THE 2ND INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE

The report of the President's second industrial conference marks an epoch. It is the first attempt on the part of a central representative authority in the United States to draw up a code of industrial relations. By asking for suggestions from the country, the conference obtained the opinions of numbers of men and organizations who did not actually participate, so that the report may fairly be considered representative of the best that the country can contribute.

The report endorses the right of employees to a voice in those branches of industry which directly concern them. This fact alone makes it a great step toward industrial democracy. Further, it sets up regional boards of adjustment which assure that each party to a dispute shall have a fair hearing. The shop committees which have been springing up like mushrooms since 1916 are taken as the basis of employee representation.

Enforcement of the decrees of the board is left in the last resort to public opinion. This is infinitely preferable to any attempt to take away the "right to strike": and as the machinery of the adjustment boards begins to function, it is to be expected that an increasing proportion of labor disputed will be settled as most of them are at present, without an open break. But when the break comes, and public opinion begins to exert its pressure, it is of the last importance that an impartial board's report should be at hand by which people may judge the facts.

There is no panacea for labor disputes. Even Australia, administered by a Labor government, was recently tied up by an enormous railway strike. The American plan can only succeed in averting trouble if it creates the spirit of industrial peace; and this it seems admirable fitted to do.