Evening star., 1945-11-05
Truman Declares Free Enterprise
Is at Stake in Labor Conference;
Lewis Walks Through Picket Line
President Urges
Delegates to See
Others Views
(Tert OF Truman Address
on Page A-16.)
By LANES Y. NEWTON.

By JAMES Y. NEWTON.
President Truman told the Ma
tional Labor Management Con-
ference today to put aside "ar-
bitrary selfishness and a refusal
to see the other fellows point of
view" and to chart course for
home-front accord.
Opening the conference which he
called to bring peace at home, Mr..
Truman warned the delegates that
the whole system of private enter
prise and individual opportunity"
in this country depended on the
finding of a way to minimize indus
trial strife.
The President, speaking at the
Departmental Auditorium, outlined
broadly what he expects the con-
ference to produce. He said it
should find way to peaceful nego-
tiation of new work contracts and
the means of "insuring industrial
peace for the lifetime of such con-
tracts"
He added, as a third conference
goal, that some substitute must be
found for jurisdictional strikes"
Safeguards Still Needed.
Mr.. Truman said that while he
desired to give up his wartime pow
ers as soon as possible, the Govern
ment still must Safeguard our do
mestic economy and our leadership
in international affairs"
The American people, he said,
never expected anything like the
amount of strife which has been
threatened" since the war.
And I know that the American
people do not like it-especially after
the solemn promise by representa-
tives of both management and labor
that they would cooperate with
their Government through the re-
conversion period" he continued.
Lewis Walks Through Pickets.
The President spoke while a dozen
pickets from independent unions
marched in front of the auditorium
in protest over Mr.. Truman's failure
to invite their representatives to
participate in the conference. The
pickets had withdrawn long enough
to permit the President to enter.
A few minutes before John l..
Lewis walked through the picket
line to enter the meeting. The
United Mine Workers president
paused to speak briefly with the
leader of the independent pickets,
Edward G.. Wins.
There was no disturbance When
Mr.. Wins was asked why he did
not attempt to prevent Mr. Lewis
from entering the auditorium, Mr..
Wins said:
eff that's the way he respects
labor, it's up to him"
There was nothing to prevent
other top union chiefs, as they ar
rived, from entering by side or rear
doors.
One Woman in Line.
Eleven men and one woman
marched and bore placards.
"The man from Independence,
Mo-, forgot the independent unions, -
read one of the picket banners.
Another said: 1--WE challenge
Green, Lewis and Murray to cross
this picket line"
Meanwhile, assurance that indie
pendent unions would be given a
voice in the proceedings if they so
desired came from Judge Walter
p. Stacy, presiding officer, who said
a special committee would be set
up to hold hearings and listen to
any suggestions or grievances which
outside organizations or individuals,
not invited to the conference. may
care to present.
Mr.. Truman pointed out that in
a radio address last week he said
the surest way to bring peace to in
dustry was through collective bar
gaining and that both sides should
learn once more that the best way
to settle differences was over the
council table. He called for genuine
collective bargaining and under
standing both in the conference and
in individual company bargaining
over employment conditions.
Government Hands Off,"
Mr.. Truman stressed the fact that
the Government would keep its
hands off the meeting and that a
solution to industrial problems was
strictly UP to the delegates them
selves.
Il have supreme confidence in
your ability to find democratic
way to compose industrial difficult
ties" he said, adding that he die
nob think the problems insoluble
He asked that an answer be found
without necessitating Government
directives to either labor or indus
try"
He said that where collective bar.
gaining fails to bring agreement
"then there must be a willingness
to use some impartial machinery fol
reaching decisions on the basis Of
proven facts and realities, instead
of rumor or propaganda or partisan
statements"
BY this, he meant some forma
machinery to mediate and possibly
arbitrate in Disputes peacetimt
substitute for the War Labor Board
Declaring he would not attempt tt
place the blame for strikes on either
side, the President added, however
management too often has looked
upon labor as stepchild of it's bust.
ness, to be disregarded until tn,
controversy has reached poin
where real collective bargaining be,
comes very difhcult-if not almos
impossible"
Mr.. Truman pointed out tina
national prosperity depends on full
(See LABOR, Page A-35
BeIuium fo Honor Pntfon