The daily Alaska citizen., 1920-01-23
A TENTATIVE SOLUTION

there appears in full the preliminary state ment of the industrial conference regard ing it's proposal for machinery to avert or postpone further industrial disturbances and to dissipate the present unhealthy con- ditions surrounding the whole industrial structure of the nation. The proposals of the conference made therein are tentative and are being given the fullest publicity turnout the country ill order that everyone may be familiar with the methods being considered and that criticism may be of fered if desired.
 In it's introduction to the statement, the conference says that it is issued in or der that interested organizations and in- dividuals may give 1t thoro consideration.
 It says, "The conference does not deem it useful at this time to enter upon a dis cussion of the causes of industrial unrest It believes rather that it's most immediate contribution is the suggestion of practical measures which will serve to avert or post pone industrial conflicts.
 Tn cOnfining itself to the proposal of machinery for the adjustment of disputes, the conference is far from wishing to eX aggerate the importance of the mechanical as contrasted with the human elements in the situation. Our modern industrial or ganization, if 1t is not to become a failure must yield to the individual a larger satis- faction with life. It makes possible a greater production of material things. But we have grown so accustomed to its com, plexity that we are in danger of forgetting that men of today are more dependent on each other than ever before The spirit of human fellowship and responsibility was easier to maintain when two or three work ed side by side and saw the completed pro duet pass from their hands. Yet their CO., operation was actually less necessary be- cause each by himself was more nearly capable, If circumstances demanded to meet the needs of life. Today we have a complex intervening of vital interests But we have as yet failed to adjust our human relations to the facts of our eco- nomc mterdependence. The process to- ward adjustment, tho slow, nevertheless goes on. The right relationship between employer and employe in large industries can only be promoted by the deliberate or gamzatlon of that relationship. Not only must the theory that labor is commodity be abandoned, but the concept of leadership must be substituted for that of mastership. New machinery of democratic representa- tlon must be erected to suit the condi- tons of present industry and restore a measure of personal contact and a sense of responsibility between employer and em- ploye The more recent development of such machinery with cooperation of or gamzed labor Is hopeful sign. But back of any machinery must be the power which moves 1t. Human fellowship and industry may be either an empty phrase or living fact. There Is no magic formula It can be fact only if there is continuous and sincere effort for mutual understanding and an unfailing recognition that there is community of interests between employ CT and employe.
 Pending the growth of better rela- tionships between employers and employees, the practical approach to the problem is to devise a method of preventing or retard- ing conflicts by providing machinery for the adjustment of differences. The con- ference believes that it is possible to set up