The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-07
Demand That Sessions Be Held Day and Night if Necessary to Establish Basis for Harmonious Re- lations Between Capital and Labor
By Associated Press

w aSnlngJOn, OclODeT D. Representatives of the public evidenced spirited desire for action, rather than oratory, at the opening session today of the industrial conference called by President Wilson.
 Apparently with the determine ton of differentiatins this conference from many similar gatherings held in Wash ington the public's delegates demanded that sessions be held night and day, If necessary, to establish basis for har- monious relations between capital and labor during the present abnormal eco homie conditions. Bernard NJ. Baruch of New York, one of the delegates was active in directing the affairs of tho conference, which was considered sig
 nificant in view of his close Friendship
 with President Wilson ani his frequent visits to the White House
 After the appointment or committees on nominations and rules. the confer ence adjourned to meet tomorrow mon- ing. Gavin McNab of San Francisco, representative of the public, was men,
 toned prominently for permanent chairman of the conference. but mem bers of both committees declined to in-
 dicate what their recommendations would be.
 A motion to adjourn by w. D. Ma hon, one of the delegates of the Amer ican Federation of Labor brought the first indication that the men named to represent the public were prepared to force results Thomas l.. Chadbourne
 of New York. who sat with Mir. Baruch. took the floor immediately.
 MEET FOR ACTION "An the men on both sides and In the middle of this hall" he said. re- ferring to the seating arrangement whereby the delegates of capttal and labor were on either hand of the pub lies seats "are here to work us rapidly 1 as possible and to adjourn as little as possible, and l know that the men in the middle of this situation want to carry on the conferences day and night if necessary, to get through. would like very much to see the mo- l tion changed, so We can meet again this | afternoon or evening".
 Mr. Mahom explained that i meeting 1 of the executive council of the federal
 ton had been called sometime pre- viously which il was impossible to 1 postpone and Mir. Chadbourne with- | Virtually every delegate was in bis seat when Secretary Wilson called the meeting to order in the Pan American union buildings beautiful hall of the Americas. John Barrett, director gen. eral of the union in welcoming the del- | egates to the use of the building. called attention to the fact that this confer ence, endeavoring to stabilize industrial | peace. was meeting in structure de- voted to maintaining the peace of the western hemisphere. The very decora-
 tions of the hall he pointed out, bore l the word Pax
 May I emphasize" MT. Barrett said, l that the Pan American union is great practical working league of nauons-the
 only league of nations In the world that has long been and Is growing con- cern'
 Secretary Wilson told the delegates | they had been given opportunity for splendid achievement and wished their Godspeed on behalf of the President. l ONLY DISCORDANT ELEMENT The only discordant element affecting the conference was the absence of John IL Lewis, of the united mine workers, | who is engaged in wage negotiations that l threaten a strike. and Frank Duffy. of | the carpenters, who was said to have de- clined fl attend the conference off, 1 cals of the American Federation of La Dor, however, sd10 that as representation 1 in the conference was not on the basis ot Itrades, both miners and carpenters might ! be said to have spokesmen in the other labor delegates All of the railroad unions l sent delegates.
 The following statement was issued by Magnus w. Alexander. managing director of the national industrial conference board, at the conclusion of the session. ! Secretary of Labor Wilson voiced the sentiments of the employers when he de- clared in his opening address that the more productive we are the sooner we will replace the wastage of war. return to normal price levels and abolish the opportunity for undue profiteering. and in his further declaration that the confer 1 ence has before it the opportunity for promoting the welfare of the country and 1 all of mankind.
 'The spirit in which the conference be- l gins justifes the expectation that real , progress may be made in settling sew | eral great questions.
 "The employers are gratified that the
 four railway brotherhoods decided to par | ticipate. feeling that this makes for the l harmonious unity which must be the key inote of constructive accomplishment. LIST OF DELEG ATES
 The revised list of delegates attending the industrial conference was announced today as follows:
 For the public Bernard NJ. Baruch, (Centinued on Page Two>