Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-10-16
EMP LOVERS TRY
To FORCE ISSUE
At ROUND TABLE.
Proposal to Arbitrate
Judge Gary s Walkout
Barely Rescued.
CHARGE OF POLITICAL
PLAY IS MADE BY LOREE

Washington, Oct. 15.-De-
spite repeated declarations by
employers delegates that they
never would approve interven-
tion in the steel strike and in
sistent demands from the same
group that the labor arbitration
postponement be disposed of
definitely, the national indus
trial conference, voting as an
assembly, today deferred action
on the labor plan, pending an
effort by the central committee
of fifteen to agree on the ques-
ton of collective bargaining.
The motion to defer. made by Bernard
Nj. Baruch, chairman of the public dele
CATION, was defeated under the group
voting plan, the employers group voting
against it and the public and labor groun
supporting postponement. Consent of all
three groups is required under the con-
ference rules to validate action.
Settled by Majority Vote.
But on the point of order being raised,
Secretary Lane. presiding officer ruled
that the motion involved question Of
procedure and not of policy and there
fore should be settled BY simple major
ity vote Of individual delegates.
Elbert u. Gary. chairman OF the Unit
ed States Steel corporation board. and
Ward NJ. Burgess Of Omaha, were the
only members of the public group oppos-
Ing postponement. and G. II. Barrett and
t. c. Atkeson, farmers representatives.
alone of the employers group favored the
motion. The labor group was solid for
postponement.
Hudson railway. representative of the
employers. charged the conference with
"maneuvering on what is political
rather than an economic question
Thomas l.. Chadbourne. of New York.
public representative, denied that one
single thing has been done for political
profit and said that only a very legal
istic attitude would construe the presi-
dents letter into denial of the right of
this conference to look into the strike
situations.
New Snag Struck.
The central committee was directed to
have a report ready when the confer
ence reconvenes at 2:30 p. m. tomorrow,
but it struck a snag late today in attempt
ing to define collective bargaining and
made but little headway during its three
hour session.
The right of employees to organize was
generally recognized. it was said, but no
agreement could be reached on the aues-
ton of dealing with nom employees of n
company acting as spokesmen for the
workers.
The committee will meet again tomor-
row morning, but it appeared virtually,
certain tonight that no agreement will be
reached and that the labor aud public
delegates in the committee will ask for
more time. Such action will mean
further delay in obtaining q vote on the
steel strike arbitration resolution.
Willing to Barter Resolution
Labor delegates said today that they
would be willing to drop the steel strike
resolution in case they could obtain Il
clean-eut acceptance of the principle of
collective bargaining with the right of
employees to selection. lust as companies
hire counsel
Failure of the conference to arbtrate
the strike or to accept their views of
collective bargaining would mean dis
ruption of the conference. some labor
represent atives went as far as to saw
After the meeting the employers dele
gates said that the labor steel strike ar
bitration resolution was never intended
for other purposes than to force recog-
milton Of the unions and their spokesman,
inasmuch as agreement to arbitration of
the strike by committee containing
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