Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-20
Solution of Difficulties Seri,
ousIy Threatening Life Of
National industrial Confer
enCeI Seems Hopeless.
LABOR AND EMPLOYER
WINGS CANNOT AGREE
Tentative Agreement Reached
Saturday on Collective Bar
gaining is Shattered at Sun
day Meeting.

Washington, Oct. 19-Solution OF
the difficulties seriously threatening
the life of the National Industrial
conference seemed more hopeless
than ever Sunday night after the
conferences ceNtral committee, in a
three hours session. failed to concil-
late the differences between the
labor and employer wings.
The tentative agreement reached
late Saturday on the vital question
of collective bargaining was shat
tered at the committee meeting to-
day when the employers group in
sisted on adding to the substitute
resolution clause declaring for the
right of employers and employees to
bargain individually. This clause
was rejected uneualifiedly by the
labor delegates.
One Section Amended.
Previous to the introduction of the
individual bargaining" clause an
apparent solution to the problem
before the conference had been
reached The original Russell-Endi-
colt resolution, providing for recog-
nition of the right to collective bar
gaining and the right of employees to
choose their representatives at will,
was revamped, divided into four sec
tions and amended to read "the
right to organize into trade and
labor unions, shop and other indus
trial associations. The section
granting to labor organizations the
right to choose representative with
out restrictions was amended to
read "by representatives chosen by
majority of their own members"
Employers Object.
The compromise measure as
amended met with the approval of
the labor and public groups and
some members Of the employers
wing when brought before the COM
mittee. Later, however. the EN-
ployers insisted on the addition OF
|. fifth section, the individual bargain
ing clause, which was promptly
Vetoed by the labor group. This left
the central committee deadlocked
just as it was when the conference
adjourned late Friday.
In outlining the position of the
labor group before the central COM
mittee today, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor,
Frank Morrison, asserted that the
representatives of the workers did
not enter the conference with any
intention of attempting to obtain
concessions. but rather in a desire
for a better understanding between
capital and labor; that the employees
hadJmade every concession thus far.
and that his groups could not yield
further than to. endorse the pro-
visions of the regular Russell -Endi-
colt resolution.
Two Resolutions Up.
Two resolutions on collective bar
gaining were before ,the conference
when adjournment was taken Friday
and unless a compromise is reached
before the conference is called to
order tomorrow morning, each will
be brought up for vote.
The first proposition in order will
be the Wheeler resolution, spon-
sored by the employers group, rec
ognizing the right of collective bar
gaining by employees, but reserving
10 the employer the right ito deal
or not to deal with groups of men
who are not his employees and
chosen by and from among them"
All elements of the conference
are agreed that the labor wing vii
defeat the Wheeler measure if it
comes to vote.
Should this measure be defeated
or withdrawn the H-Endicott
measure would be next in order.
The resolution would pledge the
conference to recognize the right of
the employees to bargain collectively
and to select their representatives
without restriction.
Oppose Proposal.
The employers group has re-
peatedly voiced emphatic opposition
to this proposal which has the sup
port of the public and labor dele
gates. Unless the present deadlock
can be broken many Of the dele
gates were outspoken tonight in
their belief that the conference may
as we'll adjourn.
At a!meeting tonight of a por.
| ton of The central committee il was
decided to submit a modified yer.
sion of the Russell-Endicott resolu-
ton to the labor and employers
groups, with a plea that the measure
be accepted tentatively and get to
the floor of the conference for a
vote.
Both Ebert H. Gary and Samue'
Gompers. who have been in New
York, are expected to be present
when the conference convenes to.
morrow.