The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-12-29
II'''DISTRIAL CONFERENCE SAYS
RAILROADS MUST KEEP GOING
Investigating Board
Saws Interruptions to Traffic
Are IntOlerable
DEBATE RIGHT TO STRIKE
Believe That Public Utilities
Such as Roads Are Essential
To Nations Existence

4 Washington, Dec. 2S--Tentative rec
| concentrations for the establishment
II Of machinery to prevent or retard la
I bor conflicts in private industry were
Il announced today by the presidents in
1 dustrial conference with view to OBJ
/ tanning constructive criticism before
/ q final plan is adopted.
N The plan as outlined now contem-
N plates the creation of national in
n dustrial tribunal and regional boards
Y Of inquiry and adjustment, which
4 would move to the settlement Of dis
J putes before there was any stoppage
Y If production. Decisions would have
/ the full force and effect of a trade
II greement between the parties to the
n ispute.
II Remarking that some public utilities,
such as railroads, are essential to the
very existence of the people, the con-
Iference's tentative statement express
l Cd the opinion that the interruption
Of such essential public utilities is in
tolerable.''
But the conference states that fur
;her consideration is required of the
problem, whether some method can be
arrived at that will avert all danger
Of interruption to service.
Government employees, the third
class into which the kage earning
public are divided, should have the
right to associate for mutual protec-
tion, the statement declared. but mo
Interference by any group with the
continuous operation of government
functions through concerted cessation
Of work or threats thereof can be per-
mitted."
When the conference reconvenes
January H., public hearings will be
held to obtain expert advice as to.
the drafting of the final recommends
lions in the light of such criticism of
the tentative report as may be re-
ceived.
While stating that at this time it
was believed more essential to devise
machinery for avertfng conflicts than
10 undertake a discussion of the.
causes of unrest, the conference indi-
.ated clearly the general principles on
which it has based its recommended
lions.
Our modern industrial organiza-
ion" the tentative report said, IF it
IS not to become a failure. must yield
10 the individual a larger satisfaction
with life. Not only must the
theory that labor is a commodity be
abandoned, but the concept of leader
ship must be substituted for that of
masteTship. Human fellowship in
industry must either be an empty
phrase or a living fact.
Pending the growth of better rela-
lonship between employers and en-
ployes, the practical approach to the
problem is to devise a method of pre-
venting or retarding conflicts by pro-
Fidlng machinery for the adjustment
OF differences. To be successful such
tribunals must be so organized as to
operate promptly as well as impair
IIaIiy. The plain fact is that the
public has long been uneasy about the
power Of great employers; it is becom-
ing uneasy about the power of great
aoor organizations. The community
must be assured against domination
by either.
The plan which follows does not
propose to do away with the ultimate
right TO strike, to discharge, or to
maintain the closed or the open shop"
The national industrial tribunal sug-
gested by the conference, would con-
s.st OF nine members appointed by the
president, three each representing the
Employers. the employees and the pub
ac The tribunal would in general,
be a board of appeal, whose decisions
must be unanimous, but provision was
made for public majority and minority
yeports IN cases where no agreement
was possible.
industrial regions, probably twelve
n number, conforming to the federal
reserve system, would be outlined and
L regional chairman appointed for each
py the president. Vice -chairmen would
oe named by the tribunal, if the work
n any region required it.
Fanels of employers and employees
lof each region would be prepared by
ne secretary of commerce and the
secretary OF labor, respectively, after
V'lLerenees with the employers and
workers IN that region. Each panel,
approved by the president, would be
els+SSlIled by industries among the en-
1oyers and by industries, with sub
1'aSslfication into crafts, among the
employees. Lots would be cast to de-
.eIinlne the order of names in each
panel
" hen a dispute arose in any region.
-"s chairman would request each side
summit II TO regional board of
.l'"Slinent, consisting of the chair
't'2Li' one representative chosen by
80" sue, and two unchalIenged mem
sfS of each panel. appointment of
esentatiYes of both sides to any
tisi'ate would constitute an agreement
continue the status that existed
lie trouble arose. Decision of.
01h regional boards would have to be