The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-17
HOOVER IS CALLED
 INTO COUNC|L. BY
 A. r. 0F |. CHIEFS
Executive Council Members Disinclined to Talk of Dis- cussions, Which Were
 Held Secretly
By Associated Press

By Associated PFess
 Washington. November 1eAHe-bert Hoover, former federal food administra- tor, was called into conference today by the executive council of the Americaa Federation of Labor as it continued q face to face discussion of economic and industrial conditions, presumably for the purpose of framing policy to be fol lowed by the federation in Legislation which it wili urge on Congress
 Ar. Hoover was invited to the meet ing, if was explained, because of his wide knowledge of economic and indus trial conditions in America It was in- dicated also that the council desired and had obtained from him data which emi- nent engineers have gathered on Ques- tions pertaining to or affecting labor.
 Members who were in the council meet ing behind closed doors were disclned to talk of the discussions. There was ev- idence, however, that Mir Hoover's s views did not place all blame for conditions now confronting labor on employers.
 Much data has been gathered by the federation with respect to economic con- ditions throughout the country It is known also that during today's confer ence some members of the council. while holding employers largely responsible for present conditions, admitted that individ- ual and even groups of workers had not played fair" in some instances MT Hoover was understood to have told the conference that labor must do it's share in the elimination of industrial faults and ills which make for unemployment
 Council members said they had been deeply interested in MT. Hoover's discuss sim of axietipu- or it's bearing on the federations search for methods which will avoid intermittent operation of industry and consequent un- employment. It is said that Mir. Hoover was told that labor leaders regarded the action of some employers in closing plants or operating part time as little short of 9 social crime
 FAILS TO AGREE
 With this view however, the former food administrator was said not to have agreed, explaining to the council that he believed other conditions affected plant operation more than labor leaders real. ized. He pointd to credit conditions the slackening of foreign as we'll as domestic demand and certain other related causes it was understood.
 As to the future outlook, MT Hoover made no forecast He did say, however, he believed the existing economic depres- sioE was enc Of a temporary nature and that it constituted a part of the period of transition from war to peace con- ditions
 Among labor leaders there was d sug- gestion that the changing conditions of which MT. Hoover spoke would necessi- tate changed policies on the part of or- ganized workers and particularly of the Federation. They indicated that they were attempting to arrive at new con- clusions and re-shape their policy through the study of economic and industrial conditions confronting them as well as the employers.
 It developed today that number Of i'm portant conferences between labor Of ficials and engineers and economists were held in various parts of the country dur ing the fall and that the federation has been assembling information thus obs tained for the study now in progress
 President Gpmpers is lunderstoDd to have said to His assistants that n better understanding must be accorded the human element in production if it ls to be increased and waste eliminated His views also were understood to have irdicatd strongly the belief that better co-operation must be attained between organized labor and engineers, holding that engineers know that organization and cooperation is necessary. in order to utilize power-human or material
 Th9 council will continue their discus sions for several days more.