Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-09
Labor, Capital and the Public
Have Separate Proposals to Be
Submitted to the Industrial
Conference
ALL is HARMONY YET
lntfmntiOns Arc That the Public VIII
Cease to Play Part of "Innocent n.y.
ISLANDERS in CAPITALIZATION wnr and
VIII Abandon Neutrality

Washington. Oct. s.--After three
days spent in organization the in
dustrial conference called by Presi-
dent Wilson will come to q show
down tomorrow on the business to
be transacted
Only "a brief session was held to-
day. adjournment being taken to per-
NIT the groups representing capital.
labor and the public to formulate such
suggestions and proposals as they
wish to submit for consideration
None was ready for submission to-
day except the preamble of res
olution to be introduced by Charles
S Barrett of Georgia representing the
Farmers Union. The resolution will
demand comprehensive national
agricultural policy. The preamble as
serted the farmers were not being
given due consideration in the present
conference and the failure OF any at
tempt to settle national questions
without the consent of the agricul
tural element of the population was
predicted
All the groups were busy after ad-
journment considering suggestions OF
members to be submitted to the confer
ence. Apparently with an agreed unan-
unity of action not otherwise charac-
terizing the deliberations. the three
groups refused to discuss specifically
what was under discussion or what
would be presented to the conference
Each group was understood to be ready
with definite proposals on industrial prob
lens affecting domestic peace. the labor
group especially having "A complete pro-
gram already formulated, il was report
ed, but each seemingly was waiting to
no m do ha-
fore showing it's own hand.
From the public group came the au-
thoritative lntimation that the members
representing the innocent 'bystanders''
in the war between capital and labor
were prepared to abandon the attitude
of watchful waiting and benevolent neu-
trality which they at first thought was
their best policy Not only were several
concrete proposals said to be in the maxi
ing, hut the group sent to the Shipping
Board for documents dealing with the
American English ship yards arrange
ments for adjusting wages and forestall-
ing strikes by means of permanent COM
mittees constantly considering grievances
likely to cause industrial disruption. The
opinion is growing that the public group.
led by Bernard NJ Baruch as chairman
will not rest until the right and left
divisions of the conference accept some
forward-lookng proposal to allay unrest
and maintain steady production.
Labors proposals are considered GER
tain to include reaffirmaton of the right
of collective bargaining and of the strike.
the principle of the eight hour day and
perhaps the more advanced suggestions
for profit sharing and participation in in
tlustrial control. Capital already has
t,,1rf
Frederick p. Fish of Boston, declaring the
good of the country to be paramount to
the interests of any one group and as
serting the present need to be increased
production, adequate wages and a just
return on capital
Whatever is done by the conference,
and everybody. including the permanent
chairman, Secretary Lane. expresses
confidence that real results will be forth
coming, seems likely to be a compromise
under the voting rules, which permit no
conclusions except all three groups con-
cur and require majority of the mem
bcrship of each group for the expression
of that groups opinion.
Magnus w. Alexander, managing dircc-
tor of the national industrial conference
board, which is represented in tho con-
ference by tive delegates tonight issued
the following statement:
THE employer group was disappointed
because no program had been prepared
so that the Industrial conference might
proceed at once to business. Its members,
however. were glad TO avail themselves
of the day in order to enter into earnest
discussion of leading Industrial issues for
.he capitalization and clear definition of
their own thought in order that they
may be better prepared TO act upon these
issues