The Topeka state journal., 1919-09-01
New York Workers Can't Afford
a Big Celebration.
Chicago Also without One First
Time in Years.
SET LABOR PARLEY DATE SOON
President Promised Men Con-
ference in Today's Message.
Officials See Settlement From
Proposed Discussion.

New York, Sept. 1.-The high cost
of costumes is the cause assigned by
labor leaders for not holding a Labor
day parade in New York today.
Ernest Bohm, secretary of the Cen
tral Federated union announced that
the union men felt impelled to forego
the parade because OF nigh prices of
the costumes in which they have of
recent years appeared for their annual
march in Fifth avenue. Conditions on
Industrial unrest with many strikes on
and with others pending also have
tended to make the workers lose in
terest in the picturesque side of the
celebration, he said.
The labor men, however. held their
parade in Brooklyn as usual.
Chi without Big Parade.
Chicago. Sept. 1.-Chicago today
celebrated labors holiday for the first
time in years without a parade of any
importance. Picnics in the country
and at amusement parks composed
most of the celebrati tions.
Conference Date Soon.
Washington. Sept. Announce
ment by President Wilson of the date
on which he will call a conference of
representatives Of capital and labor
for a complete discussion of relations
between the two and putting the
whole question of wages upon another
parture of the president on his trans
continental tour Wednesday.
The date it was believed today. will
be set for soon after the presidents
return-probably early in October.
While the initial announcement of
president, made in his Labor day
statement, did not go so far as some
advocates of the round table" con-
ference idea desired. it was generally
accepted as the first step toward work
ing out a solution of the tangled econ
omic and industrial conditions.
Basil Manly Encouraged.
Basil NJ. Manly. joint chairman of
the war labor board with William H.
Taft, who first advanced the round
table" plan, today declared he had
strong hopes that the conference to be
called by the president will result in
substantial agreements being reached,
not only on the direct relations be-
tween capital and labor, but upon
practical means of combating the
high cost of living"
1t was generally believed that the
| presidents statement would give
labor leaders great support in gain
| ing acceptance of their program of
moderation by the rank and file of
workers thruout the country. With
such a conference pending. it was felt
that the threatened steel strike might
now certainly be averted; that while
| the steel workers might not gain an
immedia conference with the steel
| corporations officials, which they
were demanding, they are assured of
hearing in the general conference
the president will call.
In Appeal TO Unions,
In addition to the renewed appeal
for cooperation by every one in the
fight on the high cost of living, the
| president recognized the unrest in the
mass of labor. Pointing out that the
country is facing a danger greater
+ than war" he expressed the hope that
workers will endorse the position of
| their leaders, land thereby move with
! the government instead of against it. !"
+ No intimation as to the plans the
president has in mind were forthcom-
! ing today. It is assumed the names
/ of those to be invited to the confer
/ ence will be made public in subse-
/ quent announcement fixing the date
! The belief is that such plans as may
/ be adopted may be the outgrowth of
/ the exchange of ideas about the
round table" rather than the ap-
proval of any preconceived program.
Railroad men were pleased with the
| conference announcement today, as
! they will urge adoption of the Plumb
| plan in presenting their case. This
will bring the idea of naturalization
and democra tization of industries
squarely before representatives of big
interests for open discussion with the
men backing the plan.
| Indicating the serious situation in
the steel industry, the president had
before him today a telegram charging
| that a man and woman had been
killed in Breckenridge, Pa, by guards
of the Allegheny Steel company. The
telegram was made public by Secre-
tary Morrison of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor, who announced he
would seek a congressional investiga-
tion Of the Charges. Workers in the
Breckenridge region are on strike and
| charges of deputies" firing upon men
and Unrnen re nnade hv the limit ID