The Washington herald., 1920-01-23
300 MAY STUDY
LABOR UNREST
Senator Kenyon in Resolu-
ton Urges New
Congress.
ssO,oooTo COVER WORK
Former Secretary Of War
Labor Board Supports
Step.
$50, ,OOOTO COVER WORK


A commission of 500 members to
study the question of industrial un-
rest is provided in a resolution In
troduced in the Senate yesterday by
Senator Kenyon. of Iowa
An appropriation of s5e.0oO is pro-
vided for the work of the commits
sion. which would be made up OF
equal numbers OF representatives of
capital and labor. Authority is Civ
en- to the President to call the COM
mission together Immediately on
passage of the resolution The res
olution was referred to the Commit
tee on Education and Labor, which
soon will announce hearings on 1t.
In connection with the proposal
W. Jett Lauck. former secretary of
the National War Labor Board, made
the following statement:
The plan for creating a national
labor board pending the calling of
an Industrial congress to pass
upon principles to regulate indus
trial relations. offered by Senator
Kenyon yesterday in his resolution,
fmpresses me as being distinctly the
wisest step which has been taken
toward a real constructive solution
of the labor problem. Its practica-
bility has been demonstrated by
actual experience, for the reason
that similar measures have been
worked out in Great Britain and
in Canada.
To Stabilize Production.
The great problem at the present
time is to lay sure foundations for
industrial peace and the stability
and acceleration of production. This
involves, il is generally conceded,
the extension of democracy to indus
try. or, in other words, the founda-
tion of a new Industrial code as a
basis of procedure in adjusting fu-
turc industrial relations. If the as
pirations of industrial workers for
a greater measure of economic we'll
being are to be realized, or. IL the
desire for a greater participation
in the control of industrial rela-
tions is TO have a practical appli-
cation. the essential condition is
an industrial treaty of peace. so to
speak, an agreement as to under
lying principles and as to the ad-
ministrative machinery for inter-
preting and applying these princi-
pies, so that in dustrial operations
may be resumed with the certainty
that not only production will not be
interrupted, but that it will be stabii-
lied and accelerated"
so far as the labor problem AMI
industrial relations are concerned the
public interest is, of course, para
mount. 1t had been hoped that LABOR
- WW~al
ment! work out a program of pro-
cedure for the future. This expecta-
tion was blasted by the failure of the
recent Industrial Conference. and
since that time. the contest between
capital and labor has been intensified.
They are now so far apart that it
would be vain to hope for a voluntary
agreement.
Agreements Are Vital
"Basins his procedure upon this
state of affairs, Senator Kenyon has
evidently. in order to safeguard the
public interest and at the same time.
without impairinS the fundamental
rights of either capital or labor. pro-
vided for the establishment of a Labor
Adjustment Board which will func-
lion upon the basis of principles sane
toned by the government during the
war until the President, acting
through his present Industrial Con-
ference. representing the public. calls
an Industrial Congress which may, by
agreement, modify the principles anu
procedure of the board created by
Senator Kenyon's resolution.
Undoubtedly, under these condi-
tions it will be of vital interest to
both capital and labor to come to an
agreement as to a policy which will
eliminate conflict and accelerate pro-
ductiOn. At the same time a national
agency is created for the peaceable
adjustment OF industrial conflict TO
which either party to a controversy
may make a complaint The way has
therefore been opened up for the just
determination Of disputes. for the pro-
lection of the public against the losses
arising from Industrial warfare, and
an opportunity is given labor and
capital to agree on a more permanent
code and machinery to govern their
relations in the future"