Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-22
AN ARK FOR MR.. WILSON'S
INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE?
Hoover, Wickershaf, and Their As.
sociates Are Recommending Poll.
cies for Labor Which viii
Pain MIR. Burleson

cies for Labor Which viii
Pain Mr.. surleson
MIR. HOOVER may never be permit
4Nl ted to enter the presidential cam.
paigu. The attorney general of the
United States may dcport him. For
Hoover. with Secretary of Labor Will
son. heads the list Of nineteen dis.
tingushcd representatives Of big bust
ness. government aud labor who. having
dciberated for months in. the industrial
conference called by the President. now
issue report that is certain to shock
and Cnragc every anoiutcd standpatter.
II one is radical who advocates col
lcctive bargaining. n rigorous reguIa-
tion of child labor and sweeping read
iuStments to insure just regard for the
human factor and human rights in in
dustry. these gentlemen are very radical
indeed
Shall we SEQ au ark hurricdly pre-
pared for Oscar Straus. Samuel w. Nc
Call. Richard Hooker. Professor Taus-
sig. George W. Wickcrsham. Julius
Roscnwald and tho other members Of
the conference? That is not improb
able. since their formal report. published
for the guidance of the President and
the country. repeats at length many of
the assertions that only Il few months
ago caused representatives of organized
workers to be chased off the streets in
American coal and steel towns.
business of the sort that is usually
called big had a majority in the com
mission. and yet tho views of the CON
fcrces are startlingly reminiscent of
contentious made vainly by labor during
the stormy days about Pittsburgh and
Indianapolis. The report is. of course.
unlike Mr.. Foster. But it is oven more
unlike Judge Gary. The very principles
which Judge Gary refused to recognize
are here presented not only as means to
industrial pr ~ but as means to greater
industrial prosperity.
First among these is the principle Of
collective bargaining. The validity aud
usefulness Of this principle was rCcog
ui2cd at every turn in the industrial
conference.
Joint organizations of management
and employees are provided for as the
very basis of the elaborate plan now
formally suggested to eliminate friction
between the two divisions of the indus
triad world. The rights of unions and
the rights of men to select their own
Representatives are also recognized and
upheld. Blame for the confusion and
conflict of the past is not put on any
body. II the members Of the conference
have not been mislcd. all recent stress
and strife was due to general misundcr
standings and to Il lack Of intimate
knowledge. among those who control in
duStry. Of conditions prevailing among
men who work for them
From the first the conference had IL
definite aim. 1t sought method by
which the long debates and discussions
that inevitably follow after II strike may
be precipitatCd and decided before II
strike is called in order that the terrible
economic waste and the terrible miscries
Of industrial deadlock may be avoided
The working plan now formally Of
fcrpd with this end in view would pro-
vide for regional adjustment confer
cuces directed by au experienced rep
rCSPutative of the government in the
areas defined by the federal reserve act.
The regional conference hoard would
consist of four representatives selected
by the disputiug parties and four others
representative of their industry and ia e
miliar with their problems.
II disputes arising in an establish
mcnt or an industry could not be set.
tied through friendly conferences be-
tween mutually recognized Spokcsmcn
for the employers and the employees. it
would pass automatically to the rc-
gional conference. Failure there would
send the dispute to the national indus
trial board of nine members to be an
pointed by the President with the M
proval Of the Senate. Unanimous agree
mcnts would have the binding forcc of
trade agreements for designated periods.
If one or another party in an indus
trial dispute should refuse to submit n
given case to the regional adjustment
conference. the representative of the
government charged with tho Protection
Of the public interest would be en-
powered to call regional board of in
Quiry. to put witnesses under oath and
examine books and records. It is pro-
vidcd always that work in the industry
,muSt continue Will" discussion and OK
animation proceed, though careful pro
vision is made to eliminate rcd tame and
insure quick action
No claim Of infalIiblitv is made for