The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-30
Industrial Conference
 Suggestions Dra.U Fire
 From OrganizedLabor
to Recognize Defi- nitely Trades Unions as Basis for Representation Is Fatal Omission, Com pers Declares
By Associates Press

Washington, December 29. Suggestions of the Presidents industrial conference for the settlement of labor unrest drew fire today from organized la-
 bor in the first of the public
 discussions invited by the com mission in it's report, published today.
 Samdel Gompers, president of the Amer ican Federation of Labor, said the failure of the conference to recognize definitely the organizations of workers-trade unions--as the basis for representation was q fatal omission. while Frank Nor rison, secretary Of the federation, noting the absence of reference by the conference to collective bargaining or the necessity for organization of workers, said anyone who would avert or postpone industrial conflict could not ignore these principles.
 Mir. Gompers declared the commission should reconsider the question of definite recognition of ;rade unions, in order to make possible the confidence and CO operation of wage earners which can be expressed only through organizations Of their own making
 Any plan to establish or maintain any, thing like fair relations between workers and employers must avoid compulsory features" he declared. Any proposal for compulsory la5cr is repugnant to Amefl- san sovereignty and citizenship"
 AFFECTED BY TI-UNIONISM Mr. Morrison said the declaration against government employees joining the American Federation of Labor would in- T If..o~ hat he fOnA mi fected by the temporary wave of anti- unionism.
 ..The statement, he added, offers no hope 10 lovers of industrial peace who see the necessity of abolishing autocracy in industry and giving employees direct voice in their working conditions. Tt is no solution to empower the Presi- dent and a cabinet official to select repre- sentaiives of workers to adjust disputes. The workers must have this power them 1 selves
 l MT. compers, at the outset of his state 1 ment. said that except for it's opening declaration, he had found nothing new
 and little of interest in the conference
 report.
 J "In tbe openine statement continued MT ;sompers ''the report sets forth the l right relationship between employer and ernpIoye in large industries can be pro-
 noted by the doliberative organization of ! that rslaticnshir.' But the report faiis IF I give Te.infte recognition to the apptleN- ltion of this truth Both employers and en1- nloves must be organized in order 10 be. come responsible parties to any system CT med.ation or arbitra tion-otherwis tha
 arbitration tribunal must deal with indi- lviduals instead of organized groups The nrinciple of representation depends upon organization,
 A FATAL OMISSION 1 "The failure of the conference to recog- nize definitely the organizations of work lers--trade unions--as the basis for repre-. lsentation is fatal omission. Certainty
 the conference should reconsider thus
 point in order to make possible the con l ndence and cooperation or wage earhs'S | which can be expressed only through or
 ranizations of tseir own making. | "Anv plan to establish or maintain any
 thing like fair relations between worN- CTS and employers must avoid compus- l sory features The mass Of Americi :
 workers are American citizens and m that sovereign citizenship they are freemen Any proposal for compulsory labor IS re
 ptgnant to American sovereignty and citl-
 zenship. ,,,
 "In c-der to promote constructive ana
 nor,n,nent changes that will eliminate l causas of much industrial unrest the con
 ference should consider governmental
 agencies to provide the necessary inior- Imation and assistance in securing con
 tinuous betterment Of working conultons.
 That problem must ultimately be l worked ont by employers and employcs, Ibut the government should advise anu 1 assist
 ..It should always be borne in mind that our social fabric is based on mutuality land voluntary institutions
 l ssIt is r ot understood fully how perfecDN tssf