Republican farmer., 1919-10-24

1 SICK Deu ana Tn WnlCn ne Q6- clared the public expected the
 conference to stay together until every possible means had been exhausted to establish a 'surer and heartier co-opera- ton between all the elements engaged in industry"
 Washington, Oct. 22.-The Presi- 1 dents message follows:
 l To the Ladies and Gentlemen of the | Industrial Conference:
 | am advised by your chairman that
 you have come to a situation which appears to threaten the life of your { conference, and because of that I am ! presuming [ address a word of very so!smn appeal to you as Americans.
 It is not for men to assess the blame
 for the present condition. I do not
 speak in Q spirit of criticism of any
 individual or of any group. But hav- ing called this conference, I feel that my temporary indispOsitiOn should not
 bar the way to a frank expression of
 the seriousness of the position in
 which this country will be placed
 should you adjourn without having
 convinced the American people that
 you had exhausted your resourcefuI- ness and your patience in an effort to come to some common agreement. At time when the nations of the
 world are endeavortng to find a way of avoiding international war, are we to confess that there is no method to be found for carrying on industry
 except in the spirit and with the very method of war? Must suspicion and
 hatred and force rule us in civil life?
 Are our industrial leaders and our in
 dustrial workers to live together without faith in each other, con stantly struggling for advantage
 over each other, doing naught but what is compelled?
 My friends, this would be an in tolerable outlook, a prospect un- ! worthy of large things done by this people in the mastering of this con-
 tinent-indeed it would be an invita- 1 ton to national disaster. From such
 a possibility my mind turns away. for
 my confidence is abiding that in this land we have learned how to accept 1 the general judgment upon matters 1 that affect the public wealth. And this is the very heart and soul of de- mOcracy.
 It is my understa nding that you 1 have divided upon one portion only l of possible large program which 1 has not fully been developed. Before 1 a severance is affected, based upon present differences, I believe you | should stand together for the devel- 1 opment of that full program touch ! ing the many questions with the | broad scope of your investigation. It
 was in my mind when this confer
 ence was called that you would con- ! cern yourselves with the discovery of ] those methods by which a measure , able cooperation within industry may have been secured and if new l machinery needs to be designed by which a minimum of conflict be- 1 tween employers and employees may ! be reasonably be hoped for, that we | should make an effor: to secure it's
 adoption. It cannot be expected that ! at every step all parties will agree ! upon each proposition or method
 suggested.
 It is to be expected that as a whole
 a plan of program can be agreed upon which will advance further pro. ! duct1ve capacity of America through i the establishment of surer and heart l fer cooperation between all the eIe- | ments engaged in industry. The pub i lie expects not less than that you i shall have that one end in view and 1 stay together until the way is found i leading to that end or until it is re- 1 vealed that the men who work and 1 the men who manage American in ! dustry are so set upon divergent i paths that all effort at cooperation i is doomed to failure
 1 renew my appeal with full com ! prehension of the almost incompara- l ble importance of your tasks to this i and to other peoples, and with full i faith in the high patriotism and good faith of each other that you push
 your task to a happy conclusion. (Signed) Woodrow Wilson, Immediately after the letter was
 read, the conference recessed and the 1 labor group went into private session
 to determine it's future course. The
 members plainly were impatient and some of the public and capital dele gates seemed doubtful whether the ! labor representatives would continue ! in the conference.
 Before the recess Samuel Gompers,
 president of the American Federation Of Labor. declared that a motion by John Spargo of Public group that the conference give the president "a sol-
 enn pledge binding eevry group and
 individual that nothing would be left undone" to solve the problems before
 the body, would be most unfortu-
 nate" The motion, which had been i seconded by Harry A. Wheeler, chair
 man of the capital group, was with
 drawn.
 As they left the conference hall, the
 labor delegates expressed their indig-
 nation over MT. Spargo's motion.
 Do you think we are going to stay
 here to be crucifed from day to day?'' i demanded Frank Morrison. secretary
 of the American Federation of Labo~.
 At conference before the general 1 session this morning. the labor group 1 requ ested Chairman Lane to read the Presidents letter. Mir. Lane did not | desire to read 1t to a single group
 and consequently gave it to the full 1 conference.
 MT. Lame and others iii the con- l ference said the opposition of the l labor group to MT. spargo's resolu-