Evening star., 1919-04-13
LABOR TROUBLES KEPT DOWN {
BY U. s.. ADJUSTMENT BOARD
Services More In Demand Since Armistice
Was Signed Than During Period
of Actual Fighting.

effective method of working quietly
to permit expression of the real will
Of the mass Of the union men. This
was done through making the facts
clear to the men and by enlisting the
aid OF the international organizations
OF labor in the ending of a strike
which they never had authorized.
This course. strongly backed by the
and, the strike situation was CON
trolled before serious harm had been
done.
Critical in Copper District.
The trouble in the copper district af-
lords another example OF the operation
OF the department. The situation there.
though less sensational in its outer as
pects. was in reality critical. because IL
was due not so much to a manufactured
rebellion as to real hardships resulting
from the necessity for practical stoppage
OF production with the cessation of war
orders while there was a surplus on
the war to strive for maximum produc-
tion, and when hostilities ceased sud-
denty, they found that because they had
worked SO hard there was likely to be
no more work for them for some time
This furnished fertile ground for radical
propaganda, which was fully taken ad-
vantage Of.
In this situation the Secretary of Labor
called to Washington about thirty of
the leaders of labor Of the copper dis
trict. explained to them fully the reason
Tor the curtailment of work and the i'm
possibility of continuing the mines and
smelters in operation on such q scale
as tQ give work to all at the full capacity
OF the plants. A representative Of the
Treasury was called in to explain the
nnanclal side OF the situation, and one
Of the chief figures Of the mine man
agements met the men and presented the
difficulties facing the operators. As a
result Of these frank exchanges. which
occupied several days, the labor men
went back to their respective districts 3
with counsel of moderation. and the
message. that all grievances should be
worked out over the conference table
Serious trouble was thus avoided and
the departments conciliators are still
working to bring about settlement
OF any controversies that may arise.
Through mediation. too. many of
the controversies in the textile world
have recently been settled without
fact that employees in several of the
chief textile cities had been on strike
for weeks Instead Of industrial war,
the disputes have been adjusted by
negotiation.
Saved Harbor Situation.
New York harbor controversies have
presented one of the most dim
cult problems Of ALL because OF the
disastrous results certain to follow
from failure to reach an adjustment.
The department nevertheless. ap-
preached the task in the usual way,
/ ineffective, gradually brought about
a settlement. through cooperation
with the several branches Of the gov
ernment concerned, Of all disputes ex-
cept those involving the private boat
owners The departments coneilator
is still busy with this phase of the
case, and eventual adjustment is Ger
tain; in the meantime New York city
has been saved from privation. and
the babies Of the city have had a
cause the department made special
effort to induce the milk drivers not
to strike in sympathy with the harbor
| workers.
i Lest these conspicuous instances be
| regarded as having occupied all the
| time Of the division, and as being its
| only successes, it may be well to give
! the figures Of cases handled since the
armiStice was signed Between No
vember II and March 20 the depart.
| eontroversies. Of which 151 wers
strikes. It has adjusted 333 Of THESE
and has been unable to adjust only -.
Sixty four cases are now pending, Ia
I Board. and ITO are reported az un-
classiied-that Is. they were found
! to have been settled before the con-
ciliator arrived or to be Of such slight
sfenincance as not to require the serv-
! ices of the. commissioner.
The value of the services OF the d.
vision Of conciliation has been recog-
mixed by Congress. which has granted
an appropriation to this division
which win permit its work to con-