New-York tribune., 1919-10-22
Farley Vetoes
Collective
Bargaining
10 Mediate in
Steel a Strike Also Is
Voted Down as Public
Group Joins Employers
By Chester M. Wright
NeW York Tribune
HUebi,,ufou p.tro1,

" NSffHytOH bureau
WASHINGTON. Oct 21.-Collective
bargaining was defeated by the Ma
tlonal Industrial Conference late this
afternoon, with labor standing alone
fo, the proposition. The resolution Of
ferng concilation in the steel strike
and asking that the strikers return
TO work also was defeated.
During the entire dramatic after
noon session Secretary of the Interior
Lane had in his pocket letter from
President Wilson, written to him to-
day for use in the event that the con-
ference should appear about to col
| lapse.
Members Of the labor delegation
have stated with emphasis that if col
lectivc bargaining and the steel reso-
luton went down to defeat they could
not remain in the conference If this
is their decision tomorrow when the
conference is convened the President 3
letter will be read as the only hope of
continuing the sessions. Secretary
Lane would not indicate in any way
what the contents Of the letter might
that it was only for emergency use.
Climax Comes Promptly
IT was not until 4:4o O'Clock this
called to order. Scarcely had the
gavel fallen when the climax OF more
than two weeks of work came. On col
lective bargaining the original resolu-
tion and the substitute offered by
Harry A. Wheeler were read. Then.
with brief recesses for group polling,
the conference voted down. one after
another, everything relating to col
lective bargaining. Following one
recess fresh substitute was brought
in by Thomas L. Chadbourne Of the
in open session. All went down. Fol-
lowing another recess the steel resolu-
tion was defeated.
After the Wheeler substitute had
been voted down motion to adjourn
was made by John Spargo. This was
voted down.
That the original collective bargain
ing resolution, favored by labor, was
defeated by to l vote was due to a
change in the vote of the public group
at a midnight session last night. Mr..
Chadbourne told the conference the
group vote had been changed because
Of an Interpretation placed on the res
olution by Frank Morrison, Of the la
Dor group. He said under this inter
pretaton organization in anything ex-
ccpt trade and labor unions would not
be countenanced.
Votes for Resolution
The original collective bargaining
resolution was drafted by members
Of the public group and reported 10
the conference last week with the in
dorsement of the labor and public
members of the general committee of
| fifteen. When the resolution was de-
feated individual votes in favor of it
were recorded by j. \: Tittemore
Charles Edward Russell, Gavin McNab,
John Spargo, j. J. Forester and Ger
trude Barnum. Mr.. Russell, Mr.. Title
more and Mr.. Forester recorded their
! votes for the steel resolution.
Secret covenants. secretly arrived ar
and most Of them Of uncertain tenure,
have been the rule for the last twenty
four hours in conference circles The
public group met this morning and II
vited the FIVE labor mem bers Of tee
general committee to meet with them
For an hour this conference sat be-
mind closed doors. The employers then
gathered and remained cioscted to- a
long time. Group and iater-grorp
meetings continued throughout the day
However, nothing was changed by these
conferences, SO far as could be learned
The decision was made in the early
hours this morning when the pub, c
group went into its midnight confer
ence, it was learned
Tonight there is bitterness and re-
crimination il conference circles Lit
,.e Aopo .. progress 5 hold cut. Per
caps the brightest ray came rom sam
rei Gon1pc4' himself lie rave tho
ragce.t inssi7atioT -aa. i i can be
own That results stih can be hac
: my DC possible t. coat3nc~
How bargaining Vas Buried
Here is the manner in which coilec-
tive bargaining was disposed OF:
/. The Wheeler substitute recog-
nlzesi the right OF wage carners to
organize III unions, bu. also recog
NEED the right 20 organize il shop
councils, and gaze the employer the
light % refuse to meet representa-
t.ves rot approved By him. This
barred the outside" representative.
Employers "by she required ma
iori.y" voted yes: public voted 10;
.abor voted no.
:. Mr. Chadbourne presented new
substitute. approved by majority Of
TIE public group, recognizing the
right o. workers TO "organi2e in as
sociations OF their own choosing" not
limiting his right to refrain from
Continued on neat page