New-York tribune., 1921-11-05
r Public Seeks
Say in Strikes,
SHOOver Warns
Walk-Ou i'm Which SO Per
/ Cent of Population May
! Jeopardize Comfort Of 08
! Per Cent Are Deplored
Third Party Plan Urged
Economic Shivers Caused by
I Discussions of Employers
and Workers, He Declares

Strikes in which "2 per cent Of the
population may jeopardize the comfort
and security of the other 90 per cent"
were deprecated by Herbert c. Hoover,
Secretary OF Commerce, in an address
delivered last night before joint con-
vention of the Academy of Political
Science and the Industrial Relations
Association at the Hotel Astor.
Mr.. Hoover, referring specifically to
coal miners and railroad employees
strikes, said there was growing ten
dcncy on the part of the public to de-
mand that its interests be heard in the
SETTLEMENT of disputes.
Rising Tide of Feeling
s"Therc as a rising tide of feeling in
the matter, because we have growing
GENERALIZATION of population in limited
aSeas with dependence upon tran
sportation and coal for the clockwork
n!pyement of economic life in which
any stoppage brings immediate suffer
ing and even ultimate peril to the COM
munity," said Mr.. Hoover. He added
that there has been such a growth of
organization on the part of both en-
discussions now send economic shivers
through the whole community. even
though they have no intent to engage
in battle
"The public is coming to believe.
whether justifedly or not" continued
Mr.. Hoover, 'that in this mobilization
on both sides there may yet be ten
dency on sthe part of these organlza-
tions to come to terms on such basis
~ 49,
to the public.
'AAs result of these things we have
seen the gradual extension of the arm Of
the public to these disputes through
both administrative and legislative
action. We also witness this extension
of public interest bitterly resented
bDth by the employers and employees.
The primary instinct of the public is
sslf-preservation first and last, and
where / or 2 per cent Of the whole
population may jeopardize the comfort
and security of the other SO per cent
do not believe that they can be re-
strained from exerting a commanding
voice however much it may be re-
sented by either side.
Il Plan to Obtain Justice
"The thing that must concern us all
is. that the entrance of the third party
lnLO IneSc QlSputeS Will Dc Ill SUCH 1OI
that it does not increase the i'll WILL
that it shall be in such form as will
secure Justice, and that will preserve
the very foundations of initiative and
that type Of American individualism
upon which our whole social system is
based, and that it will recognize the
fundamental necessity to build up good
will itself"
ssSecretary of Labor James J. Davis
said he opposed the principle of the
living wage" 81 am against it be-
cause it is not enough" he said. "It
is. beggerly allowance from a public
as rich as ours to worker as skilled
aid thrifty as our American toiler.
The time has come, feel sure, when
we have to base our calculation on the
saving wage. In spite Of all the ex
travagant buying during the boom OF
war and after, when high wages seemed
to be going into silk shirts, stockings
and fur coats, the majority of Amer
lean workmen saved their wages. When
the workmen saves it is the country
that saves and benefits accordingly"
.Other speakers were B. Seebohm
Rountree, of York, England, who de-
scribed England's unemployment as "a
social horror; and Hugh Frayne, or
ganizer of the American Federation of
Labor.