New-York tribune., 1919-10-21
Tells Industrial Conference
1t Should Not Interfere
and Declines Arbitration:
Stand Anglers Gompers
Deadlock ON Bargaining
White House Serves Notice
1t Will Replace Any
Group Leaving Meeting
Nsto York T'r1bHns
W0aEiu0fOn Rurenn

WASHINGTON, Oct. oo.-The stee,
strike resolution should not be consid.
cred and arbitration will not be agreed
to, Ebert II. Gary, chairman Of the
United States Steel Corporation. tolt
the Industrial Conference to-day
Regular sessions Of the conference
were prevented by the action of the
employers representatives in remain
ing away in group conference through
out the day. The employers began thei,
meeting in the morning, continued
after lunch, resumed after dinner and
remained in session until a late hou1
tonight without having reached ar
agreement
The bone Of contention was the right
Of employees to select their own repre-
sentatives for conferences with em.
ployers in collective bargaining
Seek to Win Rockefeller
The effort Of the employers through
out tho day was:
!. TO devise some means Of split
ting the public group away from Its
agreement with the labor group OF
collective bargaining. This includes
the idea of winning John D. Rookie
feller. jr., over to support Of the EN-
ployers.
2. To determine whether to stand
pat OH the employers resolution as
presented last week, or whether to
make some changes In the phrasing
by way OF concession to the public
group. without actually giving any
ground.
1t was learned tonight, that stall
wart majority throughout the day
Cfnnd hard md foo of III
any concession to labor. with a minor
ity OF the group divided in various
grades, each grade favoring some DIFF
ferent form Of compromise.
The morning meeting was generously
attended by experts in the employ Of
members Of the group. It was said
there were more experts than conrerees
in the meeting Some Of the delegates
have come to Washington with as many
as FIVE or six advisers who hold the
rank Of expert in the language of the
social welfare world. By noon. how
ever, it became evident to the employ
ers that the experts we're adding moth
ing TO the business of arriving at q
decision, and as a result, the experts
were sent away from the afternoon and
evening sessions.
Recognition Opposed
It was learned tonight from sources
usually to be relied upon that a strong
majority Of the employers group
stands determined not to give ground
on any other proposition in any way
involving recognition of trade union
ism. The majority of the group is said
to be standing fast under the leader
ship of Frederick P Fish, Boston law
yer, and Leonor Fresncl Loree, of New
VorE Thoro ic IN ho1ioUo ~
the railroad managers in the group are
inclined to be non-committal, since in
their business collective bargaining is
established firmly. Those whose inter
eats are purely financial also are said
to have no great heart in the fight be-
ing made by the majority.
A majority Of the employers. how
ever, believe that if they can 80 alter
their proposition as to modify its ap-
pearance without changing its mean
ing, they may win over majority of
would be victory we'll worth winning,
since AS matters stand the employers
stand alone against all other groups IN
the conference. They face solid line
up, which, they understand, places
them at a tactical disadvantage and
might throw upon them alone the bur
den of public disapproval in the avent
Of collapse Of the conference.
The labor delegation has declared
repeatedly that it will stand for col
lective bargaining as defined in the
resolution brought in last week and
supported by their own group and the
public group.
White House Steps In
Into this apparent deadlock the
White House injected itself to-day. 1t
was learned on high authority that the
President intends to appoint substitutes
for any conferrees. or even for any
groups, that may walk out. There is
the best of ground for believing that
in the event that the labor group left
the conference 1t would not be possible
to find another group of labor men
bearing the A. F. of l.. approval to re-
place them.
The conference room itself to-day
was refuge Of detection. Gloom and
optimism mingled, with gloom showing
in quarters whore it's meaning could
not be mistaken. Chairman Franklin
X. Lane called the conference to order
in the morning to find that no quorum
was present. The rulcs require that a
majority Of each group must be pres
ent. The employers we're not there.
Tho meeting was at once adjourned by
the chair. Another effort TO open the
meeting at 230 o'clock resulted in a
curious development. There was not a
quorum present, and officially no meet
ing WIS held. Chairman Lane, how
ever. Informed those that were in the
room that Judge Ebert H. Gary had a
statement to make. Mr.. Gary declared
his belief that the stsel strike had no
place in the conference and that it was
his belief that it "should not be arbi-
trated nor compromised"
Taken As Last Word
Judge Gary's statement wa. taken
to be the last word from the United
States Steel Corporation and to mean
that tho Steel Corporation will not be
Coxfinned on mart alnne