New-York tribune., 1920-11-21

.''e0 oy HoVernor Allen and other
CRITICS with tho Kansas plan. which
makes it unlawful for emplover. or
employees to conspirc to interrupt an
essential industry (the production of
1ood, fuel and clothing. as we'll as nub-
lie utility Industries, being conside red
essential IN this connection), and pro-
woes, AS substitute for strikes that
'a'ene occur, an industrial court of
ttnlee members, to determine WAGES.
nours and other conditions of emniov'
uhLent mat may be in dispute in anv Of
these industries. The conference gave
enoughtful attention to the system Of
ernor Allen would prefer to co1i i
compulsory adjudication. and dismissed
~ as less calculated in the long run
70 promote better industrial relotiona
thah the purely voluntary system
which 1t advocated The Kansas plan
nay 90 Tor non-industflal state like
Kansas so long as wages, hours and
worE1ng conditions are determined in
neisn t;op borg bborlng states by free negotia-
court Will have in the conditions pre-
vailing outside of the state fairlv
satisfactory basis for decidinr what
conditions should prevail within the
state. But does any one seriously be-
ileVe that court made u2 of three
3uages, no matter how learned in the
law and well-intentioned. could nos
sibly arrive at decisions that would
make Tor industrial peace for. let us
say, the New York clothing industry I?
FOR IN connection with industrial rela-
tlons we must not forget that the is
sues presented do not relate primarily
10 the past, but to the future. 1t is
not q question of righting wrongs by
applying to given situation prin-
the common law. 1t is rather n qucs-
ton Of determining the conditions
upon which men shall work together
from day to day in coming months
and years. From study of the ex-
perlence Of New Zealand, which has
been experimenting the longest with
compulsory arbitration, the conference
came to the conclusion that much bet
ter results would follow the omission
OF every form of compulsion from the
system, putting an emphasis on the obi
cation of free and independent en-
ploycrs and employees to work out for
themselves by joint negotiation better
industrial relations.
Segment of Human Relations
After all, industrial relations are
only segment, though a very i'm
portant segment, of those human re-
; intlons, the improvement and elevation
OF which Is the chief task of civiliza-
ton. In this country we have reached
the stage in our political DEVELOPMENT
when the ultimate determination of
public questions rests with a minority
, OF our citizens and when our citizens
include, with unimp exceptions,
all the men and women of the country
who have attained the age Of twenty
one: This democratic political organi-
zation can succeed in dealing wisely
with the ever more complex issues
that present themselves only If the
, intelligence, the independence and the
sense Of responsibility of the average
citizen arc steadily advanced
1t is idle to expect wage-earners 70
, be efficient citizens unless our indus
! tries are organized so that they may
play an increasingly responsible part
, in determining the conditions under
, which they earn their living. En-
able aspirations of their employees to
have voice through employee repre-
! sentation in controlling the conditions
Of employment are rendering an in
valuable service to the whole COM
munity. They deserve to rank with our
best teachers and most forward look
: ing statesmen. Employers, on the other
hand, whose one thought IN their re-
lations with their employees is how
they can keep them down, thwart their
legitimate desire to organize and re-
= duce them to the situation Of helplcs
: dependents on the employers bounty
are undesirable citizens and should be
l recognized as such by all men.
The recommendation of the Second
: Industrial Conference will be again
brought to the attention Of Congress
this winter. There is reason to think
that its views had some influence in
giving their final form to the labor
provisions of the Cummins Esch
transportation act, under which in
creasingly satisfactory industrial re-
, lations appear to be developing in the
railroad industry. But we are still
}. without any similar machinery for
dealing with the equally vital coal min
ing industry and other industries
whose continuous operation Is essen
tial to the public interest. We cannot
. much longer, treat the food and fuel
:, industries on the basis of the legal
fiction that we are still at war with
Germany and thnt therefore the Lever
act is still operative. Moreover, ap-
pcaling to the penalties of a war meas
ure long after peace has been restored
! is not a method for improving indus
|, trial relations, nor does it, as prac-
. tical matter. provide us with enough
conl. Congress will have to deal with
this problem during tho coming winter
| believe that in this task it will be
t Eidcd by tho rrcomme ndations OF the