New-York tribune., 1919-10-15
Strike Settlement Resolu-
ton Arouses Bitter De-
bate and Threatens to
Disrupt Conference
Will Reach Vote
This Morning g
Compers Makes Dramatic
"a Plea for Cancellation;
Employers Now Firner
BY Chester NJ. Wright
Ner Yorl- Tr,6lDo

.'tW olN ftOUis
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Oct. 14.-Nith the
chairman about to ask for vote on The
resolution calling for 4 settlement of
the steel strike, the National Industrial
Conference late this afternoon was
forced into adjournment because a man
happened to look at his watch The
steel resolution will ne voted upon
when the conference meets tomorrow
morning.
During day of suspense and hard
fighting the steel strike had been the
bone Of contention, with every one fully
aware OF the fact that upon the deci-
sion reached or this issue hangs the
fate of the conference, at least ~ a
large degree.
The rules fix $50 O'Clock as the hour
of adjournment. Under the high ten
sion of the situation the conference
passed that halfhour mark unmindfu
OF time. All of the tangc of parlia-
mentary procedure had been disposed
Of An amendment to broaden the
disposed of by negative vote The
issue that has been forming for more
than week would have been decided
in but q few moments.
Mahon Stands for Routine
William D. Mahon, who once ran
streetcar and cot schedules fixed in his
mind, casually looked at his watch. 1t
was 5:45. The schedule had been
broken, and so he arose slowly and
said:
MIR. Chairman, the rules provide
that VIC adjourn at $3.50 o'clock, and
since it is now past that time ANYTHING
we may do will not be legal"
The chairman ruled that the confer
ence could not continue in session
without motion. No one made mo-
tlon and the chair adjourned the meet
ing.
The conference adjourned with every
d'catlon pointing 70 defeat for the
steel resolution. Samuel Gompers had
made one of his most dramatic and cf-
fectivc speeches for conciliation and
settlement of the strike 1t bad so
moved Gavin McNab. Of San Francisco,
that he at once arose to move post
ponement of the vote TO Friday, in
order to make agreement possible This
motion was defeated, with the public
voting eyes" and labor and employers
voting "no," clearly serving notice that
both were ready for showdown.
Labor Group May Withdraw
If the conference outliyes to-mor-
row it will exceed the tenure granted
it by most observers tonight. Whether
the labor delegation will remain in the
meeting after defeat of the steel reso-
luton is tonight an undecided oues-
ton. But that it would not remain in
the conference in the event that de-
feat Of collective bargaining were to
be added to defeat of the steel resou-
ton is certain. in the opinion of those
closest to the labor group.
Because it had become noiscd about
that the steel issue was to be settled
an unusually large audience attended
this afternoon. Labor men came from
far points, some Of them with the
definite mission Of urging the labor
delegation not to give ground. On the
other hand, George ". Perkins came to
advise with Z. II. Gary as a fellow lem
Der of the Steel Corporations finance
committee. Joseph Tumulty, secretary
to the President and a Senator or two
were there.
After adjournment tonight Berna rd
Baruch, chairman of the group of pub
lie representatives, said he believed ad-
journment gave the steel resolution Il
better chance for adoption. No lack
of faith in a harmonious outcome was
betrayed by him, but among the labor
defeat on this resolution will endanger r
if it does not destroy the conference.
It seems certain that should the con-
ference survive the death Of the steel
resolution 4 would not Dc FOR long. ur-
less q marked change in the fortunes
OF labor should follow on other oues-
tions.
Employers Grow Firmer
The ar has changed since last week.
! Lines that were weakened then are
| strong now. The employers who last
wcoll were confidently expected to
reach an agreement with ianor on this
issue wen. through the session o-da Y
with lincs sight and no compromise in
sight They talked almost not a. all
except to put into the record the state
nont Chat they hold that the President
intended the conference to take Up new
Issues and that the steel strike should
! have been postponed upon his request.
The steel strike resolution was re
/ ported IN :. tho morning session by
thc committee cf fifteen without rec
omniendslioO, as agreed upon by the
committee yesterday. The rcgolution
was amended by the committee to pro-
vide that the conciiatora to be named
might or might not be members of the
| conference. This amendment was ac-
ceptablc to all But the resolution
! itself was not
Feeling grew bitter to- day-the frs,
time anything but suNshiNc has hovcred
over the conference. 1t showed frst
during tho morning
4 resolntion from tho employer grour
was brought in with favorable rec.
ommcnd9tion from thc general commit
~