Evening journal., 1919-10-22
NO ARBITRATION
OF Steel STRIKE
Industrial Conference Also
Refuses Collective Bar
gaining Clause
PARLEY is BACK
WHERE 1T STARTED

WASHINGTON, oct. 92.-The indus
trial conference Will not attempt 70
adiudicate the steel strike. u also re-
fuses to go on record in favor Of col
lectiye bargaining as Interpreted by
The American Federation Of Labor.
These two conclusions were reached
by ballots in a dramatic session that
extended an hour past the regular ad-
iourlment time. After two weeks OF
stormy discussions, efforts at cOmpro-
missing. slde-stepplng and what one
representative called back-dOOr maneu-
vering the conference was brought
squarely TO face with tlie two I'M
portant lsscues and voted them both
out of its program.
The employers group and the em-
ployees group both wanted a show
down IF labor Is TO get solar
plexus. give 10 to us now demanded l..
+. Shepherd, Of the Brotherhood OF
hallway Trainmen The public group,
struggling TO the very last TO ind a
halfway measure in the matter Of COLI
lcciive bargaining, finally confessed It's
resources exhausted and allowed the
vote 20 be taken.
The workers delegates have not quit
the conference President Gompers an
nounced that the group would be on
bend today, at which time group
meeting will be held Asked N the
question OF abandoning the conference
would be determined then. ne refused
10 say more than ilut ID would be the
usual sort OF group meeting TO con-
slider labors course.
Secretary Lane, chairman OF the con-
ference, was not compelled 10 read a
lotter he had received earlier In the day
from President Wilson designed 10 dis
suade ANY person or group which
might move 20 withdraw. Instead pro-
ccedlng on The theory that he would
have harmonious delegations before
him today, the Secretary admonlshed
them that IL wa time they began 10
take up a constructive program. II
seemed TO him, he said. that thus far
The conference has done nothing eX-
ccpt destructive work.
on both questions the workers lead
ers had the vote OF the public group
as well as that Of the employers group
against them. Previously the public
the very collective bargaining resOlu-
lion that 10 voted down. Several mem
bers Of the group remained loyal TO the
resolution, but the majority was
against ii.
The change in the public group came
Saturday At that time the public
group was advised that the American
Federation Of Labor representatives in
terpreled the clause relating to collec-
tive bargaining as combining such bar
gaining TO labor unions and excluding
The so-ealled shop or company unions.
On this Interpretation the public group
changed is attitude.
Tile conference was compelled 10 dis
pose OF considerable char before 10 got
10 the principal resolutions. First up
Nas the employers substitute resolu-
Ion on the subject Of collective bar
gaining. practically nullfylng the prin-
,iple. Both the labor group and the
public group voted against this.
Thomas l.. Chadbourne, chairman Of
the committee OF 10. then offered a new
substitute I'm which the words "trade
and labor unions" was stricken out and
the words associations OF their own
choosing inserted.
Only the public group voted eyes. "
Chairman Harry 4. Wheeler. OF the
Employers group. announced that the
change made did not meet their OBJ
iectlons 10 the resolution, that, I'm fact.
They freely accorded labor the right TO
Join trade and labor organizations The
original resolution then was put TO
'ote.
on this President Gompers took the
loor for a heated speech, part OF
which was devoted TO arraigning the
employers.
II you vote this resolution down
say in all candor and sincerity, you ID
not know what harm you will do" he
said You may defeat this resolution.
)ut II you do II will stop the effort 10
achieve bargaining You may destroy
Us. but you'll have something else con-
fronting you. You may rue the day that
YOU went on record against this reso-
lutionn
When he sat down. Chadbourne. who
had been consulting among the mem
oers OF The public group. said:
"Alr. GOmpers. the public group VIII
retire and reconsider its action II yours
will do one OF two things"
one was 10 insert the words cor 9TH
er organizations after trade or labor
,nions" in the resolution. The other
Nss for Gompers to give. on behalf OF
ne Federation. his Interpretation OF
he resolution TO the effect that It did
rot exclude other associations or or
.anlzations.
Bernard Baruch, for the public, asked
% minutes delay while they considered
The question. In 40 minutes the mem-
5ers returned with another substitute,
which added the words, land other or
snizations" Only the public group
oted for It.
The public having nothing more 10