The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-10-23
LANE READS LEI TER
Of PRESIDENT URGING
CONFERENCE TO ACT
MESSAGE FROM SICK.BED BEGS
GATHERING NOT TO DISBAND
UNTIL EVERY EFFORT TOWARD
COOPERATION IN INDUSTRY
,--AS BEEN EXHAUSTED.

r-AS BEEN EXHAUSTED.
Washington, Oct. 22-Organized la
bor's representatives. in the national in
dustrial conference today forced the
reading Of the letter to the conference
which President Wilson yesterday die
tated from his sick-bed and in which he
declared the public expected the con
ference to stay together until every
possible means had been exhausted to
establish "surer and heartier co-opera.
tion between all the elements engaged
In industry"
Immediately after the letter was read,
tne conference recessed and the labor
group Went into private session to de.
termine its future course. The mem.
bers plainly We're inpatient. and some
OF the public and capital delegates seem.
ed doubtful whether the labor repre-.
sentatives would continue in the con
ference.
Before the recess Samuel Gumpers,
president Of the American Federation Of
Labor. declared that a motion by John
Sparg1 of the public group that the
conference give the president "a solemn
pledge binding every group ana individ.
ual that nothing would be left undone"
10 solve the problems before the body
would be most unfortuuate.' The mo.
ton, which had been seconded by Harry
A. Wheeler, chairman Of the capital
group, was withdrawn
As they left the conference hall. the
labor delegates expressed their indigna-
tion over Mr.. Spargo's motion
DO you think we are going to stay
here to be crucified from day to day"
demanded Frank Morrison, secretary of
the American Federation Of Labor
Before reading the letter, Secretary
Lane told the conference the president
considered the gathering the most i'm.
portant eXtra-legal body that has met
in this city during his administration.
The chairman stated after he had i'm
formed the president of the Estate of
mind of the conference" that the exec.
utive had addressed to the delegates the
letter, which he signed on his bed, ly-
ing on his back"
All the groups in the conference
capital, labor and the public We're pres.
ent, but the labor delegates took no part
in the applause which marked the con.
clusion Of the reading. Upon motion of
the chairman the conference gave a
rising vote of thanks to the president
Text of Presidents Letter
The presidents message follows:
"To the ladies and gentlemen of
the Industrial conferences
II am advised by your chair.
man that you have come to
situation which appears to threaten
the life Of your conference, and
because Of that l am presuming to
address word Of solemn appeal
to YOU as Americans. 1t is not for
me to assess the blame for the
present condition. | do not speak
in a spirit Of criticism Of any in
dividuai or of any group. But
having called this conference, |
feel that my temporary indisposi-
tion should not bar the way to Il
frank expression of the seriousness
Of the position in which this coun-
try will be placed should you ad.
Joln without having convinced
The American people that you
have exhausted your resourceful.
ness and your patience in an effort
tu come to some common agree.
ment.
AT 4 time when the nations Of
the world are eudeavoring TO find
way OF avoiding international
10 hp
that there is 10 method to be found
for carrying on industry except in
the spirit and with the very meth
Cd of war? Must suspicion and
hatred and force rule us i'm civil
life Are our industrial leaders
and our Industrial workers to live
together without faith in each
other, constantly struggling for
advantage over each other. doing
naught but what is compelled?
My friends this would be an
intolerable outlook, prospect un-
worthy of the large things done
by this people in the mediation
of lhis continent-indeed. it would
be- an invitation to national disas-
ter From such Il possibility my
mind turns away, for my conf
dencc is abiding that in this land
We have learned how to accept the
general good upon matters that
affect the public veal. And this
is the very heart and soul of de
mocracy
1t is my understanding that
you have divided upon one portion
only of a possible large program
which has not fully been develop
ed. Before severance is affect
ed, based upon present differen'
ces, | believe you should stand to-
gether for the development OF that
full program touching the many
questions within the broad scope
Of your Investigations.
1t was in my mind, when this
conference was called, that you
would concern yourselves with the