The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-03

opposition from two sources, viz: [ Employers who still adhere to the i theory that labor is commodity, a | view which is said to be steadily dis 1 appearing, and trade union leaders l who regard shop representation as a | subtle weapon directed against the 1 unions. 1
 "Enploye representation" the | Conference says. "oners no royal road to industrial peace. No employer should suppose that merely by in- stalling some system of shop repre- sentation he can be assured, without continued effort, of harmony and in creased production. Doubtless there will be failures where the plan is adopted as a fad or a panacea. It is only means whereby sincerity of purpose, frank dealing and the es- tabishment of common interests may bring mutual advantage"
 Relative to collective bargaining the Conference "sees in a frank ac- | ceptance of this principle the most helpful approach to industrial peace' and states that it believes that the great body of the employers of the | country accept that principle. The | difference of opinion, it says, ap- pears in regard to the method of representation. Bargains of certain
 kinds between employers and en- l pIoyes do not lend themselves read 1 fly to legal enforcement and the ] Conference therefore expresses the belief that, for the present at least, enforcement must rest substantially upon good faith"
 l Regarding hours of labor the ! Conference states that experience has | demonstrated that they should be 1 fixed in industrial establishments "at l a point consistent with the health 1 of the employees and with proper op- 1 portunity for rest and recreation,
 there being in all cases provision for 1 one days rest in seven.'
 The Conference further finds that
 from the standpoint of public interest
 Git is fundamental that the basic l wages of all employees should be ade- | quate to maintain the emp1oye and l his family in reasonable comfort, and 1 with adequate opportunity for the | education of his children. When the l wages of any group fall below this | standard for any length of time. the situation becomes dangerous to the l well-being of the state" As for profit sharing being regarded as 1 complete solution of industrial prob lens, the Conference says that while
 it has promise in some directions l it cannot by itself, be considered to
 be of far-reaching effect Neverthe- 1 less" the report says. "the field is I one in which sincere experiment may 1 add a real knowledge of desirable procedure"
 Touching on the subject of child i labor, the conference says, 'sheer | prohibition of child labor is, at best, 1 only a negative attack upon the prob | lem. It is not thoroughly effective in
 
 1 the nation unless the time spent by
 the child in industry is devoted to | adequate schooling and to activity l which will develop his physical we'll | being" The report announces the
 Startling fact that of the 5,516, ,163 i1literate persons over ten years of
 age in t11e United States, more than
 6S per cent. were native born. At
 tention is called to the fact that the
 federal government up to the present
 makes no provision which assures
 the employment of children in
 street trades and various blind alley occupations during the time they
 should be at school"
 l The conference states that in pre-
 senting it's recommendations Nthey are not merely designed to tide over a
 troublesome period of economic re-
 adjustment. Many of the evils
 pointed out" it says, "were in exist
 ence before the war and will remain in existence if steps are not taken to remedy them.'' In conclusion, the
 report says, the reforms advocated
 are urged mot with any feeling ot
 panic but with the belief that they
 will not only contribute largely to-
 ward the elimination of the causes ot
 industrial strife, but that they vii make for the introduction, in Ameri- . can industry, of those democratic principles which constitute the mos , precious heritage of the American 1 citizen
 The report is signed by Secretary e of Labor Wilson as chairman; Her }, | bert Hoover, as vice-chairman anf T the following other members of th' i conference: Martin H. Glynn, Thos
 ". Gregory, Richard Croker. Stanle! l King, Samuel W. Mccall, Henry M e 1 Robinson, Julius Rosenwald. Geors' h T. S1ade, Oscar s. Straus, Henry l. i Stuart, William O. Thompson, Frani . w Taussig, Henry J. Waters, Georg | w. wickersham and Owen D. Young e i and William E. Hotchkiss and Henr, u R. Seager, executive secretaries. C The Conference report erGbod5e es tn s unanimous recommendations of tn y fC,onference, Mir. Hoover said toda. s discussing the document. As a. back q ground, he said, the conferees tool q the success obtained in some instance e
 with shop councils and built thel n plan around this entirely American u development"
 e "The only powers provided m ou '- report" Mir Hoover continued, aT IS invesfgatory. It is assumed trsat tn L. government possesses powers of tha g nat1,re. The new procedure that ] = suggested offers from others in tn l. in1portant essential that nothing 1T compulsory or per SC repressive- ] l. differences between industrial group " are not settled by this machinery, pro ,e vision is made only for the lnYocauo if of public opinion as a measure P, moral suasion and we believe th5
 public opinion is the most poWe1' -iweapon in modern public life It an ,p co-operation between employees an ,t employers may be considered twi r. keystones in the plan proposed by u Is iconference report
 As explained by Mir. Hoover, the II na dustrial plan proposed would opera1 v- as follows:
 The regional chairman, as soon N informed of an industrial sltuat1on N which action is desirable, will ca -' upon both parties to enter a conie
 @-A%n n