The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-03-23
CONFEREES PREVENT
LABOR DISPUTES IN
L new INDUSTRY PLAN

operative effort" throughout Amerl-
can industry is proposed by the In
dustrial conference appointed by
President Wilson. in a report to the
president made public here today.
The conferees in their report state
that they have modified the tentative
plan Of machinery to adjust disputes
in general industry by conference.
Cancellation, inquiry and arbitration.
announced by the conference on Dec. |
20, 1919, and that they have endeav-
ored to develop methods Of prevention
rather than adjustment of labor diff
ficulties. The modified plan, devised
since the conference convened last
Jan. II, it is said, makes machinery
available for collective bargaining
with only incidental and limited arbi
tration". The plan has been extend
ed to cover disputes affecting public
utilities other than steam railroads.
and also to government and other
public employees.
In addition the report analyses the
development of industrial relations.
hours of labor, women in industry,
child labor, housing. wages. profit
sharing and gain-sharing, thrift agen-
cies. initiation and high cost of living,
agriculture. unemployment and a pub
lie employment clearing house.
house.
The causes of industrial unrest are
set forth as including 'the rise in the
cost of living, unreStrained specula-
ton, spectacular instances Of exceS-
sive profits, excessive accumulation
and misuse of wealth, inequality and
reimbursement of wage schedules, re-
lease of ideas and emotions by the
war, social revolutionary theories i'm
ported from Europe, the belief that
free speech is restricted, the intermit-
tency of employment, fear OF unem-
ployment, unnecessarily high infant
mortality in industrial centers, loss OF
personal contact in large industrial
units and the elimination of a grow
ing belief on the part of both en-
ployers and employees that readjust.
ment is necessary to a wholesome con-
tinuity of their united effort"
How Problems Vary
Industrial problems vary not only
with each industry. the report says
but in each establishment. There
fore the strategic place to begin battle
with misunderstanding is within the
industrial plant itself Primarily the
settlement must come from the bot
tom. not from the top" The confer
ence. in expressing it's approval o.
not a field for legislation, because
the form which such representation
should take may vary in every plant
For this reason the recommendation
is directed solely to managers and EN-
ployes.
IF the joint organization OF manage
ment and employees in the plant or in
dustry fails to reach. the collective
agreement" says the report. or i
s~sx, IA
putes arise which IRE not settled by eX
listing agencies, then the conferenc,
proposes a system of settlement
through a national industrial board
local regional conference and board
of inquiry"
This plan. which the conference
says is based upon American expe1
1ence and designed to meet American
conditions" is national in scope an
operation, and yet decentralized. 1t /
said to be different from anything il
operation elsewhere and employs n
local authority except the right of ir
CURRY. It's basic idea is stimulation t
settlement of peace by the parties i
conflict and the enlistment of publ
opinion toward enforcing that metho
of settlement.
The regional adjustment conferenc
proposes a board to consist of fou
representatives selected by the parte
10 the dispute. and four others in the
industry chosen by them and familis
with their problems. 1t would be pr
sided over by trained governmel
official, the regional chairman, VIII
would act as Conciliator If an u
animous agreement were reached
would result in a collective bargai
having the same effect as if reached
iOiOt OrgaOjZat ion in the choO
Failing TO agree unanimously, Il
matter, with certain restrictions, wou
go to the national industrial board u
less the disputants preferred mu
ually chosen umpire.
Meanwhile both parties to the di
pute have agreed that there shall
20 interference with production pen
ing the processes of adjustment.
the parties. or either of them. ho
over. refuses voluntarily to submit Il
dispute to the processes of the pls
Of adjustment, a regional board of i
curry Is formed by the regional chai
man Of two employers and two el
ploves from the industry and n
parties to the dispute. This board m;
eubnena witnesses and records al
puhlisi, its findings as a guide
public opinion.
The national industrial board
washington "Ould nave general owe
right of the workings of the pla
which in addition TO being applicab
10 public utilities. provides machine
for prompt and fair adjustment
wages and working conditions Of &c
ernment employees" The rlan
wolves no penalties. ii f. said. 9th
THAN those imposed BY public opinic
j. does not impose COMPULSORY repl
sentation. It does not DENY the rig
ia strike. 1t does not submit to ar
trat!on the policy Of CLOSED"
'open" shop.
REGARDING "emD'oye representatio
the report saws the subject has be
discussed under such different nam
and forms as shop committees. sh
councils. works councils. represel
ative government in industry a
others. but the conference says It ri
lnrs the generic term. having In mi