The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-27

and forms as shop committees, shop councils, works councils, representative government in industry and others, but the conference says 1t prefers the gen. eric term having in mind the success full application of the principle to vari- .ous activities outside, as well as within the purely industrial field.
 These suggestions" says the report, referring to the, help which the con- ference received from both employers and employees, clearly proceed from a genuine desire that the movement for democratic representation as a substi- tute for direct personal contact may spread in accordance with sound prin- cip1es and be kept from perversion which would threaten the ideas lasting usefulness by making 1t an agency of attack rather than means of peace"
 The idea of "employe representa- tlon" the report says, has aroused op- position from two sources, namely: Employers who still adhere to the theory that labor Is a commodity, a view which Is said to be steadily disap- bearing and trade union leaders who regard shop representation as subtle weapon directed against the unions.
 "Employe representation" the confer ence says, offers no royal road to in- dustrial peace. No employer should suppose that merely by installing some system of shop representation he can be assured, without continued effort, of harmony and increased production. Doubtless there will be failures where the plan is adopted as fad or a pam acea. It Is only a means whereby sim cerity of purpose, frank dealing and the establishment of common interests, may bring mutual advantage"
 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
 Relative to. collective bargaining, the Conference ''sees in a frank acceptance of this principle the most helpful ap- proach to industrial peace," and, states that 1t believes that the great body of the employers of the country accept that principle. The difference of opinion, it says, appears in regard to the method of representation. Bargains of certain kind between employers and employees do not lend themselves readily to legal enforcement and the conference there fore expresses the belief that, for the present at least, enforcement must rest substantially upon good faith"
 Regarding hours of labor, the con- ference states that experience has dem onstrated that they should be fixed in industrial establishments "at point consistent with the health of the en- ployes and with proper opportunity for rest and recreation, there being in all cases provision for one days rest in seven"
 The conference further finds that from the standpoint of public interest it IS fundamental that the basic wages of all employees should be adequate to maintain the emp1oye and his family in reasonable comfort and with adequate opportunity for the education of his children. When the wages of any group fall below this standard for any length of time, the situation becomes dangerous to the well-being of the state" As for profit sharing being re- garded complete solution of indus trial problems, the conference says that while 1t has promise in some direc- to be of far-reaching effect. Never theless," the report says, "the field is one in which sincere experiment may add real knowledge of desirable pro cedure"
 Touching on the subject of child labor, the conference says sheer pro- hibition of child labor is, at best, only negative attack upon the probelm. It is not thoroughly effective in promoting the economic welfare of the nation un- less the time spent by the child in in- dustry is devoted to adequate schooling and to activity which will develop his physical well-being." The report an- nounces the startling fact" that of the 5,516, 163 illiterate persons over 10 years of age in the United States, more than 68 per cent. were native born. Att tention is called to the fact that the federal government up to the present makes no provision which assures the of children in street