The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-17
CLOUDS VANISH
AT INDUSTRIAL
MEETING TODAY
Spirit of Cancellation Manifest
at Big Conference.
Capital Groups Collective Bar
gaining Plan SoOthes Labor.
WILL TREAT WITH employees
But Employers Draw Line on
Outside Union Agents.
Stand Understood To Be Capt.
tabs Utmost Concession.
But Employers Draw Line on
Outside Union Agents.

Washington, Oct. 17.-With the in
PRODUCTION of resolution by the capt.
tai group giving its view as to the
right of collective bargaining a spirit
of Cancellation was manifest today in
the national industrial conference. L..
E. Sheppard, head of he Railway
Conductors brotherhood, said he saw
in the resolution a sincere effort at
a closer cooperation between capital
clared that. in his opinion, the gath
ering was Just getting down to bust
ness"
Impotence Gives Way.
Announcing that the impotence
manifested by the labor group Thurs
day had now given way to a willing
ness to wait any reasonable length of
time, Mr.. Sheppard said his group
saw every prospect of a harmonious
between the right and left wings of
the conference as result of the en-
ployers resolution. The resolution by
the capital group, which Chairman
Harry A. Wheeler said had been as
scented to by eleven of the fourteen
members present, follows:
Resolved. that, without in any way
limiting the right of a wage Garner to
refrain from joining any association or
to deal directly witt his employer as he
private, as distinguishing from govern
ment employment, to organize in trade
and labor unions, in shop industrial
councils other lawful form of
sociation to bargain collectively, to be
represented by represeI. tatives of their
own choosing in negotiations and ad-
justments with employers in respect to
wages, hours of labor and other condi-
tons Of employment is recognized. and
the right of the employer to deal or not
to deal with men or groups of men who
are not his employees and chosen from
among them is recognized. No denial is
intended of the right OF an employer
and his workers voluntarily to agree
upon the form of their representative
relations.
Capitals Utmost Concession.
This was understood to outline the
utmost concessions which the capital
group was prepared to make. J. w.
O'Leary of Chicago, a member of the
group, told the conference no one
knew better than the employer the
value of cooperation with the
workers in securing productive eff
He added, however. that any
a agreement outlining the relations of
the two must be arrived at with a
clear understanding. repeating former
protests against the pressure of any
one specific ISSUE
I'VE never have denied the right of
organization and of collective bargain
ing as we understand that term"
Affirming his faith in the stability
of the American people Mr.. O'Leary
objected to repeated talk of the danger
of revolution and of radical action.
which, he said, added fuel to the
flames.
My faith is in the government of
the United States, and not in the en-
ployefs, employees or the public alone"
he said.
Gompers Much Better Today.
Hope was expressed by labor dele
gates that Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
who has been suffering from nervous
exhaustion. would be able to resume
his place today as leader of the labor
delegation. Mr.. Gompers's temporal
ture was normal last night, his secre-
tary reported. He is very anxious to
be back in the conference room, but
his physician has advised further rest.
The public delegates indicated a
willingnes to refer the entire question
of collective bargaining back to the
committee of fifteen. altho labor dele
gates expressed vigorous opposition to
further postponement of the steel
strike arbitration resolution.
Employers say their resolution on
collective bargaining differs from that
offered by the labor group in that it
protects the principle of open shop.
point out that the new res
olution expressly stipulates that the
right of workers to refrain from join
ing labor or trade unions shall not be
denied.
Gary "Playing HooI<ie."
Nearly two hours after the hour
set for the meeting the conference was
called to order Ebert H. Gary
chairman of the board of the United
States Steel organization and a public
delegate, was not present