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Show HiON CHIEFS BALK AT LABOR TROUBLE PANACEA: CONFERENCE PLUS MEET OPPOSITION Industrial Commission Suggestions for Settlement Settle-ment of Differences Draw Gompers' Fire. Absence of Provision for Collective Bargaining Bargain-ing Is Objected To by-Federation by-Federation Secretary. WASHINGTON. Dec. .Suggestions of the president's industrial conference for the settlement of labor unrest drew fire today from organized labor in tho first public discussion invited by tho commission in its report, published today. to-day. Samuel Gompers, president of tiie American Federation of Labor, said the failure of the conference to recognize defir nitely the organizations of workers trado unions aa the basis for representation was a fatal omission, while Frank Morrison, Mor-rison, secretary of the federation, noting the absence of reference by the conference to collective bargaining or the necessity for organizations of workers, said anyono who would avert or postpone industrial conflicts could not ignore these principles. princi-ples. Mr. Gompers declared the commission should reconsider the question of definite recognition of trade unions "in order to make possible the confidence and cooperation coopera-tion of wage earners, which can be expressed ex-pressed only through organizations o their own making." GOMPERS OBJECTS TO COMPULSORY FEATURE. "Any plan to establish or maintain anything like fair relations between work- v ers and employers must avoid compulsory features," he declared. "Any proposal for compulsory labor is repugnant to American Ameri-can sovereignty and citizenship." Mr. Morrison said the deelarat Ion against government employees joining the American Federation of Labor "would indicate in-dicate that the commission has been affected af-fected by the temporary wave of anti-unionism." anti-unionism." "The statement," he added, "offers no hope for lovers of industrial peace, who see the necessity of abolishing autocracy In industry and giving employees a direct voice In their working conditions. "It is no solution to empower the president presi-dent and a cabinet official to select representatives rep-resentatives of workers to adjust disputes. dis-putes. The workers must have this power themselves." Mr. Gompers said that, except for its opening declaration, he had found "nothing "noth-ing new and little of interest" in tho conference con-ference report. LEADER CONTINUES HIS ARGUMENT. "In the opening statement," Mr. Gompers Gom-pers continued, "the report sets forth t lie right relationship between employer and employee in large industries can be promoted by the deliberative organization of that relationship.' Hut the report fads , to give definite recognition to the application appli-cation of this truth. Koth employers and employees must be organized in order to become responsible parties to any system 1 of mediation or arbitration otherwise the arbitration tribunal must deal with Individuals In-dividuals Instead of organized groups. The principle of representation depends upon organization. "The failure of tho conference to recognize recog-nize definitely the organizations of work-c,r3 work-c,r3 trade unions as the basis for representation rep-resentation Is a fat;d omission, ("ertain-ly ("ertain-ly the conference should reconsider t ni point in order to make possible the ronfi-dence ronfi-dence and cooperation of watje ca rnern. which can be e.xpi es.ned only t hrough organizations or-ganizations of their own making. MASSES OF WORKERS "GOOD AMERICANS." "Any plan to establish or maintain anything any-thing llle fair relations between worfcers and employers must avoid compulsory features. The mass of A merica's workers work-ers are America n citizens and in that sovereign citizenship they are free men. Anv proposal lor compulsory labor is repugnant re-pugnant to American sovereignty and citizenship. "In order to pro mot e constructive a nd permanent changes that wilt eliminate causes of much industrial unrest, tlu conference con-ference vhuuid coi.:;id'-r governmental agencies to provide the necessary information infor-mation and assistance tn sec urine continuous con-tinuous betterment of working condition;.. That problem must ultimately be workeii out by employers and employees, but the government should advise and a slst. "H should always be borne m mind th;it oar social fabric is based on mut uali ;y and volunta ry insti tut Ions. "It is something not yet fully understood under-stood how perfectly safe freedom ip." ECONOMIC PROBLEMS BEING CONSIDERED . AT GREAT GATHERING ('111' ' A'.iO. T'C'c. Legislation affcf-in affcf-in labor ;iud nz: ;ci;lt.urc and nations; jnduMri;:! and j-ocial problems crr-owing our of t '.:;- wave of unrest v --ro before th-conventions th-conventions of the Amem-nti Kononii' (Continued ou Page 2, Column 6) COiFERK PUNS MEET DPPDS1T1D1M (Continued From Page One.) association and allied organizations whieh met here today. The conventions of the American Association Asso-ciation for Labor Legislation, the- American Amer-ican Association of Agricultural Legislation, Legis-lation, the American Sociological association, asso-ciation, the American Statistical association associa-tion and the American Association of University Instructions in Accounting were opened in connection with the meeting meet-ing of the Economic association. Application of the United States of the conclusions of the world labor conference confer-ence held recently in Washington was to be considered at sessions of the labor legislation organization, according to John B. Andrews of New York, secretary secre-tary of the association. The federal reserve board policy of "flooding the country with money' is largely responsible for the high cost of living. Professor T. H. Carver, professor Of economics of Harvard university, told members of the economic association here today. The presence of too much money has encouraged extravagant buying, he said. Retention by the United States of the excess profits tax was advocated by Robert Rob-ert M. Haig of Columbia university, who spoke on "British Experience "Willi Excess Ex-cess Profits Taxation." Professor Carver said "the country has gone on a 'bat' of extravagance. There Is no mystery in the present high prices. The more purchasing there is the higher prices will rise. The presence of an abundance of money in tho country due to tho efforts of the fedora i reserve board, which maintained that business I needed more money, is largely respon-! respon-! sible for the excessive purchasing. Pro-1 Pro-1 duct ion has not fallen off as much as i consumption has increased." |