The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-10-17
Gompers Proposes Conference
Name Arbitration Board
WOULD GIVE LABOR VOICE
Workers To Return Pending Decision
Public Group Calls For Three
Month Truce Between Labor
And Employers.

put upon the INDUSTRIAL conference the
responsibility for the further prosecu-
ton of the great steel strike, when he
proposed to that body that a board of
six members be selected by the confer
ehce to arbitrate the differences be-
tween the steel workers and their en-
ployers.
Mr.. Gompers also presented what
must be regarded as a conservative
program worked out by organized Ia
Dor for the improvement of industrial
relations generally. There is not
line in it approving or approaching
naturalization" of industry soviet
Ism or any other ultrarradical doctrine.
An immediate industrial truce, to
continue for three months, and the
creation Of general arbitration board
by the President and by Congress were
proposals submitted for the considera-
tion of the conference by the public
group.
The plan for labor adjustment by
means of arbitration was prepared by
Secretary of Labor Wilson and was
presented by Gavin McNab, of San
Francisco, and is generally regarded
as the Administrators suggestion for
prevailing troubles throughout the
country.
A. A. Landon, of Buffalo, represent
ing the public, drafted the resolution
providing that truce be declared and
that the status quo be resumed i'm
mediately by both capital and labor
pending some general agreement as
to standard of relations which are
to exist between the employer and the
employee.
The proposal of Mr.. Gompers that
the steel strike be arbitrated and that
the steel workers return to their posts
Immediately was the most sensational
development of the conference. This
idea of arbitration, of course, is not
new. Organized labor has urged it
from the beginning of the controversy,
but the offer of Mr.. Gompers, speak
ing for the whole labor group, to sub
init the issues to board to be named
by this conference, Of which Judge
Gary himself is a member, came as a
distinct surprise.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., a represen-
tative of the public, proposed in a
resolution that the conference approve
the principle of representation in in
dustry under which the employees shall
have an effective voice in determining
their terms of employment and their
working and living conditions"
The first concrete act of the confer
ence was the adoption of a motion by
Thomas L. Chadbourne, a representa-
tive Of the public, that committee of
nine be appointed to investigate the
high cost of living. The committee
will be composed of three members of
each group capital labor and the
public
Mr.. Gompers' program embodied fun
damental principles which, he empha-
sized, had the unanimous approval of
the labor group, including the repre-
sentatives of the four railroad broth
erhoods.
Gompers' Program.
Right of wage-earners to organize.
Right of collective bargaining.
Right of wage-earners to be repre-
scented by representatives of their own
choosing in negotiations with employ.
ers. Hr1 a.
of f1PR 4
of assemblage.
Right of employers to organize and
bargain collectively.
Minimum eight-hour day, with one
day of rest in each week, and with a
half holiday on Saturday encouraged
and overtime discouraged.
Payment of living wage.
Women to receive the same pay as
men for equal work.
Prohibition of labor for children un,
der 16 years of age.
ITO secure a greater share of con
sideration and cooperation to the
workers in all matters affecting the
industry in which they are engaged
national conference board was pro
posed to provide for the systematic
review of industrial relations and con
ditions, the board to consist of an
equal number of representatives OF
employers and workers, having due re
gard to the various sections of indus
try and classes of workmen. Forma
tion Of these boards would be en-
couraged by the Department of Labor
Prohibition of all immigration for al
least two years after the declaration
OF peace and at such time thereafter
as there may be an abnormal condi
ton of unemployment. At no time
would immigration be permitted to ex
coed the nations ability to American
lze the incoming foreigners.
Import from Germany in Jul,
; n..o.,.4oI 4, eoa1 Tce oud for Al,