Evening star., 1919-10-08
Must Be Separated and Classified.

must BE separated ana Cla6SlueQ.
These must be separated and classi-
fed. So must the respective plans
brought by individual members Of the
conference: The conferees are ia
miliar with the contents of most of
the schemes proposed for the amelior-
alton Of labor and capital. 1t will
not take them long to set aside those
upon which there Is no chance of
agreement in favor Of those on which
1t may be possible to get common
accord. "-s
| But such work cannot be done in a
meeting of sixty people all Of whom
represent different interests. Therefore
just as the peace conference at Ver-
sailles found it necessary to transact
the Senate and House require COM
mittee consideration of all the numer-
Gus resolutions presented from day to
day by hundreds of members of Con-
gress, 80 has 1t become necessary for
the industrial conference here to have
five members from each Of the three
main groups-capital. labor and the
public.
John Spargo would have liked to ar
range the rules 30. that a minority in
each group could bring to the discus
sitfon. but both capital and labor vetoed
the idea because from experience these
men have found that much time is lost
that way and that unless majority
In each group stands ready to back
a proposition there is little chance
that the arguments Of the main confer
ence will do anything but occupy time.
The purpose Of the conference is to
get agreement between three groups,
and there is really little time for the
conference itself to straighten out dis
sensions inside the ranks of any one
group. Presumably the groups will act
by majority vote and as a unit in each
case.
Final Power Not in Committee.
But the committee of fifteen will not
have final power. 1t will merely bring
to the attention Of the conference with
or without recommendation the propo-
sails that it thinks should come before
the main body. There will be ample OPP
portunity for discussion and an aye and
nay vote on each proposal.
The conference exists chiefly today on
the sanction of the government which
called 1t together and on the strength
Of public opinion which looks to it for a
settlement. The conferees do not want
to lose public confidence by wrangles
inside their own groups and do not
want to forfeit public patience by pro-
tracted debate. Most Of the conferees
are accustomed to conventions and
boards OF directors and executive COM
mittee meetings, and they are all busy
men. The rules thus far adopted show
tacks as quickly as possible. Overnight
they will tackle some Of the numerous
proposals made for the betterment of
the relations between capital and labor.
Considered on Merit.
Unquestionably all these will have
to be classified as to subject. and dis
cussed principle by principle. Take,
for instance, the eight-hour day. A
general principle approving the eight
hour day might be proposed. The
text of the principle and its applica-
tion would Involve much discussion
in the committee of fifteen. Possibly
1t would be found necessary to bring
out the way in which the eight-hour
day works in different kinds of in
dustries, and the advantages or dis
! vealed. When the committee agreed
upon the language Of the principle
involved it would then be brought to
the main body for discussion, amend
ment and vote.
Thus every subject, from the length
Of the wor''ing day to the principle
of collective bargaining. the respon-
sibility of labor for production and
the enforcement of it's contracts
would be taken up successfully until
d oCIACS W ~ ihN1p1CS COulQ O6 d6TcSO
upon. Collectively they would con-
stitute a charter. and IL adopted
unanimously would be presented to
! the employers and employees of the
! country for their Individual approval
! or disapproval.
The moral force behind the present
conference. 1t is expected, would mean
the several acceptance of any plan
that is agreed upon by the leaders of
capital and labor who are drafting 1t.
Defensive Attitude Shown.
Labor. 1t Is said. plans a defensive
attitude. 1t wants to hear what cap
ital has to offer. Then it will sug-
gest or comment And capital shows
| representatives Of the public are in a
sense mediators. II neither capital
nor labor wants to take the Initiative
| tho middle group will do SO.
| Anyway, before another day or two
the committee OF fifteen wifi have. he :.