The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-03
EMPLOYERS AND
EMPLOYEES WILL
TALK SATURDAY
There Will Be Plain Talk at
This Big Labor Con-
ference

NASHlNGION, sept. Zj.-GIedC
homes are entertained by employers
and employees who believe in fair
ness that much will come out of the
labor conference called for October
by President Wilson. The men
who will be present will represent
all sorts of beliefs and no doubt will
not mince words in presenting
them.
1t is hoped this is true. for if
there ever was a time for plain
speaking it is now. President Will
son is expected to give some extra
ordinary advice to the conference
and will urge its approval.
OF course President Samuel Com
pers will lead the labor delegates
to the conference. No man in our
time or any other period of history,
has such a command of the knowl-
edge necessary to put labors side
before the world. His courage in
every crisis that has arisen in labor
in the past half century is a matter
of history He knows what to say
and when to say it.
The world also is anxious to
know what Judge e. II. Gary has
to say about the relations between
employers and employees. After
Haunting the President of the Unit
ed States, who had urged him to
meet representatives of his en-
ployees to avert a dangerous indus
trial dispute, the people of the
country would like to know his
viewpoint.
1t will be most interesting fea-
ture of the conference to hear Gary
and the President debate the right
of labor to organize and bargain
collectively with employers. The
Presidents position is known, for
he has said, and it applies to Mr..
Gary:
1T is always dangerous for man
to have the floor entirely to him
self Therefore we must insist in
every instance that the parties
come into each others presence and
there discuss the issues between
them and not separately in places
where they have no communication
with each other
Much curiosity is expressed as to
whether John ID. Rockefeller, Jr.,
will eXtol his plan of labor organiz-
alton introduced in Colorado. AS it
has failed and the employees have
rebelled against the company
union" it will be interesting to hear
Mr.. Rockefeller tell what he thinks
now.
Labor will present its plan of
bringing industrial peace. 1t is
probable that the Reconstruction
Platform adopted at the Atlantic
City Convention, said to be the
greatest program ever prepared to
give practical relief in the present
disturbed conditions of the country,
will be submitted for consideration.
The great motive behind the con-
ference is to get leaders of both
sides in industry together where
they can thrash out their grievances
and find a way to harmonic them
as much as possible. For no one
ever looks for solution of the la
Dor problem except those who know
nothing about it. 1t never will be
solved, but there can be way
found to link employers and en-
ployes closer together on certain
fundamental principles.
The great obstacle to this har-
mony of thought along practical
lines is the determination of certain
of our great corporations to main
tain at all hazards autocracy in in
dustry. It is therefore to be a verb
al battle between those who favor
democracy in industry and those
who favor autocracy. How can
these two widely separated beliefs
be brought nearer each other?
Those who are fighting for democ-
racy in industry have simple
program. They want the accept
ance of the right to organize and to
performance to gain these ideals.
What they did in the war was
from a patriotic standpoint. Good
Americans that they are, they stood
by their country and do not now
seek to cash in on dutiful perform
ance.
"'Again l repeat that strike is
unnecessary. Every industry should