Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-28
MEET CRISIS
in PEACEFUL
WAY,U.S. AIM

CONTINUED from Page One.)
thing after all for labor would be
CEushed by such a course beyond
tina. point OF recovery But the dis
interested government in charge
for the time being of the nations
welfare doesn't take such a view
and would prefer that the talk
about victory and defeat for this or
that class in the community be
confined only to that small num-
Der Of agitators who actually seek
the overthrow of society and our
existing institutions and not to that
larger class which undoubtedly has
some grievances but mistrusts alb
solutely the means heretofore suG-
gested for securing justice upon
these grievances.
Plan Way 10 Handle Disputes.
Establishment of confidence in
public tribunals that can arbitrate
or adjust industrial disputes is the
central need Of the situation and
the cabinet during the present week
formally work out the details of a
plan already approved by Presi-
dent Wilson, as announced in these
dispatches last Friday, for the re-
construction of the public group o.
the industrial conference making
Of 1t not exactly 4 group represent
ing classes as such but commits
sion OF about fifteen men sutliC-
ientlv familiar with all phases OF
the industrial problem to map out
a charter or constitution for the
handling of labor difficulties. Tie
new commission would call 70
Washington employers and en-
ployes to obtain testimony and the
results of their experiences. Sec
rotary Lane, who has been firmly
pushing the idea OF an industrial
conference from the start, believes
that much can be learned by the
country generally by collecting
data on the instances IN which sue
cessIul enterprises have been able
TO avoid labor difficulties and
strikes. What can succeed in one
case might be useful in another
or at any rate can contribute the
general principles of Industrial
justice on which program can be J
based.
Could Work Out Solution.
Unhampered by group voting or
sUpert1uoJs speechmakiug the new (
commission would dig into the in /,
dusyrial problem anew and perhaps /
It's findings would not in the end !
be altogether pleasing to the eH-
tremists in either the labor or capt. /
fIl classes But, looked at from the /
Viewpoint of the public involving 4
questions such as the right Of labor F.
10 tie up public utilities as well as /
those resources on which the in
dustries and the households nf /
America depend for daily susten-
ance a definite statement of what |
is and what is not, in the public in
terest can be expected from such =
commission.
Owing to the bitter feeling which |
developed inside the public group,
IT, is not likely that the personnel /
will be the same-in fact none as
at present planned will be asked to
serve who were members of the
public group. Undoubtedly the tes-
timOny and experience of several of
the members Of the public group
will be sought but an entirely new
start with a new set of minds will l.
be made
Talks of Force Opposed. /
The government is still hopeful
that the leaders OF the miners will
consent to refer the question of a
strike TO their membership. In the
meantime every kind Of agency in 4
which labor can have confidence
will he suggested to discuss and
settle, if poss. BILE, the points in dis
pute But conference and the
methods of peace-not warfare in
me forefront and government Of
fcials frowned today on the pub
LEGATION Of what they termed in
flammatOry stories describing
speCulatively the measures which
the government might deem it nee
essary to take in the event of a
coal strike. Talk of the wholesale
use of federal troops as well as of
enforced operation of the mines Is
generally disapproEed in Washing
ton as hardly contributing TO the
psychological necessities of the
thoughts, not of means of /,
warfare. but of methods OF peace =