-ho
week with Saturday half holiday was
recommended.
Proposal also was made that the
term industrial establishments
should be defined to include 1.-The
transport of passengers or goods by
sea by road, by canal or by rail. in
GLIDING the handling of goods at
docks, quays, wharves and ware
houses. Modified application of the
standard work period for some coun-
rries which claim imperfect develop
ment of industrial organization was
not mentioned in the draft, which Will
be discussed again Monday.
Canadian Employers Views.
cit would be suicidal for Canada to
take definite action for forty-eight-
hour week." according to S. r. Par
sons of the Canadian employer group,
$50 long as uncertainty exists whether
or not the United States will ratify the
peace treaty, and, in the event of ratif1-
cation, whether or not the reservations
are adopted imposing restrictions on
labor legislation"
Mr.. Parsons took a shot at coal
miners who are striking for more pay
and a thirty-hour week THE world
Is not suffering on account OF long
hours of labor" he declared; lit is suf-
fering the lack of food and clothing. A
hundred million people Of the old world
are near starvation. Not third of the
worlds industries are producing full ca
pacity. Adoption of the eight-hour day
in France resulted in a 20 per cent drop
in production. There is now greater
need for a minimum limit Of hours Of
work per week to insure increased pro-
duction than for a reduction in the
maximum number of hours
Vice President Makes Address.
Vice President Marshall visited the
conference Unexpectedly late in the aft
crnoon, made a short address and shook
hands all around.
I'm not here to advise YOU" he
said. Il have troubles enough Of my
OWL am presiding officer of the
Senate of the United States. How
the many wrongs existing between
capital and labor are to be solved
have some idea, and cannot help
saying this to you; For Gods sake.
get at the solution of these problems
in a spirit of amity and concord and
human sympathy"
He proceeded to classify legislation
into two groups. the first being that
which lacks the support of the people
and,therefore creates trouble and tur-
MOL, and the second. or successful
sort, which seeks b crystallize into
the law Of the land the public opin-
ion of the country" His closing state
ment was a wish that . golden
mean" might be reached in the con-
ference after radicals" and "conserv-
atives" had expressed; iruyieNAr, :.