Evening star., 1919-10-07

Disagreement over rules proposed
for the governing of the industrial
conference called by President Will
son. resulted in the conference ad-
journing suddenly today after Frank
lin K. Lane, Secretary Of the In
terior. had been elected permanent
chairman adjournment was until 2::a0
o'clock this afternoon. AZ {. 1
AS proposed by committee, the rules
provide all conclusions and decisions
must be arrived at by unanimous vote
of the three groups representing cap
itag labor and the public, while the
decision Of each individual group
would besSa majority Of the members
by Iohn Spargo of New York, a So
ciafiSf and delegate representing
the public.
Urges Voice for Minority.
Mr.. Spargo declared the conference
might as well adjourn II the provision
Of the rules was adopted whereby a
majority vote Of any group was neces-
sary before a member of the group
could introduce any subject for dis
cussion. Sucn a rule, he asserted. him
dered especially the public group.
which. was not composed OF delegates
representing homogeneous interest
like the labor group, but contained
men and women of diverse activities.
He objected particularly because. he
said, there was no provision for MI
nority expression.
Thomas L. Chadbourne of New York.
the provision was believed necessary
toS obtain effective action instead of
debate.
On motion of Frederick p. Fish of
the employers group. the c0nfefence
adjourned to allow each group to con-
ployers voting solidly on the motion
and the public and organized labor
groups dividing. Several delegates
expressed opposition to an adjourn
ment at q time when they declared
the conference should be getting down
to business.
Sessions to Be Public.
Other provisions Of the rules report
ed by the committee were that the
meetings be open to the public and
the press and that there be two daily
sessions. from $3.50 am. to 1890 pm.
and from 2:30 pm. to $50 pm. It
was expressly stated that there should
be no meetings on Sunday, indicating
that the conference was expected to
continue two weeks or more.
The rules were presented by w. d.
Mahon Of the labor delegation, chair
man of the rules committee.
The first order of business when
the conference assembled this morn
ing was to effect a permanent organi-
xauon. The report Of the committee
on organization and nominations, ap-
pointed yesterday, was presented by
Frank Morrison, its chairman. 1t
provided for permanent chairman
and two permanent secretaries, and
recommended that the permanent
chairman be Franklin X. Lane. Sec
retary of the Interior, and that the
permanent secretaries be Lathrop
Brown. former representative from
New York and later a special assist
ant to Mr.. Lane. and Joseph J. Cot
ter, Mr.. Lanes present executive as
eistant.
President Gompers of the Amer
ican Federation of Labor. speaking
on a motion to adopt the committees s
report. said Secretary Wilson also
had been suggested for permanent
assent to Mr.. Lanes election was in
no way reflection on Mr.. Wilson.
Mr. Gompers said he deemed the
statement of labor's attitude neces-
sary to dispel intimations that Mr..
WILSON was displaced because Of his
sympathy with the workers. The
labor leader was applauded as he
seconded Mr.. Lanes nomination.
Tribute to Secretary Lane.
Replying. Mr.. Wilson said his whole
life had been devoted to the cause
OF the workingman. but that he
never had thought any permanent
good could come from injustice. He
declared the conference was para
mount to any personal issue and
paid a high tribute to Secretary
Lane.
A committee, headed by Ida NJ Tar
bell. was appointed to advise Mr.. Lane
of this selection and escort him to the
hall. He was given a rousing recep-
tion when he entered. and at the con-
clusion Of his short address there was
a prolonged demonstration, the dele
gates finally rising to their feet and
cheering.
On motion of Gavin McNab Of San
Francisco. the conference voted
pnsnimopsly to invite Secretary OF
labor Wilson. the temporary presid-
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