The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-16
LABOR MEETING
DODGES STEEL
'TIEUP TANGLE
Conference Is Steered Into
Discussion of collective
Bargaining.
HOT WORDS EXCHANGED
Employers Charge Politics in
Baruch Resolution and
Public Group Replies.
HOT WORDS EXCHANGED
Special Despatch TO THE suN.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-Skilful over
night handling Of the situation in the
industrial conference that yesterday
threatened an impasse over the steel
strike resolution resulted to-day in
steering the conference away from the
rocks of the steel controversy and. in
the opinion of many members, toward
the open course Of, better understand
ing between capital and labor.
The change in direction was &C.
complished through the adoption of
motion by Bernard NJ. Baruch, chair
man OF the public group. that the
steel strike resolution be deferred un-
til the general committee reports on
the question of collective bargaining
and that the committee report by to-
morrow afternoon.
In favor of this motion the labor
group voted solidly with the exception
only Of Judge Elbert II. Gary chair
man of the Steel Corporation. and
Ward NJ. Burgess, dry goods merchant
Of Omaha, while the employers group
opposed the motion. with the exception
Of the agricultural representatives.
willing TO Compromise.
It Is known that some labor delegates
are willing to drop the steel strike ar
bitration II they can obtain a clean cut
acceptance OF the principle of collective
bargaining, with the right of employees
to select their representatives of their
, own will.
The general committee will meet again
tomorrow. There is little to indicate
labor and public delegates in the COM
mittee, it is believed. will ask for more
time, which would mean a further de-
lay in obtaining a vote on the arbitra-
ton resolution.
The motion on the Baruch resolution
brought out bitter controversy between
members Of the public and employers
groups. in which Thomas L. Chadbourne
of the former resented implications by
L. F. Loree of the latter. that politics
was being introduced into the confer
ence. "I credit the employers grouI
with an honest difference OF opinion as
to whether this conference was or was
not In a position 10 take up instant
strikes" said Mr.. Chadbourne.
Resents the Inference.
| II can conceive that some men may
desire to make fire fighting apparatus
while a conflagration Is burning but
object to being told that when ] an
trying to fut out that fire l am doing
it for political purposes.
| 81 believe that II is a very legalistiC
attitude which construes the President
letter into a denial Of the right OF this
conference to look into strike situations
l would not dare to take such an atti
tude, and ! am a lawyer. but l am MOI
tlegalistic enough for that.
"I sbelieve the President sent US here
as engineers to repair rotten and tot
tering structure. and l believe that Il
was our business when we came here. Il
We found that structure was in such q
condition that, to use a steel term. thu
elastic limit was about 10 be passed. that
it was our business to bolster 1t up be
fore II broke.
'T object as one of the public group o.
this conference to a suggestion from tn
employers group. or any member OF th'
employers group. that one single thinl
that had been done here had been don't
for political profit"
Attempt to Force Vote.
! ignoring the thrust, Mr.. Loree re
newed the efforts OF the employers groul
to force vote on the steel resolutio
by reading romSyesterday's record ant
forcing Secretary Lane into agreemen
that the conference was in process o
taking a vote on the steel resolution
when the conference was adjourned las
night
This precipitated another parliamen
tary wrangle, in which John Spargo o
the public group and w. ID. Mahon o
the labor group raised technical points
resulting in adjournment until to-mor
row afternoon.
The move TO get the conference ava,
: from the steel strike resolution tha
threatened to disrupt IL and toward som
action assuring the public of construc
tive action plainly disconnected the con
servative members Of the employers
group.
II Chairman Harry A. Wheeler OF tina
group reiterated their position on tn
steel strike proposition and contende
that they must be consistent. HerbeI
+. Perkins OF the International Harves
ter Company, another member, declare
that It would be impossible by to-mor
, row afternoon 10 report on the subjeC
= OF collective bargaining.
s. Pemberton Hutchinson of Phllade
}, phia, president of the Westmorelan
n Coal Company. another employer d,
clared:
q "Nr Earuch can direct all he plea Sc
n hut we cannot be forced or hurried int
h arriving n: any decision In such an in
portant matter as collective bargaining
xu flI aarv of Chioaun nraaido,