New-York tribune., 1919-10-16
Action Hangs Fire While the
Committee Thrashes Out
Differences on Issue of
Collective Bargaining
Compers Is Seriously LII
Delegates Unanimously Ex-
press Regret at the Alb.
sence of Labor Leader
By Chester M. Wright
Nesp forE Tribune


WASulNGTON. Oc.. i5.-With the
labor delegates consenting to adjourn
mcnt until 2:3O o'clock tomorrow, the
National Industrial Conference was to-
day saved from meeting the .ssue
raised by the. steel strike resolution
This is the resolution that has been
the chief issue in the conference ever
since the business of the gathering be-
gan to take shape, and ii is the issue
that has crowded all other business out
Of the sessions this week.
Whether a vote will be taken to-
morrow is still in doubt The confer
ence adjourned to-day, on motto. of
Bernard Baruch for The public group.
His motion was:
THAT action on the steel strike reso-
luton be deferred until the general
committee reports on the question of
collective bargaining, and that the gen
eral committee be directed to report
on this question not later than Thurs
day, at 2:30 p. M"
Chair Saves Situation
K was only by new Interpretation
of the rules that the chair saved the
meeting from defeat of this motion and
an immediate vote on the steel resolu-
tion. When the meeting adjourn ed
yesterday the chair had called for the
vote, but no votes had been announced.
It was therefore expected that the vote
would be taken to-day Mr Baruch' s
motion intervened. The public group
and the labor group voted for the mo-
ton. with the employers voting against.
Under the rules as previously inter
preted this would have defeated the
motion, but to-day it was decided that
Oh matters of procedure the group plan
and The requirement. for unanimous
agreement should be discarded. After
the group vote rising vote was taken,
with ajority for the motion Judge
Gary voted against postponement. In
the employers group the farmers voted
for the delay.
The general committee met this aft
ernoon, but after long session an
nounced that only the right to or
ganize, the first phase OF collective
bargaining, had been reached in the
discussion On this point no agree
ment was reached as to the final form
OF stating the principle, although it
seemed assured. The committee will
Gompers Detained by Illness
The illness OF" Samuel Gompers east
4 gloom over the session Of the con-
ference at the outset. Mr.. Compers is
reported resting easily. tonight, but
his appearance at the conference to-
morrow is exceedingly improbable
Just before the conference opened the
following bulletin was brought to the
hall:
Mr.. Gompers returned home from
the industrial conference last evening
very greatly exhausted and went imme-
diately to bed. His physician, Dr.
Henry Parker, was called in to see
him. He found Mr.. Gompers in state
OF nervous exhaustion, with a tenn
perature Of 10l. The doctor said it
would be absolutely necessary for Nh.
Gompers to remain in bed"
During the afternoon the tempera-
ture went down to 90, but this evening
1t was reported as having risen some
what. 1t was learned that Mr Gompers
had eaten almost nothing since Sun
day and has slept but little. He now
IS being permitted only liquid food.
After the evening visit of the physi-
clan 1t was announced there was no
cause for apprehension, but complete
rest was necessary, at least for time
Employers Express Regret
Announcement OF the illness was
made to the conference by Frank Nor
rison. Harry A. Wheeler, of the en-
pioyers' group, arose to express the
regret of the group and the hope for
Nr. Gompers's speedy recovery. Inter-
preting the statement as motion. the
chair asked for rising vote Of adop-
ton. which was unanimous.
Those close to the labor leader were
rot taken by surprise by his illness.
hey attribute 1t to the severe strain
ne has laborcd under in his work and
10 the succession of sad events in his
family life. Yesterday was the first
anniversary Of the death Of his only
daughter. The memory of that loss
was on his mind constantly through
the day. 1t vas evidently with difficulty
that he delivered his speech on the
steel resolution. Added to that be-
reavement was the recent death of his
father, his own accident Of seven
months ago and the illness of Mrs
T Gompers. For some months her health
( has been poor.
alr. Morrison was chosen bv the
labor group to assume the leadership
+ during Mr.. Gompers's absence.
Charge of Politics Made
IL was but few moments after the
. announcemont OF the illness Of one of
its leading figures that the conference
! vas upset by q charge Of politics. Her
bert +. Perkins, s. Pcmberton Hutch
nson and j. y. O'Leary, of the en-