The sun., 1919-09-02
Fears of Labor Day ViO-
lence, Outbreaks and
Strikes Not Realized.
AGITATORS FAIL TO ACT
A. f. of LIS President With
Conservative Advisers
Still in Command.
BAKERS REPORT PRAISED
Plumb Plan League and Others
Laud DemOcratizatiOn
Idea.
BAKERS REPORT PRAISED
Special Despatch to THE Sun.

Special Despatch to THE Sun
WASHINGTON, Sept l. - Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, is still firmly in
the saddle and conservative leaders
and conservative men are still in con-
troll of the labor movement in the
United States. Attempts at radical
foment of one kind or another have
failed.
There were many whisperings COM
ing to Washington that labor was to
assert itself on Labor Day, and in
many quarters there was fear of vio-
lence, outbreaks and strikes, with l.
w. w. and Bolshevik agitators play
ing upon labor, setting the fuse and
lighting it to achieve the terrible ends
in the United States that have been
wrought in Russia with the over
throw of organized Government and
the wealthy.
Labor Day has come and gone and
nothing of so exciting nature has
come to pass. Reports from every
section of the country tell of no un-
| usual disturbance. In fact, it seems
Labor Day was more quietly cele-
| brated than ever before. Nationwide,
OF even local strikes of a. paralyzing
nature, that in some quarters were
freely predicted, have not mate
rialized.
Some of the radicals in Washington
] profess TO see the dawn of a new day
in President Wilson's Labor Day
statement. That the Administration
is planning the working out OF
theories on the characterization of
, labor seems clear.
Wilson's Promise TO Labor.
The President promised in the con-
ference to be called by him a move
for fundamental change to better the
whole relationship of capital and
labor. He has publicly suggested the
characterization of industry and is in
sympathy with the assertion that
labor should have a voice in the In
dustry it helps make go and should
share in the profits.
| In many quarters in Washington. 1t
Is declared, there is wider significance
than might first appear in the an
nouncement from Secretary of War
Baker that a workmen's committee
controls United States harness shop,
and that the experiment in giving
the workers a voice in management
was successful.
| Some few industrial leaders who
could be reached here were inclined to
ask just how far any such programme
could be carried out. There is already
discussion as to whether the Federal
| Government could extend or enforce
characterization upon private indus
| try, even with its unlimited control
upon interstate commerce. The prod
uct Of virtually every great industry
in the country moves in interstate
| commerce.
| There was some criticism of the
President for delaying the conference.
1t will not be called, II is understood
until his return to Washington from
his speaking trip for the League OF
Nations, almost a month hence.
The Plumb Plan League, which has
organized headquarters in Washington
TO further Government ownership and
lPSor control of the railroads of the
country, has hailed the Presidents
message with acclaim. Two state
ments were issued from the organiza-
| ton press bureau tonight both say
ing it was great and adding that the
p. esident did not go far enough, but
should start with a concrete case the
railroads being suggested.
The second statement was a speech
by Glenn r. Plumb. 1t was in strong
contrast 70 the speech made by him in
Richmond last night, when he was
critical of the Presidents stand in the
labor situation.
Bakers Action Is Hailed.
The first statement was from Edward
Heating, manager OF the league. He said
that the Baker report was happy and
timely illustration of what the league
was contending for and that partioipa-
tion of labor in control and management
would greatly increaSC emeSz2..y. 'che
Government, he continued. had in a cosn-
petitive industry demonstrated the sue
cess or lnduStrlal democracy, ana th8t II
was fair to assume that the same prin-
ripe would be even more effective " an
piled to the railroads
Senator PoindeXter twasn.J, VINO re-
Gently introduced a resolution i'm the
Senate providing for the calling of ma
tional conference, made public "A state
ment to-day expressing regret that the
conference may not be called until the
Presidents return. He said:
"'There have been MANY COnferencea
The distinctive feature Of the conference
which have advocated in the Senate
and which / believe Congress will au-
thorize is that II is national in its scope,
thoroughly representative OF both sides
TO the Industrial controversy and COM