The weekly Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1917-1920, 1920-01-26
A TENTATIVE SOLUTION

ment OF the industrial conference regard
my Its proposal for machinery to avert or
postpone further industrial disturbances
and TO dlsslpate the present unhealthy con-
dltlons surrounding the whole industrial
structure OF the nation. The proposals of
the conference made therein are tentative
and are being given the fullest publicity
thruout the country III order that everyone
may be familiar with the methods being
considered and that criticism may be Of
fered ii desired.
In It's introduc ton to the statement
der that interested organizations and III
dividuals may give it thoro consideration.
1t says, The conference does not deem
it useful at this time to enter upon a dis
cusSion OF the causes of industrial unrest.
Ii believes rather that its most immediate
contribution is the suggestion OF practical
measures which will serve to avert or post.
pone industrial conflicts.
In combining itself to the proposal OF
machinery for the adjustment OF disputes,
the conference is far from wishing to eX
aggerate the Importance OF the mechanical
as contrasted with the human elements III
the situation. Our modern Industrial or
ganlzatlon, ii 1t is not to become a failure.
must yield to the individual larger salts
faction with life. 1t makes possible a
greater production Of material things. But
we have grown so accustomed to its com,
pleXlty that we are III danger of forgetting
that men OF today are more dependent Oh
each other than ever before The spirit
OF human fellowship and responsibility was
easier to maintain when two or three work
ed side by side and saw the completed pro-
duct pass from their hands. Yet their CO.
operation was actually less necessary be-
cause each by himself was more nearly
capable, if circumstances demanded, to
meet the needs OF life. Today we have a
complex Intervening of vital interests
But we have as yet failed to adjust our
human relations to the facts OF our eco
nomic interdependence The process to-
ward adjustment, tho slow, nevertheless
goes on. The right relationship between
employer and employe in large industries
can only be promoted by the deliberate or
ganization of that relationship. Not only
must the theory that labor is commodity
be abandoned, but the concept of leadership
must be substituted for that of mastership
New machinery Of democratic representa-
ton must be erected to suit the condi-
tons of present industry and restore a
me. sure OF personal contact and a sense Of
responsibility between employer and en-
ploye. The more recent development of
such machinery with a cooperation of Or
gained labor is hopeful sign But back
OF any machinery must be the power which
moves it. Human fellowship and industry
may be either an empty phrase or living
fact. There is no magic formula 1t can
be fact only if there is continuous and
sincere effort for mutual understanding
and an unfailing recognition that there is
a community of interests between employ
er and employe.
Pending the growth of better rela-
tionships between employers and employees,
the practical approach to the problem is to
devise a method Of preventing or retard
ing conflicts by providing machinery for
the adjustment of differences The con-
ference believes that it is possible to set up
more effective series Of tribunals for the
adjustment Of disputes than at present
exists. To be successful, such tribunals
must be so organized as to operate prompt
ly as well as impartiallv There must he |