Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05
RY T.. n. THOMAS,


British Secretary of State for the Colonies
IN the Labor Cabinet.
Although separated from my country
by the great Atlantic Ocean, there VIII
be no American citizen who will not De
profoundly interested in, and indeed IN
some respects affected by. the important
conference which has just been held IN
London between a group OF representa-
tive employers and the general councN
of the Trades Union Congress. Many
efforts have been made in Great Britain
to arrange for better relationship be-
tween capital and labor. but no preVl-
Gus attempt was so spontaneous. so
unique and so widely representative as
the one started on January II,
On the employers side, one repre-
sentative alone, Sir Josiah Stamp rep
resents capital expenditure on British
railways amounting to no less sum
than $4,000 600, 900 Add to this capital
expenditure all the other industries rep
resented at the conference and you
have a prodigious and almost incredible
total.
Majority Of Population.
On the other side Of the table is the
only national body authorized 10 speak
for the workers in the entire field OF
British industry-the Trades Union
Congress, which has an affiliated men,
bership Of nearly 100000. Add to this
number Of members the total number
Of their dependents and you have, rep
resented By the Trades Union Congress.
most of the workers in England and a
majority Of the whole population.
To have brought such a conference to
maturity is no small achievement. and
it naturally aroused tremendous ma
tional interest. But certain unique cir
cumstances. surrounding the movement
made it even more remarkable. It must
be remembered that less than two years
ago America learned-and. I guess, with
considerable amaZement - that this
steady. sleepy old country Of ours was
engaged in q life-and-death struggle on
a scale unprecedented throughout the
worlds industrial history. And later.
as result of the general strike. Parlla-
ment passed legislation which, / have
no hesitation in saying. embittered the
trade unionists of the country against
the Conservative party and the employ
ers more than anything ever done
before.
Yet almost Immediately after these
two events We find that the genera
council of the Trades Union Congress
acting in behalf of the workers OF Great
Britain. decided almost unanimousl!
to accept the invitation 20 meet an in
fluential group OF employers who might
truly BE- described as the really big cap
ta;ns of British industry and who repre-
sent almost the entire industrial field.
One might appropriately ask az tll:
point: But why should America be IN
/ tereste6 in this conference? And WHY
should she desire to watch the progress
| of the movements Such questions have
! only 10 be put 70 find ready answers.
America Is Praised.
By her noble stand against aggressive
wars and the laudab!e efforts she L
making 10 promote world peace. Amer
lea has shown that she IS conscious that
II civilization is 20 survive and progress:
the spirit Of good will and cooperation
through peaceful methods must be sub
S,ituIed for the hell. horror and waste
Of warfare But If she thinks this broac
F; principle IS right as regards the rela'
/ tons Of nations. surely America is equal
! ~ interested IN seeing the application
! OF the same principles 10 all domestic
I relationships within nations
/ We all know now that there IS 10 rea
. victor after the bloody conflict on n:
battlefield And i; Is equally true tina
) there is no real gain or triumph FOL
either side after breach ind struggle
between capital and labor. and tha'
while both sides pay dearly III an in
! duStrial fight. at the same time the IA.
! ton also suffers Therefore. every move
. is a move for good which tends 10 re-
duce the danger OF open conflict Il any
/ mere slogan or fine phrases. OF Ideal.
/ ist!c pero-a;i0rs could promote indus
/ trial peace. il would have been essaS-