Evening star., 1921-06-16
PLAN TO PREVENT
STRIKES URGED BY
SECRETARY DAVIS
Proposes Spending Quarter
Million Yearly to Keep
Observers in Industries.
COULD CHECK TROUBLES
IN THEIR INCIPIENT STAGE
"Key" Men Would Keep in Con-
slant Touch With Situation.
Obyiating Spy System.

For an outlay on the part OF the
government of approximately $2oo,ooo
annually, fully nine-tenths OF the
strikes which occur in various parts
of the country could be prevented, ac-
cording to Secretary OF Labor James
J. Davis. who is formulating a plan
Of preventive treatment for presen-
tation to Congress.
Adoption of the plan being devel-
oped by Secretary Davis will result,
II is believed. in keeping the wheels
Of industry turning continuously, keep
labor in a happy mood. employers sat
isfied. and result in maintenance OF
the country;s prosperity. :,
Secretary Davis knows the MIND
of labor and the mind of the en-
ployer. He knows the troubles OF
solving strikes after they are start
ed, and knows the difficulties faced
by those who attempt to settle them
when new men are sent to investigate
the troubles. He believes his plan
will nip the troubles in tie incipient
stage.
"Keyn Men In Industries.
prevention of strikes is the great
need today" said the Secretary in
discussing his plan. II believe that If
the government would provide key
men, one for each of the fifteen major
Or key industries, strike troubles
would cease to large extent.
"One of these men," he continued.
explaining the system, would be as
signed to each major industry. He
would have a couple of assistants
Their duties would consist of making
a study of the industry. both from the
employers standpoint and also from
the viewpoint Of labor. They would
be governmental laision officers be-
tween the employer and the employe.
would be in close touch with opera
tions in the industry and the work. OF
the labor unions. They would always
have at their finger tips every bit OF
all tire time. When something came
up between employer and empioye
they would have Immediately at hand
all the Information NECESSARY to erect
a quick settlement ,tAfofe It coufu
even reach the strike stage.
Aould Check Up Methods.
They could quickly ascertain
whether the methods Of the union
representatives were fair. and wheth-
the unions were being carried on
properly. In fact. money for both
the unions and the employers could
be saved. for with such a govern
mental representativs always @ on nine sne
Up. could be abolished, with the
knowledge that there was a man al
ways on the joe. who would foresee
tSaubles. and take them up before
either side has the opportunity"
grown up in various industries is
hurtful, and on these systems the
Secretary placed the blame for many
strikes. The key" men would be
able to wipe out much OF the suspi-
Cion between employer ana employe'
he pointed out.
The Secretary made no secret of the
fact that these are trying times IN
the industrial and labor world. Only
on the ground Of fairness can both
disputes. he said. He has not the op-
portunity enjoyed by his predecessor
OF appealing to labor and capital on
the ground of patriotism. SO success
full many times during the war in
bringing out settlement Of dis
putes.
Fairness ON Both sides.
But labor is taking wage reductions,
generally speaking, witho1: IL great
complaint. he said. Reports to the
department indicate that both sides
are inclined to be fair and sec the
during this readjustment perioi
While in some of the strikes there
can be seen a hand working to destroy
OF throttle unionism. It has not been
effective, he pointed out, and those
working for it's destruction should
lcok twice. For if they succeed. they
will undoubtedly find something else
much more powerful will spring up.
But unionism cannot be abolished, for
where there are handful of men, who
will stick together Fand Loyalty sup
port the cause of unionism. it cannot
be downed.
One of the greatest needs, not only
during the period of readjustment, but
for all time. is that of collecting and
disseminating monthly information on
costs of living and wages. Now, he
said, these figures are gathered only
every six months, which provides too
great a gap for them to be Of any effec-
tive use. This question of costs al
ways enters into every dispute, he said.
Neep Up-tO-Date Figures.
But this information could be gath
cred by the key" men if they are
provided. he pointed out 1t would
be necessary part of their work of
keeping in close touch with eyery-
thing affecting their particular in
dustries and the subsidiaries thereof.
They would always have at hand up-
to-date figures on which they could
rely in Strengthening out difficulties
which crop up, and in which the cost
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