The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-22
PREVENTION Of
labor TROUBLE
IS BOARD Plan.
Collective Bargaining on
Shop Basis Crux Of
Program.
now UP 10 CONGRESS
In d u stria Conference
Makes Long Report on
Conditions Here.
INV AssocIated press j

fBys Associated Pressl
WASHINGTON, March 20. = Joint
organization Of management and en-
pIoyes as means OF preventing mis-
understanding and OF securing cooper
alive effort throughout American in
dustry is proposed by the Industrial
Conference appointed by President
Wilson In report to the President
made public here today.
The conferees IN their report state
that they have modified the tentative
ppian Of machinery to adjust disputes
in general industry by conference,
Cancellation, inquiry and arbitration.
announced by the Conference on De
cember 30, 1919, and that they have
endeavored to develop methods Of pre-.
vention rather than adjustment of Ia
Dor difficulties. The modified plan.
devised since the Conference recon
vened last january -, It is said, makes
machinery available for collective
bargaining with only incidental and
limited arbitration" The plan has
been extended to cover disputes affect
ing public utilities other than steam
railroads, and also to government ana
other public employees.
In addition the report analyses the
development of industrial relations,
hours of labor, women in industry,
child labor, housing, wages, profit
sharing and gain-sharing, thrift agen-
cies, initiation and high cost Of living,
agriculture, unemployment and a pub
lie employment clearing house.
The causes OF industrial unrest are
set forth as including "the rise in the
cost of living, unrestrained specula-
ton, spectacular instances of exces-
sive profits, excessive accumulation
and misuse OF wealth, inequality and
readjustment of wage schedules, re-
lease of ideas and emotions by the
war, social revoluti onary theories Inn
ported from Europe, the belief that
free speech is restricted, the inter-
mittency of employment, fear of un-
employment unnecessarily high In.
FAINT mortality in industrial centers,
loss of personal contact in large indus
trial units and the elimination Of a
growing belief on the part Of both EN-.
ployers and employees that readjust-
ment is necessary to wholesome con.
tinuity of their united effort"
Industrial problems vary not only
with each industry, the report says,
but in each establishment. There.
fore the strategic place to begin bat
tie with misunde rstanding is within
the Industrial plant itself. Primarily
the settlement must come from the
bottom not from the top" The con-
ference, in expressing its approval OF
"employe representation" says 1t is
not a field for legislation, because the
form which such representation should
take may vary in every plant. For
this reason the Recommendation is d.
rected solely to managers and en-
ployes.
III the Joint organization OF man
agement and employees in the plant or
industry fails to reach the collective
agreement says the report. "or II
without such joint organization, dis
putes arise which are not settled by
existing agencies, then the Conference
proposes system OF settlement
through National Industrial Board,
Local Regional Conference and Boards
Of Inquiry.
This plan which the Conference says
Is based upon American experience
and designed to meet American condi.
lions" is national In, scope and opera.
ton and yet decentralized. 1t is said
70 be different from anything in opera.
ton elsewhere and employs no loca!
authority exoept the right Of inquiry.
Its basic idea Is stimulation to settle
ment OF peace by the parties in con.
flict and the enlistment OF public opin.
ion toward enforcing that method of
settlements
The Regional Adjustment Confer
ence proposes a board to consist of
four representatives selected by the
parties to tse dispute, and four others
In their industry chosen by them and
familiar with their problems. It
would be presided over by trained
government official, the Regional
chairman, who would act as a con.
ciliator, II an unanimous agreement
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