The Washington herald., 1919-10-23
LABOR GROUP WALKS
OUT OF CONFERENCE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

SfOuR ne CuafBeu u WIN pdkluk Lne
same attitude as the I. W. W., say
ing:
"The employers group represented
in this conference have put them
selves on record as against agreements
with wage earners as such. The I. w.
w. in its propaganda and Its docu-
ments, in Its literature. in its declara-
tions, has taken the position that
workers should not enter into agree
ments with employers
Mr.. Gompers made a brief but sig
nificant reference to the steel strike
resolution which was voted down
| Tuesday. saying as he turned with
pointed finger at the employer group:
Il say to you the executive council
OF the American Federation Of Labor
at its session Tuesday night, taking
up the. question Of the Iron and steel
workers strike. has had reported to It
that tho condition Of the strike, in 50
far as the men on strike are con-
tcerr ed. IL more to the interest Of the
workers contention now than at any
time from the beginning OF the strike.
THE executive council has decided
to more fully. II possible. bring the
moral and financial support OF the
workers OF America to aid the iron
and steel workers in their Just con-
tention for a conference. with a view
of collective bargaining"
wheeler Defends Employers.
The only reply made by the en-
ployer group to Mr.. Gompers was
voiced by Chairman Harry A. Wheel!
er. who said II was proftless TO dis
cuss the responsibility for the break
| ing up OF the conference. as well
as the reasons for voting against
the resolution. Mr. Wheeler sail
that the employer group would stand
on its record as shown by the min
utes OF the conference.
We are ready and willing to pro-
ceed," said Mr.. Wheeler. We are
ready to be as consistent and as
loyal as we have been. We cannot
sacrifice principles. We would be
towards and cravens IL We did. We
have patiently listened to the scourE-
ing that has been given this group,
but we refuse to accept the responsi-
bility which the lsbor group would
place upon us. We have been fair.
and when We go out We go out with
our heads high"
Left In Groups.
The labor delegates did not go
out in a body. First Frank Nor
rison and two or three of the
American Federation of Labor dele
gates walked out Immediately fol-
lowing the conclusion of Mr.. Com
pers' SWAN song" Then Mr.. Com
pers and the remaining delegates
OF the American Federation OF
Labor with the exception of Paul
Scharrenburg. of San Francisco,
and the delegates of the railroad
brotherhoods. followed.
81 thought when we came here
that the employers and the en-
ployes had something in common
said Mr.. Scharrenburg. IT will say
that the members of the employers
group here are not representative
OF the employers with whom I have
had to deal in the West. / have
never met the men OF the type that
seems to be gathered in this group
Regret Disrsption.
Delegates Lee and Sheppard OF
the railroad brotherhoods sounded
another note. They expressed re-
gret that they would have TO re-
port to tho railroad men that the
principles of organization and Of
collective bargaining. which have
been recognized for SO many years
in the railroad industry. had been
voted down in the conference.
Delegate Sheppard said that he
| felt as II he had been elected from
tn" conference. and asserted that 1t
was a foregone conclusion that the
employer group would maintain ar
funyi-ldinG attitude. He said that
! it was impossible for the conference
I ~.
were other things in the air. and
| that not the least Of these was the
| fact that.1he Presidential election is
only a year distant.
The inference given by Delegate
| Sheppard was that as . successful
! outcome OF the conference would re-
dound to the credit of the President
that forces were at work to break
it up. SO that credit might not be
| given to President Wilson. -
Predicts Struggle.
Mr.. Sheppard also said that II in.
/ dustrial affairs went on as they are
/ going. railroad labor would be unable
| to stay out of the controversy and
that he and the other railroad labor
! leaders would be called upon to fight
against men with whom they had been
| friends for many years.
| THAT is the key to the situation -
| said Mr.. Sheppard. We want to live
UP to our contracts. our agreements.
| but what assistance do we get out
of this conferencsf Tho regrettable
thing is that we must 60 through the
| maelstrom of Industrial strife and that
| the innocent will have to suffer with
| US. II we stay here we lose every
thing that we have gained in the years
| gone by"
| AT the beginning Of the afternoon