The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-07
Delegates Disagree Over Rules
of Procedure Today.
Industrial Conference Adjourns
Suddenly This Morning.
RAP VOTE BY GROUP PLAN
flinders Public and Doesn't Pro.
vide for Minority-Spargo.
All Meetings Open to Public
Lane Chosen Chairman.

Washington. Oct. Disagreement
over rules proposed for the governing
of the industrial conference called by
President Wilson resulted in the con-
ference adjourning suddenly today aft
er Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the
interior. had been elected permanent
chairman. 1t will meet again at 2:30
o'clock this afternoon.
AS proposed by the committee. the
rules provided that all conclusions and
decisions must be arrived at by unan-
imous vote of the>three groups repre-
seating capital, labor and the public,
while the decision of each individual
group would be by a majority of the
members of that group. The rule was
| attacked by John Spargo of New
York, a delegate representing the pub
lie. Spargo is a Socialist.
No Minority Voice, He Says
Mr.. Spargo declared the conference
| might as we'll adjourn if the provision
| of the rules was adopted whereby a
majority vote of any group was nee
| eSSary before member of the group
could introduce any subject for dis
| cussion. Such a rule. he asserted. him
dered especially the public group
which was not composed OF delegates
representing a. homogeneous interest
1
men and women of diverse activities
He objected particularly because he
said there was no provision for minor
ity expression.
| Opponents to this scheme assumed
it was President Wilson's idea, in sum
moning the conference to have 6
| round table" discussion on every
proposition, to clear the atmosphere
and eradicate misunderstanding and
that his plan was to have individuals
not groups vote.
Open to Public and Press
Thomas L. Chadbourne of New
York. replying for the committee. de
| clared the provision was believed nee
| eSsary to obtain effective action in.
stead of debate. On motion of Fred.
| erick P. Fish. of the employers group
| the conference adjourned to allow
each group to consider the rules sep
| arately, the employers voting solidly
on the motion and the public and Or
| San1zed labor groups dividing. Sever
al delegates expressed opposition to ar
| adjournment at a time when they de-
| c1ared the conference should be get
| ting down to business. Other provi-
sfons of the rules reported by the COM
4 mittee were that the meetings be open
to the public and the press and that
there be two daily sessions. from $3.50
a. nj. TO 1890 D. m. and from 80 to
| $50 p. m. 1t was expressly stated
that there should be no meetings on
Sunday, indicating that the conference
was expected to continue two weeks OF
| more The rules were presented by
| w. D. Mahon of the labor delegation
| chairman of the rules committee.
Secretary Lane, in his address as
| chairman, said he was sure the gath
ering would be able to work out a So
| luton of industrial troubles growing
| out of reconstruction.
"Thcrc Is a Way Ont"
1--WE will work out a way because 1t
cannot be that there is no way" said
Mr.. Lane. Men say that this problem
| of labor and capital is unsolvable. You
| cannot say that to me. In my depart
ment is the bureau of patents and
| each year, as 1 read the reports, 1 see
| that in America we produce more in
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