Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-24
ROW IN INDUSTRY
MEETING HASN'T
l. ) MATTERS IN
H0fZ:zs$'i STATE.
Employers GroGE Of Confer
enCe Says Progress Has
Been Made NotwithStand-
inc the Bolt Of Labor Men,
THREE DEFINITE GAINS
HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED
President Requests the Public
Delegates to Garry on Work
for Which Body Was Called,
But Course Is Uncertain,

{ Washington, Oct, 23.-Out of tha
national industrial conference, which
began it's sessions here thirteen days
| ago with representatives of labor, ems
ployers and the public in attendance,
! there remained tonight only the dele
gates appointed By President Wilson
| to act for the public. Meeting today
after the withdrawal late yesterday
of the labor delegates, the employer
and public groups heard through
Secretary Lane. the conference chair
man, a message from President VIII
son requesting the public delegates To
carry on the work for which the body
was called--the establishment of a
new relationship between capital and
| labor.
| Chairman Lane, after laying the
presidents wishes before the two
groups, declared the conference ad-
journed. The employers representa-
lives. after issuing statement IN
which they pointed out three distinct
gains from the controversy over col
lectiye bargaining, dissolved as a
group and dispersed TO their homes.
Course Far From Clear.
The course which the public dele-
gates will pursue was far from clear
u
four hours in executive session, tho
major portion of the time being de-
voted 70 discussions of various inter-
pretations of Mr.. Wilson'S message.
the public eonferees were not in
agreement as to the presidents inten-
tions and were still undecided whether
they should merely make recon-
mendatons as TO the organization OF
new conference or should UNDER
take the mission of the original body.
In official circles II was said that
the latter course was the one tho
president had in mind and hope was
expressed that the public delegates.
reality in themselves representing
all three groups. would be able to
formulate a program acceptabie 10
both capital and labor. Secretary
Wilson told conferees that the presl-
dent would nominate further repre-
sentatives, should that action be
deemed advisable and suggested that
industrial experts be called in case tho
group decided to make extended in
vestigations before formulating q re-
port
Public Delegates Not of One Mind.
Some of the public delegates main-
tanned that their duty was only to re-
port what has been done UP to the
time labor withdrew and then await
the further pleasure OF the president,
while others insisted that they were
called upon to proceed with the pros
gram outlined in the original call.
Conferees who were willing to con-
tinue as new conference objected
to being considered as the left overs
from the wreckage of the old groups.
AS tho debate waXed acrimonious and
the members showed the signs of ner-
vous strain which they have under
gone since October 6. an attempt was
made to obtain recess of two weeks,
but the motion was defeated by
close vote and instead it was decided
to meet again tomorrow afternoon.
Meantime a committee of which
John d. Rockefeller. Jr., is chairman,
and John Spargo, Ida Tarbell, Thomas
y. Jones and ward NJ. Burgess ara
members, will prepare a recommend
alton as to the groups future action.
President Wilson. on being inform
ed early in the day Of labor's with
drawal. dictated from his sick bed
message to Chairman Lane.
Message Not Made Public.
Later in the day MIR. Lane appear
ed before the public group and read
the message in the form of memo
randum but declined to make 1t pub
lie.
Before the conference was adjourn
ed the employers representatives eX-
pressed their willingness to remain
although realizing that without the
labor delegates little could be
achieved.
In their statement the employers
declared that collective bargaining.
an accepted and desirable policy OF
industry, had been brought more
prominently before the country with
the realization that the term must be
understood as having various applica-
tions under different conditions Col-
lective bargaining is interpreted by
labor in only one way, the statement
said. and that is as organizing and
bargaining through trade and laboc
unions on the other hand, Samuel
Gompers. president of the American
Federation of Labor. in a statement
explaining the stand of the labor
group, declared that sit is worse than
useless to sit in conference" with em-
ployers unless they agree to decla-
ration of the right of workers to or
ganize without discrimination.
Labor Delegates Defended.
Asserting that the labor delegates
are not jumping jacks and would
not reverse their decision, Mr. Comp
ers said that he had been instructed
previous to yesterdays meeting by the
labor group, including both the rep
resentatves of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and the railroad broth
erhoods, TO announce their with
drawal in case the collective bargain
ing declaration was defeated. When
the declaration was finally rejected
yesterday. he said, there was nothing
left except withdrawal
In declaring the conference ad-
iourned, Chairman Lane said that the
going out of the labor group had
changed the nature of the conference.
Therefore" he added. sit is tho
presidents desire that | should ex-
press to the gentlemen of the en-
ployers' group who have expressed
their willingness to stay, his desire
that the natlira of the .cnnfarsuna IL