Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-09-27
"
Conference
Is Opened
Harding Charactcrizes Indus.
trial Depression as War In.
heritance-Opposes Relief
From u. S. Treasury.
Committee Is Appointed

NOiiiIIhttCC 10 nppVAitCu
Washington, Sept. 26.--The ma.
tional unemployment conference
completed its first session today with
the adoption OF its organization conf
mittec's report, forming nine sub.
committees and calling for reports
from them by Wednesday, October
5.
The organization committee OF the
conference completed early in the
afternoon recommendation for the
conference program and suggestions
Tor the formation OF subcommittecs
10 handle detailed work were pre-
pared. Theconfercncc was formally
opened by President Harding.
Addressing the half hundred indus
trial. economic and labor leaders
comprising the conference, the prcsi-
dent described the present industrial
depression as "a war inheritance"
throughout the world. ":or which as
applied to the United States" he add
cd, "he would have little enthusiasm
for any proposed relief which seeks
either palliation or tonic from the
public treasury" -..
Benefits World Wide.
Belief was expressed by the prcsi-
dent that the results OF the confer
cnce would be felt beyond the bor-
ders of the United States and that
the delegates in their deliberations
would be performing "a service to
the world"
The president declared that the
open, sure and onward way ito rid
the nation OF the wars aftermath OF
depression involved liquidation, rcor-
ganizatjon, readjustment, re-estab-
lishment, taking account Of things
done and sober contemplation OF
things to be done" Any other way,
he added, was only hugging delu-
sion.
The delegates were told by Mr..
Harding that they had not been in
vited into the conference TO solve
the long controverted problems OF
our social system" and that Secretary
Hoover, whom he had designated as
chairman OF the conference, would
lay before them the program OF dis
oussions.
Is War Inheritance.
The industrial depression which
we are feeling is a war inheritance
throughout the world. We saw hu-
1nanity stressed in that production
which is impeiled by nations desper.
ate In self preservation.
From such a test there is inevitable
With the world
involved there is no escape .nr any
Of the world from the valleys OF de-
preston. Though we suffered less
than many OF these with whom we
were associated, and less than any
) OF those against whom we con-
tended, it was inevitable that we cx-
pericncc the fcver's aftermath and
come to know depression before we
could become normal again.
Liquidation, reorganization. re-
adjustment, re-estabiishment taking
account Of things done and sober
contemplation OF things to be done,
the finding CT firm ground and the
open, sure and onward way-allI
these are part Of the inevitable, and
lie who thinks they might have been
avoided by this plan or that, or this
policy or that, or this international
relationship or that, only hugs the
delusion, when reason is needed Tor
safe counsel.
Unemployment Always.
"Ycu have been summoned to
rounsel all America, to apply your
knowledge and your experience in
relieving condition which concerns
all America the president further
told the conference. Specifically |
YOU are to deal with unemployment,
to suggest a way to repairing the
arterial circulation which is, the very |
liieblood OF the republic.
There is always unemployment.
Under most favorable conditions
am told there are a million and a |
half in the United States who are
not at work. But there is excessive
unemployment today and we are
concerned, not alone about its dimin-
ution, but we are frankly anxious.
under the involved condition, lest it
grow worse, with hardships Of the
winter season soon to be met. The
problem of unemployment is the
most difficult with which we are
confronted.
There are no problems affecting
our national life and the welfare Of
the American people which we can
rot and will not solve. If we fail
today we will try again tomor-
Don't Solve Social System.
ut is fair to say that You are not
asked to solve the long controverted
problems OF our social system. We
have builded the America OF today
and the fundamentals of economic,
industrial and political life which
made US what we are and the temple
requires no renaking now. We are
ineontestably sound. We are con-
stitutionally strong. We are merely
depressed after the fever and We want
TO know the way to speediest and de-
pendable convaleseense. When we
know the way everybody in America
capital and labor. employer and
employees, captains OF industry and
the privates in the trenches will go
over the top in the advance drive Of
peace. Frankly, it is difficult to know
whether we have reached that bed
rock to which reaction runs before
the upward course begins, but here
are representatives Of the forces
which make for all we are or ever
can be, and your soundings ought to
be reliable.
Il would have little enthusiasm for
any proposed relief which seeks
palliation or tonic from the public
treasury. The excess of stimulation
from that source is to be reckoned q