The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-10-21
" ILSON SEEKS
TO AVERT BREAK
)espite His Illness, President
Y Takes Personal Hand in
n Labor Conference.
|IcTATES MESSAGE
schoes of Serious Differences
Between Capital and EN-
4 ployes Reach Sick Room.


5S Washington, Oct. 21.--Presi-
dent Wilson, despite his illness,
ook a personal hand in the ma
tional industrial conference in
~ effort to avert break which
II threatened as result of the
Inability of the capital and labor
groups to reach satisfactory
agreement on the collective bar
gaining issue.
In a 600-word letter to Secretary
Lane, chairman of the conference,
dictated from his sick bed, the presi-
dent outlined his views as to the
conference situation. The letter was
Immediately dispatched to Mr.. Lane.
who, 1t was explained, was to use
1t at his discretion.
The serious situation in the confer
ence was reported to the president
early today, after a conference be-
tween Chairman Lane, Secretary
y Wilson, of the labor department;
Bernard M. Baruch, chairman of the
public group; Thomas L. Chadbourne,
chairman of the committee of fifteen
and Secretary Tumulty. The presi-
dent Immediately dictated the letter
to a stenographer and signed the
completed copy with lead pencil.
-s Until Definite Action.
The letter was understood to be a
personal letter to Secretary Lane,
yoicing an appeal that the confer
ence remain in session until some
definite action had been taken on the
great questions pending. The letter.
1t was understood, was to be laid be-
fore the conference at the discretion
Of Secretary Lane.
Secretary Tumulty conveyed the
letter to Secretary Lane personally.
Handwriting Shaky.
The presidents signature was writ
ten on the bias across the sheet. and
apparently his hand was somewhat
shalSy when he signed it. Mr.. Tumulty
Immediately left for the Pan -Ameri-
can building. where the conference
sits. to present the letter to Mr..
Lane.
Before the brief session today,
Chairman Lane said the conference
would not be permitted to end its
work, and that the leaders of the
three groups-capital, labor and the
public-had decided to frame a new
and comprehensive program, involv-
ing all industrial issues of a general
nature. 1t was understood reference
to the specific issue that has caused
the present situation would be
avoided.
No Talk OF 5olting.
While there was no talk OF boiling
the conference, several members of
the labor group plainly were i'm
patient. Delegates in the public group.
however, were confident the labor
representatives would not leaKas me
I ras, GSaassce,@ Bsst &vs 6ufd a5teK ettU press
the advantage gained through having
succeeded in bringing the public rep
resentatives into line with them on
every important issue thus far in
troduced.
x It developed today that the en-
pioyers are far from agreement
among themselves on a declaration
regarding collective bargaining, de-
spite their efforts to reach a common
understanding at conferences yester-
day and last night. Some members of
the group were said to favor stand
ing by the substitute already intro
duced, but others urRed that a new
proposal be submitted.
Favors Insurance Policies.
Among the resolutions introduced
at the session Of the conference this
morning was one by L. T. Loree. Of
the capital group, urging a declara-
ton in favor of employers furnish
ing insurance policies covering the
five major hazards: sickness, acci-
dent, unemployment. approximation
and death. Mr.. Loree said seuch poll
cies would enable the insured to set
UP an estate with the initial payment,
would relieve from the fear of want,
would give security and independ-
ence. and would encourage habits of
thrift"
Under a resolution by T. G. Atke-
son, farmers delegate, in the capi-
tai group, the conference would de-
clare in favor Of the right of farm
ers to form cooperative marketing
organizations in order to maintain
the price of their products.
Timothy Shea. chief of the Brother
hood of Firemen and Enginemen.
took his seat in the labor group today
in the place of P. ], Mcnamara, Mr..
Shea said he had been unable to at
tend heretofore. owing to negotiations
with the railroad administration.