Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-20
GARY DETERMINED
NOT TO NEGOTIATE
WITH LABOR UNIONS
Stands on Refusal to Meet
Representatives Not in
Steel Employ.
Statement DISTURBS
INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE
Decision Proves Monkey Wrench in
Machinery, But Public Group
Members Are Still Hopeful.

Members Are Still Hopeful.
Judge Ebert Ii. Gary. chairman Of
the United States Steel Corporation re-
turned to Washington this morning
from New York and threw a monkey
wrench into the machinery of the
Presidents industrial conference.
The machinery already was creak-
ing badly and wabbling under the
strain put upon it by the contest over
methods of collective bargaining. but
it still held together and it's engineers
continued hopeful. Whether it can as
simulate Judge Gary's monkey wrench
and keep on going remains to be seen.
This afternoon, or tomorrow at the
latest, ought to tell the story.
Came From New York Consultation
Judge Gary had been in New York
in conference with other officials. OF
the Steel Corporation. This morning
he announced that he could not re-
cede from his position Of opposition
to negotiating with representatives of
plants Of the corporation. He termed
this Standing for the open shop"
Inc employers group in the indus
trial conference had been brought al
most to the point of abandoning its
demand that labor should be repre-
scented in collective bargaining by men
actually employed in establishments
where disputes had arisen, and there
was hope OF a compromise on the basis
that employers would meet represen-
tatiyes actually chosen by a majority
of the workers in such establishment.
whether the representatives were ac-
tual employees or not. If the Steel
Corporation will not agree to such a
program, 1T is recognized that it would
be futile for the industrial conference
to declare for 1t.
"Reactionaries" Strengthened.
Members of the employers group
already were being deluged with tefe-
grams from industrial leaders urging
them to stand Arm against the COM
plete unionization of industry, but the
pressure of public opinion was steadily
forcing them into a compromise.
Judge Gary's stand this morning great.
dictionaries" in the employers group,
and may result N making a compro-
mise altogether impossible.
T4Are. was no quorum in the industrial
confefeHee this morning, the employers
group being in conference on the colIec-
tive bargaining resolution. An imme-
date adjournment was taken, therefore,
until 2:30 O'Clock this afternoon.
Gary May Explain This Afternoon.
At this afternoons session of the con-
ference Judge Gary. who is a member
OF the group appointed by President
Wilson to represent the public, is ex-
pected to make a statement. explaining
his position on collective bargaining and
other phases Of negotiations between
employer and employees. He has asked
Chairman Lane for recognition for that
purpose. When he has concluded his
statement. it is believed. the crisis which
has been confronting the conference
cannot be much longer kept from COM
ing to a head.
most continuously Saturday and yester-
day in an effort to reach an agreement
on collective bargaining. This morning
agreement had been reached on these
three points:
Three Points of Agreement.
1. The right of wage-earners to or
ganize in trade unions. shop councils
or other organizations is recognized.
2. The right OF employer and en-
ploye to bargain collectively in re-
spect to wages, hours and rules and
conditions of employment is recog-
nized
3. The right Of wage-earners to be
represented by representatives OF
their own choosing is recognized.
1t almost had been agreed that
such representatives should be actu-
ally elected by a majority vote Of
the employees in an establishment in
Yolved in the collective bargaining.
The labor leaders did not like this
provision. insisting that regular OFF,
resentatives of workers belonging to
it. but they were not prepared to
push their opposition to the point OF
preventing an agreement.
Saturday night an agreement was
all but reached, when the representa-
tives of the employers on the commit
tee brought in this proposal: Tae
right of employer and employe to ne
gotiate individually in respect to
wages. hours of labor and conditions
of employment is recognized"
Whole Thing in Air Again.
That put the whole thing up in the
air again. the labor members insist
ing that to concede employers the
right to bargain individually nullified
the right given employees to bargain
collectively. Public group members
Joined the labor members in this in
depreciation. and the employer men,
bers did not press the matter. But
the psychological moment for con-
Guiding the agreement had passed,
and SO far it has not been reached
again.
There was much talk this morning
that Judge Gary's pronouncement
would disrupt the conference. but this
view was not shared by Chairman
Lane and members of the public group
who have been working indefatigably
to bring about some practical achieve
ment.
Plan if Agreement Is Not Reached.
If 1t is seen, after Judge Gary makes
his statement. that no agreement can be
reached on collective bargaining taken
alone, an effort will be made in the pub
lie group to have the whole matter re-
ferred back to the committee of fifteen
with instructions to bring in a complete
program for arbitration and Cancellation.
and the molten may include a temporary
of the conference, probably
for week or ten days.
Any such program of further delay
will meet with strong opposition from
the labor group. but under Chairman
Lanes Interpretation of the rules IL will
require only majority vote to carry the
motion, group voting not being neces-