The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-20
GLOOM HOVERS OVER
CONFERENCE WHEN
COMMITTEES FAIL TO
REACH AGREEMENT
Employer and Employe
Groups Reported Hope
lessly Deadlocked on
the Collective Bar
gaining Clause

washington, october Resolution OF
the difficulties daily threatening the
life of the national industrial confer
ence seemed more hopeless than ever
tonight after the conferences central
committee in three-hour session failed
to conciliate the differences between
the labor and employer wings
The tentative agreement reached late
saturday on the vital question of col
lective bargaining was shattered at the
committee meeting today when the en-
ployers' group insisted on adding to the
substitute resolution a clause declaring
for the right of employers and en-
ployes to bargain individually" This
clause was rejected unqualifedly by the
labor delegates.
Previous to the introduction of the lin
dividual bargaining clause an apparent
solution to the problem before the con-
terence had been reached. The original
RUSSELL Endicott resolution, providing
for recognition of the right to collective
bargaining and the right of employees to
choose their representatives at will, was
restamped, divided into four sections
and amended to read "the right to or.
ganize into trade and labor unions
shop and other industrial associations"
COMMITTEE DEADLOCkED
The section granting to labor organi-
zations the right to choose representa-
tives without restrictions was amended
to read ''by representatives chosen by
a majority of their own members" The
compromise measure as amended met
with the approval of the labor and pub
lie groups and some members of the
employers wing when brought before
the committee
Later, however, the employers insisted
on the addition of a fifth section, the in
dividuai bargaining clause, which was
promptly vetoed by the labor group This
left the central committee deadlocked
just as it was when the conference adj
journed late Friday.
In outlining the position of the labor
group before the central committee to-
day, Frank Morrison, secretary OF the
American Federation of Labor. asserted
that the representatives of the workers
did not end the conference with any
intention of attempting to obtain con-
cesSions, but rather iii a desire for
better understanding between capital
and labor. that the workers had made
every concession thus far and that his
group could not yield further than to in
dorse the provisions of the original Rus
sell Endicott resolution.
Herbert e. Perkins of Chicago, acting
as spokesman for the employers, said
what other members of his group have
proclaimed on the floor of the conference
that the employers could not grant the
right of collective bargaining with repre-
sentatives not chosen from among their
own.
VITAL ISSUE
Washington, October 19-Two resoiu-
tons on collective bargaining We're be-
he tNna nd
was taken Friday and unless COM
promise is reached before. the con-
ference is called to order tomorrow,
which is improbable, each will be
brought up for vote. The first PROPOSE
ton in order will be the Wheeler reso-
luton, sponsored by the employers
group, recognizing the right to collec-
tive bargaining by employees but reserv-
ing to the employer the right ito deal
4 or not to deal with men or groups of
men who are not his employees and
chosen by and from among them" The
t labor delegates take the stand that such
a resolution would mean nothing if
adopted, since it would give the en-
ployers unrestricted choice of represen-
tatives to deal with workmen on in
dustrial issues while limiting the en-
ployes to their own ranks, thus elimi-
mating the officials of the national and
subordinate labor organizations, in many
of the unions. All elements of the con-
ference are agreed that the labor wing
will defeat the Wheeler measure if it
comes to a vote.
Should this measure be defeated or
withdrawn the Russell Endicott measure
would be next in order This resolution
would pledge the conference to recog-
nize the right of the employees to bar
gain collectively and to select their rep
resentatives without restriction. The
employers group has repeatedly voiced
OPPOSITION to this proposal which has the
support of the public and labor dele
gates Since an adverse vote by a single
group can defeat any resolution there is
practically no hope of the Russell Endi-
colt measure being adopted
PESSIMISM PREVAILS
An air Of pessimism was evident when
the committee of fifteen adjourned its
meeting late today. The differences be-
tween the employers and labor group in
the opinion of many of the delegates
seem irreconciliable.
Suggestions that the conference adopt
new tactics and eliminate collective bar
gaining from consideration fen1pararilN