The sun., 1919-09-17
STATELABOR
BOARD.PLAN TO
BLOCK STRIKE
Albany Conference Acts to
Prevent Industrial In
terruptions.
MORAL AUTHORITY ONLY
Nine Members to Be Named
by Governor, Employers
and Labor.
MORAL AUTHORITY ONLY
Special Despatch to TIN Sun.

Albany, Sept. 16.-At conference
to-day OF representatives of capital and
labor from various sections of the State
Gov. Alfred z. Smith was authorized to
appoint a State labor board of nine
members with the duty of attempting to
provide for and insure uninterrupted
production by preventing strikes and
lockouts. Three of the members of this
board will be chosen by the Governor to
represent the general public, three will
be chosen by the labor interests and the
remaining three will be chosen by en-
ployers of labor.
The idea of the Governor. as outlined
by him during the conference, is to
have the members Of the board spend
most Of their time in Albany and be
prepared to go Immediately to any part
Of the State where industrial disputes
may be pending, with the object of
bringing together employees and en-
poyers and preventing strikes The
board will serve without pay and will
be without the backing of any statute
law. but the Governor said that he pro-
posed to place behind IL every moral
resource of his office and Of the State.
II propose. if possible" he said, ito
make certain that when a majority OF
the board has spoken the decision will
y be observed. To a large degree the pres
ent high cost Of living can be attributed
to the fact that there is a serious Shcrt-
ago Of the commodities that people need
in their everyday life. and this is due in
no small part to lack of production.
Strikes hinder production just in pro-
portion to the time lost by the workers
who strike, and there is not a single
one Of these disputes which cannot be
settled before they mean a decrease in
production"
The conference lasted more than four
hours and was attended by representa-
tives OF the State Reconstruction Com
mission, who suggested the idea, besides
the -representatives of capital and labor.
Among those present who participated
in the discussion were Charles Bern
heimer of the New York Chamber of
Commerce, Allen E. Beals Of the Build
ing Trades Employers of New York, T.
Harvey Ferris of Utica, Otto NJ. Eidlitz
Of New York, Edward A. Keller Of AL
barry, president of the State Association
of Builders; r. ]. Caldwell Of New
York, Industrial Commissioners James
VI. Lynch and Francis Perkins ard
Charles p. Steinmetz of the General
Electric Company of Schenectady. James
p. Holland, president of the State Fed
Grafton of Labor, was the principal
speaker-for labor.
One unusual feature of the confer
ence was a speech by Charles p. Stein
metz, known as the electric wizard.
who represented the General Electric
Company He Is Socialist
Il am a Socialist because / believe
that In years to come capital will be
unnecessary" declared Mr. Steinmetz.
But now. and for long time hence,
both capital and labor are necessary.
1t is our duty to bring these natural
enemies together. If we fail in this
one Of them has to go. and there is no
doubt which one"
Labor was taken to task by Otto
Eidlitz of the New York builders, who
was connected with the Federal Hous-
ing Commission and the War Labor
Board.
II regret to say" said he, that the
output, the actual work performed by
the men during the war. has come
through into peace times and we are
not getting the output we should. Wha'
ought to be done Is to induce our mer
of their own free will to realize tina,
labor not only has dignity but 1t should
have a conscience. II men are get
ting IS. or SO, or SO for an eight houi
day. they should give as much work az
they are able to do, according to eacf
mans ability"
Mr.. Eidlitz declared that many of thu
decisions of the War Labor Board were
made under pressure of the necessity o.
getting munitions and supplies to Eu
rope, and that they were simply compro
misses, lodging the real issues in tn
case, and he also insisted that labor wa
highly overpaid during the war simpl,
on account of the shortage of men.
Public Service Commissioner Lewi
Nixon said he is working out plan TO
having the State fix the wages Of trolle!
workers, under which, in case Of strike
the strikers would lose their jobs, be de
NOTED or fined, as might be determined
James NJ. Lynch OF the State industrial
Commission believed the new labor boar
would be effective If 1t went into strik
situation only when it was evident tina
the employers and employees themselve
were not able to reach an agreement.