The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-21
Dictates Letter to Lane From
Sick Bed Today.
Takes Action When Informed of
Serious Situation.
SAY LABOR WILL NOT BOLT
Have Gained PubIic's Support
on All Big Issues.
Capital Group Still DeadIOcked
on Collective Bargaining.

Washington. Oct 21-A declara-
ton OF the imperative necessity of
holding the national industrial confer
ence together until it has accom-
pushed the purposes for which it was
called is understood to form the key
note Of a six hundred word letter
which President Wilson sent today to
Secretary Lane of the interior depart
ment. chairman of the conference.
The president was said to have out
lined these purposes at some length
His letter was described By those who
had read it as IAN extremely powerful
document" written in the vigorous
style which chara cterized the execu-
ttve's writings before his Illness
Washington. oct. 21.-President
Wilson, despite his illness, took per-
sonal. hand in the national industrial
conference in an effort TO avert a
break which is threatened as a result
of the inability of the capital and la
Dor groups to reach a satisfactory
agreement on the collective bargaining
issue.
In h six hundred word letter to Sec
rotary Lane, chairman of the confer
ence. dictated from his sick bed, the
president outlined his views as to the
conference situation. The letter was
Immediately dispatched to Mr.. Lane,
who. it was explained, was to use it at
his discretion
May Hold It for Crisis.
The conference was not in session
when Mr.. Lane received the COM
munication having met at 1915 a. m.
and adjourned at the request of the
labor group after two resolutions had
been presented. 1t was said the letter
might not be presented to the confer
ence Immediately but held in reserve
to be used or ly when danger of the
conference breaking uR became acute.
The serious situation in the confer
i
early today after a conference be-
tween Chairman Lane. Secretary Will
son OF the labor department; Bernard
NJ Baruch, cflairman of the public
group; Thomas L: Chadbourne, chair
man of The committee of fifteen, and
Secretary Tunulty. The president
INN ediateIy dictated the letter to
Ctenogra phlr and signed the completed
copy with a lead pencil.
Wilson'S Hand Was Shaky.
The presidents signature was writ
ten on the bias across the sheet and
apparently his hand was somewhat
shaky when he signed it,. Mr.. Tu-
multy immediately left for the Pan
American building, where the confer
nIace sits, TO present the letter to Mr..
lane.
Before the brief session today,
hartman Lane said the conference
Guild not be permitted to end its work
rOups-capital, labor and the public
had decided to frame a new and
1mprehensive program involving all
dustrial issues of general nature.
was understood that reference to
- specific issue that has caused the
'esent situation. would be avoided.
Say Labor Will Not Bolt
While there was talk of boiling the
inference, as several members of the
abor group plainly were inpatient
delegates in the public group We're
confident that the labor repsesenta-
tiyes, would not leave the conference
but would seek to press the advantage
gained thru having succeeded in
bringing the public representatives
into line with them on every important
issue thus far introduced.
1t developed today that the employ
crs are far from agreement among
themselves on a declaration regarding
collective bargaining, despite their
efforts to reach a common under
standing at conferences Yesterday and
last night. Some members of the
group were said to favor standing by
the substitute already introduced but
others argued that Il new proposal be
submitted.
a Capital Eth Favors Employees.
Among the resolution introduced Mt
the session of the conference this
morning was one by L. A Loree of
the capital group. urging n declara ton
in favor of employers furnishing in
surance policies covering the five ma
. jor hazards-sickness accident, I'M
employment, experimentation and
death. Mr.. Loree said such policies
would enable the insured to set UP
an estate with the Initial payment,
would relieve from the fear of want,
would give security and independence
and would encourage habits of thrift -
Under a resolution by c. c. Atkeson,
farmers delegate in the capital
group. the conference would declare
in favor Of the right of farmers to
form cooperative marketing organiza-
tions in order to maintain the price of
their products.
Timothy Shea, chief of the Brother
hood of Firemen and Enginenfen. took
his seat in the labor group today in the
place of p. J. Mcnamara. Mr. Shea
said he had been unable TO attend
heretofore owing to negotiations with
the railroad administration.
John SpargO Active.
John Spargo, Socialist and writer.
today was working to bring capital
and labor nearer together in the ma
tional industrial conference.
Spargo was preparing a complete
code OF basic principles of industrial
relations which he hopes to introduce
and have the conference adopt prin-
ciple by principle.
The code contains about $500 words
and takes up the steel strike, the
threatened coal strike and other in
dustrial disturbances only in an ad-
dendum.
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