The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-15

II is furthest from our thought, upon the
rights of property or the rights OF man
agement," declared Mr.. Gompers, turn
ing to Judge Gary, but 1 say to you
gentlemen, you may win this steel strike
II you consent that IL shall be adjusted
after the fashion that we have so liber-
ally proposed. But II you reject that
method and the steel strike goes on and
lasts a month or two or three months
and drags out. and you have won, and
these men are going about the country
preaching the doctrine of their unbear-
able conditions and the tyranny which
they experience and the injustices which
have been melted out to them, then what
ever betide you have sown the seed and
shall bear the consequences"
The labor leader was frank to admit
that rejection Of the labor offer might
prove the undoing Of the Federation Of
Labor officers, but he warned that labor
leadership would then be in the hands of
the !. w. w. and Bolshevists.
Tried to Postpone Strike.
These elements, he said. were ready to
assume the leadership of the steel strike
In the event the federation leaders dis
countenanced or disapproved II. He
pointed out that he had done everything
possible to have the strike postponed
until after the date set for the Presi-
dents conference.
"The officers of the organisation had
no alternative then," ne said, ''but to go
along and help lead the strike in some-
thing like the American concept OF right
and Of peace and to maintain the public
peace"
William Johnston of the labor group
decbred afterward that the Presidents
message appealing to the labor leaders
to postpone the strike came too late to
prevent action.
L. F. Loree of the National Industrial
Conference. while stating the employers
reasons for opposing the Gompers plan.
had referred to the Presidents efforts to
| avert the strike. Answering Mr. Loree
Mr.. Johnston took issue with his state
ment that the President had made his
appeal ten days before the strike date.
As a matter of fact. said Mr.. Johnston,
| the Presidents letter arrived three days
before the strike began and after the
| leaders had started for P;ttsburg and
other steel centres to put the strike into
effect after giving up hope that the
President might accomplish anything
through his efforts.
"sun,so Strike List Is Cited.
| The employers group, said Mr.. Doree.
had come to the conference at the in
vitation Of the President for definite
purpose. II the conference adopted the
| steel strike resolution, he argued. II
would lay itself open to action in every
| case of strike, illustrating the wide field
by citing the number of strikes reported
| to-day by THE SUN in New York city
alone.
The purpose of the conference as con-
ceived by the employers group was to
deal with the future. he argued, and
declared II would be better to turn
attention to prevention of the coal
miners strike scheduled for November
/. He said the President himself hao
cor sidered the steel strike and con-
cluded that it was no proper subject
for the then proposed conference.
Mr.. Loree gave as another reason fol
the groups position that the conference
was virtually a branch OF the executive
department Of the Government through
its call by the President. and that The
legislative department, through the Ken
Won committee was already investigat
ing the strike and probably would have
an early report to make based on II!
investigation of the facts.
In opposing postponement OF actor
on the resolution L. e. Sheppard. rail
road brotherhood member Of the labof
group, declared that the conference wa
bound to give the public some assurance
Of something better.
II challenge the public and the en-