The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-11-06
INDUSTRIAL WAR INEVITABLE
UNLESS CONGRESS ACTS

with Germany has this country been
confronted by situation which even
approXlmated IN danger the present
crisis In the relationship between cap
ital and labor.
Here is the situation in a nut shell:
The Washington Industrial Confer
ence was disintergrated after a COM
plete failure to accomplish anything
conference has broken up and a COM
plete cessation of soft coal produc-
ton was scheduled for Nov l, with
walk-out of 100000 miners; the
strike of the steel workers is still un-
settled and is in dangerous stage,
and many other strikes pending or
contemplated; Mr.. Gary and his as
sociates have just been celebrating,
at meeting attended by 1900 per-
sons, their victory over the labor
unions at the now defunct Industrial
Conference; while Mr.. Gompers, to-
gether with hundreds of other union
and brotherhood leaders throughout
this coustry and Canada, are arrang-
ing to gather their united forces in
an early conference at our National
Capital for the obvious purpose of
planning nationwide, and perhaps
continent-wide strike which will
call at least 100000 men (repre
senting, with their families, 10000
600 people, whose means of support
and productivity will be cut off COM
pletely) (which will completely para
lyZe practically all industries and all
means of communication throughout
the country; which, it would seem,
will not only bring the present lead
ers of industry to their knees before
organized labor, but which also seems
likely to intimidiate our Government
institutions and agencies and perhaps
destroy our fundamental institution
of majority rule.
And all this at a time when our
President is lying on a sick bed, un-
able to assume the leadership and in
ltiative which the country so imper-
atively needs, and when Congress,
quibbling over the details of the Pres
ident's plan for world peace, seems
blind to the danger and is utterly
failing to take any action whatever
In the face of this gathering flood
which threatens to overwhelm our
country, even as it has overwhelmed
Russia, unless it is Immediately dam
med.
Conferences have failed. The pleas
of the President from his sickbed
were ignored. Class feeling and hat
red is mounting higher and higher.
And now deliberate plans are being
made for an industrial fight which
Will involve not only the contestants
and their families in loss Of life and
property but which must inevitably
cause incalculable suffering and loss
to every one of our 100, 100000 peo-
pie and threatens the destruction of
our Government. Clearly something
must be done and done Immediately.
Moreover there seems to be, in view
Of the Presidents illness, but one
agency which has the power to take
effective action, and that is our Nat
ional Congress.
The union leaders represent the
union laborers and the industrial
leaders represent their stockholders.
These leaders have utterly failed to
settle their differences by peaceable
tn hn ;ptn
the general public. But Congress rep
resents the whole people and has the
right and power, and is charged with
the duty of looking after the welfare
OF the whole country; and it is there
fore for Congress to say whether
this struggle shall take place or whe
ther the controversery shall be set
tied by arbitration. Laws compelling
arbitration under such conditions as
now exist between capital and labor
nave long been needed. Now it is no
longer mere need but it is a demand
which confronts Congress; and Con
gress must comply with that demand
otherwise seem utterly inevitable.
Regarding the responsibility for
this unfortunate and dangerous stu
alton, the representatives of the min
ers claim that the operators are to
blame, and the representatives of the
operators claim that the miners are
to blame. There is no disagreement,
however, as to the fact that whoever
may be to blame for the failure of
the conference, if the strike takes
place the innocent general public
will suffer. And it is also true that,
if Congress fails to meet the emer-
gency by swift anti-strike and arbi-
tration-compelling legislation the