New-York tribune., 1919-06-08
W. Jett Lauck Advocates
Industrial Congress to
Settle Disputes and End
Discomfort of Workers
Wants President to Act
Meeting Called by Wilson for
Representatives of En-
ployers and Men Asked

Concrete plans for national indus
labor shall enjoy equal representation
have been worked out by W. Jett Lauck,
secretary of the National War Labor
Board. Mr.. Lauck believes no solution
will be found of the many labor ques-
tions confronting fhe American people
until both interests get together on
common ground, when the questions in
volved may be discussed openly and
decisions mutually beneficial deter
mined upon.
He said the recent industrial con-
gress called by Premier Lloyd George
in Great Britain has solved many diff
ficulties confronting capital and labor,
and by the permanent character Of
this congress labor questions arising
in the future may be brought before
1t and settled by arbitration. In a
statement yesterday Mr. Lauck shows
how a similar congress in America
might be called, how it should be or
ganized and what it's temporary and
permanent methods of procedure
should be.
Mr.. Lauck's Plan
The statement reads in part:
"The congress should obviously be
called by the President and be con-
Quoted under the auspices of the Fed
eral government. The best suggestion
as to this point has been to have the
Pre- sident call it by proclamation and
to have it organized temporarily under
the joint Craftsmanship Of the Secre-
tary of Commerce and the Secretary
of Labor, each to preside alternately.
This would recognize and safeguard
the interests Of both employers and
employees"
Mr.. Lauck then discusses the size
of the proposed congress. One faction
claims congress similar to the Brit
ish one, where 800 delegates, repre-
sented by all labor and manufacturing
interests, would be unwieldy and i'm
practicable in this country, since there
exists no adequate basis of represent
tation This faction desires meeting
of small group of representatives.
captains of industry, fnanciers and
labor leaders-who could get together
IN practical way, and frankly dis
cuss present day industrial problems
and decide upon principles of action
and constructive machinery for the
guidance of government and industry.
Large Congress Urged
Another faction claims that meet
ing of a small group would not be
in accord with the democratic spirit
of the times, and that it would smack
OF autocracy. Of handing down some
thing from above. Furthermore, such
a small meeting would not afford an
adequate means for the expression of
grievances and the general spirit of
unrest. At large congress all legit-
innate factions and groups would find
representation and a vent for their
troubles and, in addition to enjoying
widespread support, would not smack
OF star chamber" proceedings
Mr.. Lauck believes the best results
would be secured by a combination
OF these two proposals He states:
"a small group, representatives of
capital and labor, should be called
by the President to act as it were,
as the committee on organization and
platform. This small group could
work out the basis of representation,
the method of calling and the perma-
nent organization. 1t could also de-
eide upon tentative programme Of
questions to be considered, recon-
mendations to be proposed and ma
chlnery to be suggested for the con-
gress to deal with"
A Serious Problem
Mr.. Lauck realizes that one of the
most serious problems to be met is the
selection of adequate representation
OF industrial workers. This problem
was not encountered m Great Britain
because the greater number of wage
earners are members Of labor organi-
cations, which latter were used as a
basis for the selection of delegates
He believes employers should not de-
lay or hesitate to recognize or accept
labor organizations already existing
and that efforts should be made to
stimulate and encourage the formation
Of such laboring bodies.
He continued:
Shop and general committees should
be organized in individual plants and
. these in time should be federated
according to industries. By way of
Illustration, IN the steel industry rep
resentatives from the employees Of each
plant should be formed into general
conference committee of the iron and
steel industry. In this way a council
Of employers and employees for mu-
tualiy settling questions Of disputes
In each basic industry would be made
possible by democratic action, and a
proper basis Of representation es-
tablshed
Temporary Basis Suggested
pending the development Of trade
unions, or system of industrial
councils, temporary basis Of repre-
sentation may be determined. As
sume that the Congress is to have 500
delegates, equally divided between
employers and employees. The labor
representation could be determined BY
allowing the President Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor TO send
certain proportion Of general dele
gates, each national union q certain
number, according to the size Of their
membership; each city and state fed
GRAFTON Of labor one delegate, repre-
sentatiyes from the railway brother
hoods, from the labor party where
formally organized, from the Women's
Trade Union League and from the
f~ift ns<<