New-York tribune., 1922-01-31
Strife
Remedy Sought
At Conference
National Civic Federation
Opens 22d Meeting With
Judge Parker Presiding;
Compers Assails Sovicis
Strike lnjunciions Argued
Hooper Urges Wider Power
for Federal Rail Board,
While Plumb Attacks 1t

Sharp drawing of issues on impor-
tant industrial problems now before
the country, particularly the right Of
railroad and other public utility work
ers to strike. the advisabilitv OF estab-
fishing tribunals possessing the power
to compel arbitration and submission
tc the consequent awards, and the use
OF injunctions in capital and labor dis
putes, marked the opening sessions
yesterday of tho twenty-sccond annual
meeting Of the National Civic Fedora
ton in the Hotel Astor
The federation is composed of lead
ing employers. labor union officials and
& group representing the public, and
the purpose Of the meeting. as in years
past. is to present an exchange of
views on the controversial elements
disturbing the national industrial life
IN an effort TO aid capital and labor in
adjusting their differences.
Judge Parker Presidcs
Former Judge Alton b. Parker. presi-
dent Of the Federation. was chairman
Of the sessions yesterday The CHIEF
speakers were former Governor Ben
W. Hooper. vice chairman Of the United
States Railroad Labor Board. who ad
vooated extension Of the boards pow
ers to compel obedience to it's de-
csions; Glenn +. Plumb, representing
tho Railroal L'r,,ln,.oo-, hu..u4
the American Federation Of Labor, who
wanted the board abolished as an UNI
scientific and generally useless institu-
ton. and Samuel Gompers. who Joined
With Mr.. Plumb in attacking the
Hooper contentious and upheld the be-
l1ei OF the unions tina. compulsory
arb tration means compulsory labor.
Another debate. which was unex-
pected. developed between former Judge
Parker and Matthew VOL, inierna-
tiona president of the Photo Enerav-
ers Union, after the latter declared
that the courts. including the Supreme
Court OF the United States. violated
'he consttutlonsl rights of the workers
in some of their decisions. esreciallv
in the matter of injunctions. Former
Judge Parker asserted that the Federal
courts had not seized any judicial
powers which the Constitution did not
intend them to have
Former Governor Hooper in his
speech denounced strikes as a means
o. settling railway labor controversies.
telming them Economic war"
HIS statements were sharply criti-
cized by MIR. Plumb, who followed Gov
ernor Hooper. In discussing railroad
capitalization he intimated it needed
supervision because of cxaggeration
for wagemakine and other purposes.
Assails Industrial Courts
Mr. Plumb also attacked all Industrial
court theories based on the Alien law
Of Kansas. declaring "the fixing Of
either wages. interest or profits bv
judicial decree is an unwarranted in
reference with the natural order of
things"
AIR. Gompcrs. who was the next
speaker. was LOUDLY aDplauded when he
WAS introduced by FORMER Judge Parker
as staunch and tried friend of this
government He denounced court and
other efforts which. he said. were heinz
maze TO BRING about compulsory labor
ana declared that an attempt was being
| made to place the workers in an "in.
duatrlal strait jacket"
Mr Gompcrs also referred to uncm-
n'oyment in this country, asserting lit
Is biot on the escutcheon of our coun-
Try that nothing tangible has been done
! Tor the 100000 unemployed working
people Of the United States" He CON.
GUIDED his speech by an attack on the
Russian Soviet. which, he said, lis
carrying on propaganda to DESTROY
'ne American Republic, attempting to
n'stroy the American Federation of
Labor as precedent to it,"
Combinations in Restraint of Trade =.
were j. W. jerks. Of Alexander Hamil-
ton institute, and Gilbert II. Montaruc
writer on business subjects. Three
speakers at tc-day's sessions will be
Professor Paul N. Mliukov former
HuSslan munster for Foreign Affairs;
Colonel Alvin NJ Owsiev. of the Amor;
can Legion. and Captain Emmett XII
patrick who was imprisoned in Russia
for nine months.