The sun., 1919-10-20
INDUSTRIAL FARLEY
BREACH WIDENED
All Efforts Fail to Break Dead
lock Over Collective Bar
gaining Issue.
MUST COMPROMISE TO-DAY
Failure, It Is Feared, Will
Mean Adjournment With
Nothing Accomplished.

wAsHINoToN, Oct. dissolution OF the
difficulties seriously threatening the lie
Of the National Industrial Conference
seemed more hopeless than ever tonight
after the conferences central commit
toe In a three hour session failed to
conciliate the differences between the
labor and employer wings.
The tentative agreement reached late
Saturday on the vital question OF col
lective bargaining was shattered at the
committee meeting to-day when the en-
ployers' group insisted on adding to the
substitute resolution n clause declaring
for tho right of employers and en-
ployees to bargain individually. This
clause was rejected unqualihedly by the
labor delegates.
Previous to the introduction OF the
individual bargaining clause an appar-
ent solution to the problem before the
conference had been reached. The orig
inal RUSSELL Endicott resolution, provide
ing for recognition of the right to col
lective bargaining and the right of em-
ployees to choose their representatives
at will, was revamped, divided into four
sections and amended to read THE right
tn organize into trade and labor unions.
shop and other Industrial associations
The section granting to labor organiza-
tons the right to choose representatives
without restrictions was amended to
read "by representatives chosen by
majority of their own members
The compromise measure as amended
met with the approval Of the labor and
public groups and some members of tho
employers wing when brought before
the committee. Later. however, the en-
ployers insisted on the addition of nth
section. the individual bargaining clause.
which was promptly vetoed by the labor
group. This left the central committee
deadlocked. just as it was when the con-
ference adjourned late Friday.
Labor Explains stand.
In outlining the position of the labor
group before the central committee to-
day Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor. asserted
that the representatives of the workers
did not enter the conference with any
intention of attempting to obtain conces-
8 ons, but rather In a desire for a bet
ter understanding between capital and
labor. that the workers had made every
concession thus far ana that his group
could not yield further than to indorse
the provisions of the original RUSSELL
Erdicott resolution.
Herbert r. Perkins of Chicago. acting
as spokesman for the employers. said
what other members of Ills group have
proclaimed repeatedly on the floor Of the
conference, that the employers could not
grant the right of collective bargaining
with representatives not chosen from
among their owI employees
Two resolutions on collective bargain
ing were before the conference when ad-
1ournment was taken Friday. and unless
t9 he
ference is called to order tomorrow,
which Is improbable, each will be brought
up for a vote.
TTJThe first proposition in order will be
the Wheeler resolution. sponsored by the
employers group. recognizing the right
TO collective bargaining( but reservinS to
the employer the right ito deal or not
to deal with men or groups of men who
are not his employees and chosen by and
from among ITEM"
The labor delegates take the stand
that such q resolution would mean moth
ing If adopted, since 1t would give the
employers unrestricted choice OF repre-
sentatives to deal with worltmen on in
dustrial issues, while limiting the en-
ployees to their own ranks, thus elimi-
mating the officials of the national and
subordinate labor organizations. in
many cases the best qualified representa-
lives of the unions. All elements of the
conference are agreed that the labor
wing will defeat the Wheeler measure IL
It comes to a vote.
Employees Firm I'm Opposition.
Should this measure be defeated or
withdrawn the Russell ndicott measure
would be next In order. This resolution
would pledge the conference to recognize
the right Of the employees to bargain
collectively and to elect their representa-
tives without restriction. The employ
ers group has repeatedly voiced en-
phatic opposition to this proposal. which
has the support of the public and labor
delegates. Since an adverse vote by a
single group can defeat any resolution
there is practically no hope OF the Rus
sell-Endicott measure being adopted.
Suggestions that the conference adopt
new tactics and eliminate collective bar
gaining from consideration temporarily.
while considering other issues have met
decided opposition. Many of the con.
forces, including the labor delegates, be-
lieve that the conference cannot side
step this important issue, and that II
must be settled now II the conference
is to accomplish anything Unless the
present deadlock can be broken many
of the delegates were outspoken tonight
Ia their belief that the conference may
as well adjourn. One prominent MEM
Der Of the central committee, when
asked tonight If he believed the two
opposing factions would reach an agree
ment and thus save the conference from
dissolution, made the significant state
ment that "all things are possible in
the providence of God"
At a meeting tonight of n portion OF
the central committee It was decided to
submit a modified version Of the RUSSELL
Endicott resolution to the labor and en-
ployers groups, with a plea that the
measure be accepted tentatively and
sent to the floor OF the conference for n
vota