Evening star., 1937-09-05
Declares "Both Sides Have
Made Mistakes" in Re-
cent Conflicts.
MAKES NO COMMENT
ON ATTACK BY LEWIS
Statement Was First Since Press
Conference Inferentially Criti-
cizing Radicals.

ABOARD YACHT INDIAN OFF
RHODE ISLAND, September A.
President Roosevelt declared tonight
that both sides have made mistakes"
in recent employer worker conflicts,
and urged the use Of sanity and rea-
SON. in adjusting labor disputes.
THE conference table must even
tually take the place Of the strike"
he said, in a Labor-Day statement,
made public as he cruised aboard the
yacht Potomac in Long Island Sound
1t was his first formal statement
on the subject since the wave of
strikes started sweeping the country
nearly eight months ago, and the first
comment Of any kind he had made
since his Washington press confer
ence statement, at the peak Of the
steel strike, inferentially attacking ex-
tremists in industry and labor unions.
1t followed radio speech last
night by John l.. Lewis, head Of the
Committee for Industrial Organiza-
tion caustically criticizing the Presi-
dent for his attitude in the steel
strike, but was not intended as a reply
to Lewis since the statement was pre-
pared several days before Lewis ad-
dress.
Silent on Lewis Attack.
No comment was forthcoming to-
night on the c. I. o. heads attack
The Presidents statement was made
public after another day of fishing in
small launch of Montauk Light,
Long Island, and a run over choppy
seas to anchor in Great Salt Pond, of
Block Island, Rhode Island. He
planned to spend the night there.
The Potomac, after tugging at her
anchor in a brisk wind that swept
Fort Pond Bay, Long Island, last
| night, left on her second fishing ex-
pedition around noon.
Basil O'Connor, the Presidents for
mer law partner, joined the party
shortly after a second mail pouch
from Washington was put aboard
from seaplane.
The President arrived of Block
Island late in the day and resumed
fishing from a launch. 1t was first
planned to anchor outside the break
water Of New Harbor, but a storm
blew up and forced the Potomac and
her escort into Great Salt Pond. Small
boat warnings were flying from Block
Island.
Text Of Statement.
The text Of the Presidents state.
ment follows:
In a Nation founded upon the
| honest toll Of its pioneers, it is meet
and fitting that a day should be set
aside in special recognition OF our
debt to the untold millions whose
labors have, in large measure, made
this Nation what it is today. In this
year, which marks the fiftieth ami
versary of Labor day. it is especially
hitting that the citizens be reminded
OF the importance of the workman's
role in society. Then, too, Labor day
this year assumes an especial impor-
tance because Of the struggle which
we have been witnessing in recent
months and the new emphasis placed
by law and public opinion on the
rights Of labor and the privilege of
organization
"As Is usual in a controversy when
opposing factors give way to basic
passions, the age-old contest between
capital and labor has been complicated
in recent months through mutual dis
trust and bitter recrimination. Both
sides have made mistakes. While we
deplore these mistakes it is for all Of
US as true Americans to resolve on
| this day devoted to labor that We
shall, by removing the cause, seek to
prevent their repetition. Although
human passions have been aroused
during the last eight months, let US
not forget that these difficulties were
brought under control before they
assumed more than local proportions.
Need Sanity and Reason.
"Ours as people is the duty to
maintain an attitude based on sanity
and reaDn-to work for that happy
consummation when bitterness and
distrust shall be replaced by mutual
respect by workman and employer
The conference table must eventually
take the place Of the strike. There
has been and continues to be urgent
need to insure all able-bodied working
men and women living wage for
q fair days work. I repeat what
said in my message to the workers
Of the United States last year: The
wage earners of America do not ask
for more. They will not be satisfied
with less
Those Of us who are in Govern
ment and those whom Government
serves must all do their part by plac-
ing at the service Of capital and labor
the necessary machinery to facilitate
the adjustment Of disputes, and there
by eliminate the need for strikes and
interferences with the flow of wages
and Of commerce. Such machinery
must be perfected If we are to deal
with this problem in . manner that
Is in keeping with our heritage Of
human reason and intelligence. On
the exercise Of that intelligence We
must base our hopes for peace.
"The Government has committed
itself to very definite program in
the advancement Of the economic, in
dustrial and spiritual welfare of our
people. Our aim has been the ad-
vancement Of human progress with
industrial progress. We have at
tempted to create work security with
reasonable wages and humane condi-
tions of employment; to provide better
homes and bring to the family life
Of our country new comforts and q
greater happiness.
I'VE are determined to carry-on for