The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-18
LABOR AND CAPITAL MET
CONFERENCE OF CANCELLATION
AND ARBITRATION CONvENEs
AT CHICAGO
ADDRESSES ON BOTH SIDES
Samuel GOmpers, President of the
Federation of Labor, the Prin-
cipaI Speaker at the Even
ing Session.

CHICAGO, Dec. H.-Men who in the
past have been bitterly opposed to each
other in industrial contests filed Stein
way hall at tonight's session of the con-
ference on conciliation and arbitration
which began here today Both the day
and night sessions were taken up with
papers read by representatives of capital
and labor, looking to the same end
a cure for strikes. From the tone of
the addresses, it seemed plainly evident
that both sides were vigorously opposed
to compulsory arbitration, and if a.
recommendation on the subject of n
national board results from the present
gathering the recommendation will in
all probability specify that all the
boards work shall be along the line of
voluntary arbitration.
OBJECT OF THE CONFERENCE.
The conference has as its object the
stirring up of public sentiment by
means of Intelligent discussion between
representatives Of labor and employer,
rather than of taking definite action,
although 1T is not unlikely that some
resolutions giving the sentiment Of the
conference on the best ways of dealing
with industrial disputes will come uD
before the closing meeting Tuesday night.
The audience during the forenoon lis
tened with close attention to the variety
of views presented by the speakers.
MAC vEAGH PRESIDED.
The conference was called to order by
Franklin Mac Veagh, chairman of the
committee on arrangements. He spoke
in part as follows:
Carroll D. Wright, United States COM
missioner of labor, followed He was
greeted with applause as he arose.
John Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers, was the next speaker.
He was received with vigorous applause.
His address was extemporaneous.
The afternoon session was opened by
Edna Durand. John B. Tobin, of Bos-
ton, general president of the Boot ard
Shoe Workers unions, spoke of the meth
cd under which the boot and shoe work
ers and their employers have got along
together with the minimum of trouble.
Mr.. Tobin summed the system up by
saying: I've have been able to settle all
Of our difficulties by simply sitting down
together and talking oyer the question
The next speaker was r. II. Jeffry, OF
Columbus, o. He said in part:
The manufacturing class or the en-
ploylng class is eSpOnSlble9today for the
very existence of trades unions, and I
consider much more directly responsible
for great deal of the bitterness which
many trades uniOnists bear to employers
as a class. We are each forgetful of
each others interests. We are on the
eve of awakening to the deplorable con-
olt1ons under which we have been labor
ing. Many of the best commercial inter-
ests Of this country have been stagger~
ing on like a sick man under a load of
disease, but like many a sick man, too
unwilling to ackno Wedge that all was
not WelI.'
AT the night session, after Introductory
remarks by Franklin Macveagh, the pre-
siding officer, Henry w. Hoyt, president
of the National Founders association,
was introduced.
The next speaker was Samuel Gompers,
pfeSldent OF the American Fede, alton Of
Labor. MIR. GomGers received warm well
come. ~
MR.. GOMPERs1 ADDRESS.
AT the outset Mr. Gompers stated that
statements that had been made before the
conference during the afternoon He had
already, he said. advised the gentlemen
whose remarks he intended to criticise
OF his intention. Mr.. Gompers said:
one Of the things to which / took
exception was that, as an officer of the
AtchIson, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, he
Should undertake in this conference to
present his side, the side of the railroad,
in strike which is still in p1 ogress. with
put a representative of the strikers being
ToFerSy; (Applause.) 1t seemed to me
mat It the opportunity of this conferences
IS 10 be taken advantage of for the Ere-
eenta sem dion CT the railroads side of this
gwen to the representative of the n p
T., IN order that he might be here to
listen to what was said, and refute If IF
necessary (ApplauseO 80 -
am not prepared to saw that wba+
me gentleman said was untrue, but one
St4:y 81 Ky IS IS very good until the other side
Continuing Mr.. Gompers said that
from the statements Of the Santa Ee
oIlclals It would appear that nU tbe
fioT1 lGres az toward cohciliation or arbitra
tba tIon c IN suGh disputes as that between
fne me santa Fe and its telegraphers came
from the employers Mr. Gomners e'aiSe ns
serted that. on the contrary. where 3hara
nad peen one offer from the side of as
dTeds on the side of organized Iahor iioiA-
cancellation between two parties na,,,ro
Inh Uthberse interests, he said, is only pursnaSS
nearly ssr tltey ac3o nave either equal power or
IN conclusion he said: 1--WE shall ;rs;.4
tbo upon l. LI tne right to quit work wheDever
cb cbe II ~oTk becomes irkSone to us. ana nJe
sIlalI always insist on our right To 80 l+,I
Ior or, any reason or no reason at oil 81 IKE
Inc session adjourned until tomnrro,,, NOR
aaIer scandroa an address by Henry W. White'
workers of America. N"l1iiehI
COMMITTEE ON RESOT 1rrrO>,,
chairman Macveagh announced +ho e,
lowing committee on resol1Itions ondI- ode 10
Of OF action chosen by the committe, e pi5, IN
GGnif1fage Giffg OF the conference representing the he
UIIerent interests involved: liie
:, A. G. Bartlett. vice president Of H,bnor.
spencer, Bartlett & Co, Chicago Hen,,,
aseocisf{6n M ai9E6, president National Founders
Tiinois li0d, herman Justil. commissioner.
watson watson French, vice president Atchiison
IIopeka - E! g. & Santa Fe railway; ChSl Chaunce1
r. n atidnoi ID castle. president Stove Founders
Gompers, president American Fef,eIa ,eaafHei fil li
OF Labor; John Mitchell, president TTniio9 a iio7
nresidef 1nG MfrkerS 4Tan Nf Amerca Martin Fox
lea; Frank p. Sargent grand 1laGld oiAmer- nad1t
5Brotherhooa Of Locomotive Firen5e1. ranS eeL !.
GaTment GenTy W. w0I1it White grand secretary Gnitei
Iar luis Ileht WORKERS of America; James W
IyHCn, president Interna tionn1 HI..I ~