The Washington times., 1919-09-21
Industrial Democracy
Is Success in Britain

Continued from First Page.)
to put them into enect. The Presi-
dent Is not unaware Of the fact that
Il he is to bring about genuine in
dustrial peace in the country, he
must put all the power and driving
force OF his own personality behind
a genuinely constructive program.
And he has subtle ways Of gaining
his ends. The hand-picked delega-
tiOn is a case in point,
Program Uncertain.
AS to the Presidents program,
there Is no definite word. IL IS
clear, however, that he has not call
ed this conference without being pre-
pared to take the lead and the initia-
tive in it, and he has repeatedly eE-
pressed himself in favor Of the
demOcratization OF industry.
How he has TRANSLATED this phrase
into a constructive policy is a secret
which will be disclosed in due time.
But industrial democracy is not mere
ly a phrase; it has a very definite, con-
crete meaning in Great Britain, and in
all countries which have a progressive
labor movement. 1t is safe TO assume
that the Presidents Interpretation Of
II is not markedly different from that
which prevails elsewhere.
In Great Britain. for instance, in
dustriaI democracy has been prac-
tically synonymous with the so2caIled
Whitley plan Tor the past two years.
The Whitley plan organizes represen-
tative government in the various In
dustries through shop committees,
district councils, and naClonal coun-
ellis. 1t establishes the priRciple Of
conference between equals, Of open
diplomacy in business, Of legislation,
industry by industry, according to
their various needs-in short, 1t marks
the beginnings Of constitutiOnalism in
industry.
UniOnlEation Needed.
One Of the most significant things
about whitleyism. 50 far as it Affects
the United States, is that it can
not function without -thorough-gOinE
UnionizatiOn Of the employees and that
the parliamentary comittee which de-
vised il recommended the establish
ment Of trade boards in those indus
tries which were not uniOnized, the
trade boards to act practically as trus-
tees for the employees until they had
become experienced in organization.
The Department Of Labor sent over
to Great Britain a group Of American
employers TO study the practical oper-
alton Of the Whitley plan, and they
brought in a report last Nay stating
that the British employing class found
in Unionism the only possible method
Of effecting industrial peace, and rec
Ommending the same policy in the
United States.
It is surprising 70 find that whitley
ism already is more or less taken for
granted in England, whereas the
United States is only on the verge
Of adopting il. In the British Indus
trial conference held last April, Brit
ish labor displayed a temper and a
purpose which aimed at nothing less
than naturalization OF all the basic
industries and guild socialism. While
the railroad brotherhoOds in the
United States are working along this
line. il is certain that no proposals
OF this type will be projected by the
representatives Of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor at the coming White
House conference. The American con-
ference viii be distinguished by the
absence OF any radicalisH. as Eu-
ropean labor understands the word.
For this reason the prospects Of agree