New-York tribune., 1919-10-23
The Break i'm the Labor Conference

The word spoken here by the vote
of the employers group settles moth
ing. You have defeated labor in its
declaration here, but we will meet you
again, and we will meet you in confer
ence. and you will be Just as glad as
We shall be 10 meet YOU in that con-
ference for collective bargaining.'
VIII Aid Steel Strike
Mr.. Gompers injected into his dec
laration statement that the steel
strike is to bo strengthened by the
American Federation of Labor. After
referring to the resolution offering set
Element Of the strike, he said
THE executive council of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor, at its session
last night, taking up the question OF
the iron and steel workers strike, had
reported to it that the condition of the
| strike, in SO far AS the men on strike
are concerned, is more to the interest
of the workers contention now than at
any time from the beginning of the
strike.
"The executive council has decided
to more fully, if possible, bring the
moral and the financial support of the
workers of America to aid the iron and
steel workers in their just contention
for conference, with a view of col
lective bargaining.'
The possibility that the steel strike
would be strengthened has been specu-
| lated upon in conference circles for
two or three days.
What Mr.. Gompers had to say to-day
was supplemented by W. G. Lee Of the
Railroad Trainmen. The brotherhood
representatives last night conferred
with John Fitzpatrick, strike leader.
| Mr.. Lee said Fitzpatrick had come to
| q o,.t,o n,,1 4
prevent men employed on railroad work
in steel mill yards from joining the
strike.
Trainmen May Strike
Mr.. Lee said the answer had been
| given that there would he no disciping
Z, Of railroad men who left their employ
ment. providing there was no contract
covering them. They will not be given
financial support by the brotherhood,
but they will not be disciplined.
Mr.. Gompers continued his final
declHration in militant manner
at is the labor group" he said,
(which presents the human side Of
I this conference. 1t is the labor group
which submits the proposition to bring
about not only greater production. but
the instrumcntality by which there
shall be further and better agreement
between employers and workers. And
that has been rejected, rejected with
out rhyme or reason. rejected upon
grounds that our friends who are sit
ting in the employing group there will
find it difficult to explain to thoir fel-
lows and to the world
you have defeated Us in orr propo-
sition. but you have not broken one
line Of this movement of ours, nor
have you crushed the spirit of that
movement, nor its men, and you are
not likely to do it. You cannot DO it.
Cannot Stay in Conference
"Gcntlemen, I have sung my swan
song in this conference. You have bv
your action, the action Of the employ
ers' group, lcgisatcd us ont of this
conference. We have nothing further
to submit; We have not been enabled
with clear conscience to remain here
longer. We have sponsibiiites to
the millions Of workers and those de-
pendent upon them. We must fulfil
these obligations.
Our regret is that the rejection Of
anything like fair proposition or
our part, has occurred 1t has been
done, and the die is cast; and we werc
endeavoring by all within our power to
comply with the request made by that
great man, now stricken on Il bed of
illness, the President of the United
States, FOR whom we have an aGmira.
ticn and q love inexpressible.
Mr.. Chairman and gentlemen, for
the courtesy which YOU have extended
to US we are profoundly grateful, but
we cannot longer remain with YOU"
The labor group did not file out in
solid formation. Mr.. Gompers walked
out while JOHN Spargo was making 6
last minute plea for adoption of some
new plan to hold the conference to-
gcther. Other members OF the public
group followed and lingering labor
men were caught ia d barrage that en-
tangled some of them in debate, which,
| however, was ended when L. +. Shep-
pard said that the group was acting
as unit and could not take official
notice Of anything that might De said,
even though some of them were still
in the room.
Defends Employers Group
MI Wheeler, Of the employers
group, closed the list of speeches that
were put into the record after the la
Dor pronouncemcnt.
This group" he said, came into the
conference with n program. Of indus
trial relations. 1t stays in the confer
encc SO long as the conference lives Cor
that purpose. 1t supports every rssolu.
ton looking toward the making of 4
program that shall consistently repre-.
sent constructive and progressive in.
dustrlal relations in the United States
Of America. Though We receive from
the public that same scourging which
: this group has patiently listened tc
from individual members Of this con
, ference, we will, nevertheless, 20 out
, Of this room with our heads high IN tn
. knowledge that we have dealt with the
subjects honestly and fairly in the besr
7 light Of the intelligence given Us, an,
that our decision is written in "A recort
, Of which we ere not ashamcd'
J To bring adjournment, Thomas L.
} Chadbourne made the point of order
that there twas no conference in ses
sion" since the labor group had left.
II will not rule that there is no con.
ference in session." said Chairman
Lane, declaring adjournment until to-
morrow morning
Perhaps third Of the labor erour
has already left the city. Others plai
to leave tomorrow. They declare thai
so far as they are concerned the con.
ference is over and that they have beer
legislated out.