Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-23

organize without discrimination, to
bargain collectively. to be repre-
scented by representatives or their
own choosing in negotiations and
adjustments with employers in re-
spect to wages. hours of labor and
relations and conditions OF en-
plOyment is recognized
Employers Majority Slim.
The labor group voted for adoption
of the resolution. The employers
group voted against it, and under the
rules of the conference the resolution
was defeated. It later developed that
there was a majority of only one in
the employers group against the res
olution.
Chairman Lane refused to recognize
that Withdrawal of the labor group
DISRUPTED the conference and declared
an adjournment until $50 o'clock this
morning Members of the public and
EMPLOYER groups were willing to
meet but there was general voicing
of opinion that any further proceed
ings would be like Hamlet with the
prince left out.
Gompers Makes Dramatic Speech.
Withdrawal of the labor group was
announced by Samuel Gompers in one
CT the most dramatic speeches ever
delivered before any body. The break
came only few hours after Secre-
tary Lane in an effort to prevent
what many from almost the first had
regarded as the inevitable. had read
a letter in which President Wilson.
debating from his sick bed, appealed
for harmony in the conference and
for the final working out of pro-
gram of Industrial peace.
Representatives of labor did not
join in the applause which greeted the
letter, and Mr.. Gompers characterized
as most unfortunate a motion by
John Spargo of the public group that
each group pledge the President it
would make every EFFORT to accom-
plish the work for which the confer
ence was called. The motion was
cessed so the labor group could meet
to determine it's future course.
Proposes New Resolution.
When the conference convened in
posed its new resolution on collective
The move took the con-
ference by surprise. as it had been as
sumed that action of the conference
Tuesday on collective bargaining had
disposed of that subject for the time
being, at least
In introducing the resolution Mr..
Gompers declared that President Will
sons letter to the conference demon
strated that 1.-The mind of the Presi-
dent is as clear as it ever was during
his entire life and it indicates to us
that he will soon be restored to the
nation and to the world in the full
power of his wonderful mind and in
tellect."
-
Immediately was brought
to discussion and vote, the labor and
public groups uniting in it's support
on the roll call. with the employer
group against it.
Sees Future Reckoning.
With the announcement of the re-
suit, Mr.. Gompers told the conference
the resolution had been rejected
without right or reason. rejected on
grounds so fiimsy that the men sit
ting in the employers group will have
difficulty in explaining their action to
their fellows in the world.
"You have defeated the labor group
in it's declaration" declared the vet
eran labor leader. but we will meet
do meet you there you will be glad to
talk collective bargaining.
II have sung my swan song in this
conference. You have by your action
legislated US out of the gathering.
We have nothing further to say, and
it is with a feeling of regret that we
are not able to remain longer. Our
chief regret is the defeat of every
fair proposition on our part. The die
is cast. We cannot remain longer"
Representatives of the four brother
hoods remained in the conference un-
til the session adjourned, but they an
nounced that they did so "out of cour-
tesy to the other delegates" and that
they were in accord with the main
body of the labor group.
Before the labor delegates left the
hall Mr.. Spargo asked them not to
make their decision irrevocable. but
to remain with the understanding
that the conference would proceed to
develop and formulate a general pro-
gram which will clearly define and
establish the right of collective bar
gaining"