The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-04-02
A Basis for Industrial Peace,

President Wilson'S first effort for
harmony between capital and labor
broke up in row, the representatives
| of employers and employees being unable
| to agree and the representatives of
| the public" being in the minority. The
second conference, composed solely OF
| the public" has just formulated its
program for the prevention of industrial
disturbance.
The Spokane Spokesman Revied Qnd.
Dem.) boils the suggested procedure
| of the conference down to this:
First. joint organization of manage
ment and employees on the job This,
where undertaken with sincerity and
good will, has record of success
Next, If joint organization should
fail to reach collective agreement,
regional adjustment conferences. The
regional chairman in every case would
be trained government official, acting
as conciliator.
IF the regional conference does not
agree unanimously the next step is the
| national Industrial board.
Finally, there may be regional
board of inquiry, which has the right
to subpoena witnesses and to publish
| its findings as guide to public opin-
| ion.
There are no penalties and no COM
pulsion, the right to strike is not de-
MED, and the question of open or closed
shop is not involved"
The Youngstown Vindicator CDem.)
| calls the report a "masterly study of
industrial conditions in the United
States" and the Birmingham News
Dem.l believes It deserves the most
careful consideration by Americans of
all industrial and political complex
IONS" A feature that makes 1t espe-
cially appealing is that while 1t does
| not require compulsory arbitration +"
| it does require compulsory publicity.
elNnN M nYO TY,1
says:
THE only element of compulsion
| about it is the provision for a board of
| inquiry and for a report to the public
| when an adjustment conference dis
agrees or when a dispute is not re-
render the final verdict. The public has
| a right to dominate, for it ultimately
pays the loss by strikes"
Publicity, of course, is the last
thing some men want" comments the
Sioux City Tribune Und.) and therefore
the proposal will be fought by some
labor leaders and by some employees"
while the Norfolk Virginian- Pilot Qnd
Dem.) adds that public opinion is a
power before which industrial forces
must bow; those who have Justice on
their side have nothing to Gear from
its judgment"
But justice and practicability do not
always go hand in hand" interposes the
pittsburgh sun (Dem.) and the New
York Evening Post Qnd) also remarks
that "if industry wants peace the way
of peace has been pointed out. If it
wants war no set of machinery will
prevent war" at does not bring the
millennium" observes the Toledo News
Bee Qnd,) land it will not solve the
problems of industrial unrest, but the
plan of industrial adjustment which it
proposes Is infinitely better than no
plan at all
Unrest today" says the report it.
self, lis characterized more than ever
before by purposes and desires that go
beyond the mere demand for higher
wages and shorter hours" and while
these aspirations are psychological and
intangible they are mot for that rea-
son any less significant" The report
declares that workers desire ito exert
a larger and more organic influence
upon the processes of industrial life, :"
and it accordingly makes provision for
share in the management through
shop councils. Commenting on this,
the New York World Dem) saws;
For the first time in this nation a
conference representing the widest pub
lie endeavor finds with impressive
unanimity in favor Of employees as man
ayers, in part of the industries in
which they work. This cannot but
stimulate interest; it might aid eff
cheney; it should allay unrest"
This, says the Washington Herald
Qnd) suggests a system based on mi