The Topeka state journal., 1919-09-24
NEED The TREATY
Ratification VIII Smooth Out
TangIes, Presidents Attitude.
Won't Act Further in Steel
Strike Until His Aid Asked.
"pEEVED" At FORMER REBUFF
League Principle Would Work
in Labor Disputes-Wilson.
Blames Peace DeIay-Says I'm
/ rest Coming From Europe.
''PEEVED" AT FORMER REBUFF
BY HUGH BAILLIE

Aboard Ine PreSlQenLS Train En-
Route to Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept. "a
its labor provisions will enable men to
forget war and begin working toward
industrial democracy, which will pre-
vent labor clashes like the present
steel strike, President Wilson believes
today.
This can be given as his attitude,
not toward the steel strike in par
ticular but toward labor difficulties in
general, with regard to preserving an
attitude of absolute silence. Altho
there was no hint from official circles,
it may be stated that Wilson, having
once already attempted to avert that
strike, is disposed to wait until both
sides are ready to ask his aid. Then
it is probable he will propose an armi-
stice until the industrial conference
meets in Washington, October 6.
Apply League Principle.
Wilson is firm in the belief that the
cooling OFF, process provided in the
League of Nations covenant for inter-
national differences can with good re-
suits be applied also to industrial dis
putes and that if the representatives
of both sides will get together and
talk it over, a settlement will result.
Should labor ask his intercession in
the steel strike, Wilson's probable
course would be to intimate to the
employers that he is ready to act If
they also request it, There is a feel
ing that the president did not like the
manner in which his first offer was
spurned.
There is no doubt that Wilson re-
CARDS the steel strike as of the utmost
seriousness. He has repeatedly warned
that labor unrest is spreading as a re-
suit of delay in bringing about a final
peace and that this unrest is-coming
from Europe.
Know His Attitude Soon.
President Wilson's attitude in re-
gard to the steel strike probably will
be made known in a speech very soon.
He already has established a prece-
dent for such an utterance by con-
demning the Boston police strike in
several of his addresses.
When he takes up the steel strike,
the president is expected to declare
that when any faction refuses to sub
nit its cause to arbitration. to sit down
with the other fellow and tall it over
that case is defective. He also is ex-
pected to condemn violence but will
point out that the basic causes which
produce conditions leading to strikes
and violence cannot be. eliminated un-
til peace is established by treaty rati-
fication.
Wilson probably will voice his be-
lief that a getting-together of capital
and labor at the forthcoming indus
trial conference would lead to settle
ment of the steel dispute. And he
probably will hint that if both parties
signify desire to have him act he
will arrange an armistice in the strike
until the conference meets.
After the Cheyenne speech this
afternoon, the president was sched-
uled to arrive in Denver quietly some
time during the night and go to his
hotel. But a change in this plan was
under consideration whereby the train
would remain at some scheduled
point outside the city until O'Clock
Thursday morning. to assure the pres
ident of restful night away from
the city's noise.
At Rawlings, Wilson exchanged the
time of day with a small crowd. A
local newspaper man made bold to
interview him, despite warning thai
it was never done.
We'll" Wilson told him, -'I an
having a wonderful trip, with mos
gratifying results"