Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-10-31
Lab0r's Withdrawal From the
Industrial Conference in
Washington.
PUBLIC GROUP ONLY STAYS
Coal Miners Reject Offer and Prepare
to Strike-Governmen May oper-
ate Mines-Senate Committee
Adopts Strong Reservations
to the Peace Treaty.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD.

After two weeks Of discussion and
negotiation, the industrial conference
at Washington was almost disrupted
Wednesday by the withdrawal of the
labor delegation. Mr.. GOmpers led
his bloc out Of the conference because
Its resolution on collective bargaining
was rejected. AS he departed he de-
clared the employers group was
adopting exactly the position assumed
by the I. W. What workers should
not enter into agreements with en-
ployers-and that he had nothing fur
ther to submit. You have defeated
labor in its declaration here" he add
ed, ''but we will meet you again in
conference, and when we do meet you
there you will be glad TO talk collec-
tive bargaining"
Spokesman for the capital group de-
MED the employers were opposed to
collective bargaining, but said the res
olution submitted, if adopted, would
go out to the world as a concession
on the part of the employers group
that they recognize the necessity Of
the unionization Of all the industrial
establishments in the country and the
kind of collective bargaining that the
labor unions insist upon as distin-
guished from other kinds"
The group representing the public
approved the resolution, and it was
beaten in the employers group by only
one vote, but the rules Of the confer
ence require unanimous vote for the
passage of any resolution. L. E. Shep-
pard of the railroad conductors
charged that political motives inspired
the action of some of the delegates,
and to others it was apparent that the
steel strike issues really were respon-
sible for the attitude taken by the
majority of the capital group.
President Wilson, on his sick bed,
had dictated and signed a letter to the
members of the conference pleading
for continuance of the sessions until
a solution of industrial relations was
reached, and this was read by Chair
man Lane, but it did not have the de-
sired effect on Gompers and his col
leagues. At first it was thought their
withdrawal meant the breaking up of
the conference, but the members of
the public group said they would keep
on with their work, and President Will
son sent another letter asking that
this course be followed
The failure, so far, of the industrial
conference to accomplish anything is
disappointing enough, but public at
tention is centered just now on another
labor trouble that is imminent-the
threatened strike of soft coal miners
which is set for November 1. Secre
tary Of Labor Wilson has been work
Ing desperately to avert this, and made
a proposal that would grant the miners
an increased wage, but that ignored
their demand for 36-hour week. The
miners committee formally rejected
this offer, though 1t was thought the
operators would agree to it, and the
leaders of the miners left Washington
at once to prepare for the struggle
The territory involved Is the "centra
competitive district" including west
ern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana ant
Illinois
Secretary Wilson and the other gov
ernment officials directly involved II
this matter did not announce thei
plans for the future. but they have in
timated that If necessary, In order t.
insure a supply Of coal to consumers
the mines will be kept open and oper
ated by the government, with troop.
on guard. Congress also may inter
vene If the efforts OF the government
fall Already in both house and sen
y