The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-03-23
THAT CONFERENCE REPORT.

II THAT CONFERENCE REPORT.
Samuel Gompers pitches into the
recent report of the second indus
trial conference without gloves and
that before most Of us have even
read II. 1t shows. for one thing,
however, that Mr.. Gompers is very
alert about matters affecting the
interests OF labor.
The conference report suggests,
briefly speaking, that comprehensive
Cancellation machinery be organized
and set up, which would adapt itself
to the individual industry, to the dis
| trict and to the country as a whole
The province of this machinery would
be to take note of Industrial conten-
tons in their incipiency, investigate
them thoroughly. determine their
merits and make public the finding.
None of this would be binding on the
parties to the contention. But it
would inform the public concerning
the issues OF the controversy and
public opinion would be expected TO
bring about adjustment.
Herbert Hoover in speaking OF the
work of the conference of which he
was member, declares:
THE only powers provided in our
report are investigatory. 1t is as
sumed that the government possesses
powers of that nature. The new
procedure that Is suggested differs
from others In the important essen
tial that nothing Is compulsory or
per Sc repressive. II differences be-
tween industrial groups are not
settled by this machinery, provision
is made only for the invocation of
public opinion as q measure of moral |
suasion and we believe that public |
opinion is the most powerful weapon |
in modern public life. 1t and CO.
operation between employees and en-
stones in the plan proposed by the |
report"
1t Is Mr.. Gompers' contention that |
the modern labor organization af-
fords the best form of Cancellation
now available. This may or may not |
DO the case. At any rate, the plan
would not interfere
where some other method had al
ready healed the breach. Mr.. Com
pers knows, as do all other citizens,
that friction does sometimes pre-
vail. Costly labor wars sometimes
break out Moreover, the conference
plan is intended to adapt itself to
Industries as well as Or
ganlzed. Surely. there can be no in
suparabe objection to having an I'M
biased board Investigate any con-
situation and report to the
public what 1t finds.
Mr.. Hoover states that the scheme
would not involve an elaborate off,
cial establishment nor be very ex-
lie quotes Mackenzie King,
he great Canadian authority OH in
iustrial administration, as declaring
hat the plan proposed Is CONSTITUTE
I've Improvement over anything yet
ried. Mr.. Hoover invites everybody
o read the report and would like IL
political leaders would indicate their
opinion of 1t. Concluding. he says:
THE report probably will not meet
With the approval of the extremists
IN either side, but II has been APP
proved In its broad lines by many
hundreds OF employers and many
prominent labor leaders who have
,een consulted or communicated
With. The conference believes that
t will appeal to those who believe
n sane and sure steps to advance
human relations In industry"
The report was unanimously agreed
lpon by the conference and was
ignod by Secretary of Labor Wilson,
- chairman; Herbert Hoover. Mar
in II. Glynn, Thomas w. Gregory,
lichard Hooker. Stanley King, Sam
el w. Mccall, Henry Nj. Robinson,
ulius Rosenwald, George T. Slade,
oscar S. Straus. Henry C. Stuart,
William J. Waters. George w.
and owen ID. Young.