Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-24
DELEGATES VOTED |
DOWN COLLECTIVE !
BARGAINING PIE
Labor'S ''LaSt Wofd' Fails
to Get Approval, and
Gonpers Announces With
drawaI

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22.-organ%
lied labor tonight, through it's leader
Samuel Gompers, announced it's with
drawal from the national industrial
conference, which has been in ses-
sion here since October to estab$
lish new relationship between cap~
ital and labor.
Thomas L. Chadbourne, chairman
Of the public group, declared the pubs
lie delegates would remain in ses-
sion and report direct to the presi+
dent.
Mr.. Gompers thanked the chair-
man and members of the public
group for the courtesies shown labor
by that wing of the conference, but
said that since the right of collective
bargaining had been voted down three
times, once after President Wilson
had appealed to the conference to
stay in session, labor felt it had no
objects to gain in continuing the de-
alterations.
Addressing the conference after
defeat of the resolution, Mr.. Gompers
declared that the executive council
of the American Federation of Labor,
in meeting last night, voted to de.
vote all the moral and financial sup
port of the federation to aid the
steel strikers in enforcing their de-
mand for collective bargaining.
THE word you have spoken here
means nothing" Gompers told the
employers delegates. "You have de-
feated the labor group in it's decla-
ration, but we will meet you again
in conference, and when we do meet
you there you will be glad to talk
collective bargaining"
The conference voted down 1abor's
resolution for recognition of the right
of collective bargaining-a resolution
which Samuel Gompers, leader of the
! labor delegates, had characterized as
the last word" on che subject.
The employers group of a major
1ty of one decided to oppose the reso.
luton, and although the public and
labor delegates voted for the pro-
poal, under the conference rules pro.
vldlng for unanimous approval the
declaration was lost.
MI. Gompers. introducing the reso-
luton, began by praising the work
Oh PRESIDENT Wilson, in expressing
| a wish for his recovery. He de-
| its present action in Difference to
the wishes of the president express
ed in his letter read to the confer
ence by Secretary Lane at the morn,
ing session.
Gompers' resolution read: .r
The right of wage earners to ora
ganize without discrimination, to
| bargain collectively; to be represents
ed by representatives of their own
choosing in negotiations and adjust
ments with employers in respect to
wages, hours of labor, and relations
and conditions of employment is rec
! ognized."
Gompers' resolution differs from
collective bargaining resolutions vot-
ed down yesterday chiefly in that
it makes no mention Of trade or
| labor unions.
Charles Edward Russell, Socialist
member of the public group, imme-
diately seconded Gompers' resolution,
and Chairman Lane permitted the
waving of the rule by which all
resolutions must be submitted to the
central committee of fifteen before
| being discussed oy the conference.
These tactics assured the Gompers'
resolution of immediate consideration
by the conference.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 23.-Out of
the wreck of the national Industrial
conference, President Wilson today
sought to build new machinery to
bright about industrial peace in the
country. In a message to Chairman
| Lane he asked that the public rep
resentatives in the conference con-
J tinue their work and make a report
I to him.
| 1t IS the hope of the president and
other administra ton officials that
the public delegates, who were ap-
| pointed by Mr.. Wilson and who rep
resent both employers and workers,
can formulate a program which will
| be acceptable to capital and labor.
After announcing that he had re-
ceived. President Wilson's message,
! Chairman Lane declared the national
| industrial conference as originally
constituted adjourned, and immedi-
ately called the members of the pub
| lie group into session as q new con-
| ference.
Secretary Lane Explains
1.-The president desires the nature
| of the conference changed and the
: work carried on by the public group"
Mr.. Lane said in his speech.
"Inasmuch as the burden Of the
quarrels between capital and labor
falls on the public, it seems proper
that this group should undertake
to find the way. 1t recognizes the
fact that the people of the United
States are greater than any party.
1.-THE public group will be asked
| to make a report and to give advice
and suggestions as to the industrial
policies of this country, these to
| be presented to the president.
"Outside the weather looks gloomy.
but out west we call wet weather
growing weather. SO it may not be
as unkind as it seems to be-"
The employers group also went
into executive session when Mr.. Lane
adjourned the conference.
I'VE also may frame a group re-
port to the president" said Chair
man Harry A. Wheeler.
Samuel Gompers, president OF the
American Federation of Labor, in a
formal statement today reiterated
that unless the employers group in
the conference agreed to the declara"
ton that the workers without dis"
elimination had the right to orga~
nize it was worse that useless for
labor's representatives to continue
the deliberations.