Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-20

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the difficulties seriously threatening
the life Of the National Industrial
conference seemed more hopeless
than ever tonight after the confer
ence's central committee in a three
hour session failed to settle the diff
ference between the labor and en-
ployers' wings.
The tentative agreement reached
late Saturday on the vital question
Of collective bargaining was shatter-
ed at the committee meeting today.
when the employers group insisted
on adding to the substitute resolu-
ton a clause declaring for the right
of employers and employees to bar
gain individually" This clause was
rejected unqualifiedly by the labor
delegates.
Previous to the introduction Of the
individual bargaining clause an
apparent solution to the problem be-
fore the conference had been reached.
The original RUSSELL Endicott resolu-
ton, providing for recognition Of
the right TO collective bargaining and
the right Of employees to choose their
representatives at will, was revamp-
ed. divided into four sections and
amended to read the right to or
ganize into trade and labor unions,
shop and other industrial associa-
tions." The section granting to la
tor organizations the right to choose
representatives without restrictions
was amended to read by representa-
tives chosen by a majority of their
own members"
The compromise measure as amend
cd met with the approval Of the la
Dor and public groups and some
members Of the employers wing
when brought before the committee e.
Later, however, the employers in
sisted on the addition of a fifth sec
ton. the individual bargaining
clause. which was promptly vetoed
by the labor group. This left the
central committee deadlicked just as
It was when the conference adjourn
ed late Friday.
In outlining the position OF the la
Dor group before the central COM
mittee today, Frank Morrison, secre-
tary Of the American Federation Of
Labor. asserted that the representa-
tives Of the workers did not enter the
conference with any intention of at
tempting to obtain concessions but
rather in a desire for a better I'M
derstanding between capital and
labor that the workers had made
every concession thus far and that
mis- group could not yield further
than to indorse the provisions of the
original RUSSELL Endicott resolution.
Herbert F. Perkins of Chicago, act
ing as spokesman for the employers,
said what other members Of his
group have proclaimed repeatedly N
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 employees.
Two resolutions on collective bar
gaining were before the conference
when adjournment was taken Friday
ehNS q SoAhPl oAAlSc ISdCIlCl
before the conference is called to or
der tomorrow. which is improbable,
each will be brought up for vot,.
The first proposition in order will ue
the Wheeler resolution, sponsored Ly
the employers group, recognizing the
right to collective bargaining by en-
ployes but reserving to the employ ~
the right ito deal or not to deal with
men or groups of men who are no:
his employees and chosen by and from
among them" The labor delegates
take the stand that such a resolution
would mean nothing il adopted, since
it would give the employers unre-
stricted choice Of representatives to
deal with workmen on industrial is
sues while limiting the employees to
their own ranks. thus eliminating
the officials Of the National and SUBJ
ordinate labor organizations. in many
cases the best qualified representa-
tives Of the United States. All of the
conference are agreed that the labor
wing will defeat the Wheeler meas
ure II 1t comes to q vote.
Should this measure be defeated or
withdrawn the Russell Endicott
measure would be next in order. This