Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1919 — PUBLIC GROUP HEEDS WILSON [ARTICLE]

PUBLIC GROUP HEEDS WILSON

Body Emerges From Wreckage of Industrial Conference and Organizes. WILL CARRY ON THE WORK Stock Quip la: “Labor Had Walk* out; capital Has Lockout; Public, as Usual, la Holding Bag.” Washington, Oct. 24.—Heeding the expressed wish of President Wilson, the public group emerged from the wreckage of the Industrial conference and prepared to carry on the work which bumped Into a finish before It got a start. Capital and public were on deck. Secretary Lane Informed them he had consulted with the president, who took the position that the withdrawal of the labor bloc has changed the nature of the conference. With labor absent, he pointed out, the work of formulating an Industrial peace program might be turned over to the middle group. So the confer* ence Itself came to an end, the employers’ bloc departed and the assemblage went Into the receivership of the public group. Only Sense of Humor Left. The stock quip In the corridors all morning was: "Labor had a walkout; capital has a lockout; the public, as usual, is holding the bag.” The public group met at once and, after .long deliberation, appointed a committee to prepare a program and to'tjetermlne the scope of the inquiry which is to be made into industrial conditions and ameliorative measures. Secretary Tumulty sent over a letter the gl'ht of which was that ths president wants to know what is in the thoughts of the conferees. The subcommittee embraces wide variations of though. It is composed of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Ida M. Tarbell, who wrote the history of the Standard Oil; John Spnrgo, the ex-So-clnlist; Thomas D. Jones and Ward M./Burgess, both employers. Efforts will ba made to retain the Interest of both the Inbor and qapltal groups. Rockefeller held a conference with three of the Inbor leaders —Fbank Morrison, secretary of the American Federation of Labor; W. H. Johnston, president of the International Association of Machinists, and John H. Don lln, president of the building trades department. They spent an hour or two discussing the situation and, later, members of the public group appeared quite cheerful. As outlined by Secretary Lane, the task which the group has before it Is “to undertake to find that machinery by which there can be a reconciliation or adjustment or peace or a way to solve any of these great Industrial problems.” Wilson May Urge Survey. One Inside report is that the public group contemplates recommending to President Wilson that he appoint fl commission to Investigate the entire field of industrial troubles. i In case such a suggestion Is made, ft is planned to accompany It with fl report dealing with specific matterfl such as high cost, production and dl» trlbntlon, shop councils, arbitration and conciliation, freedom of contracts, strikes and lockouts, responsibility of association and vocational training. | Some of the leaders are inclined to believe that the public group as now constituted is too hetrogeneous a body to travel far, If anywhere. Even if it Is retained a request may be made that it be expanded in membership.