Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-23
E1INERS REFUSE PROPOSAL
TO SETTLE STRIKE FOR NOV.1;
PRESIDENT HOLDS CONFEREES
LQbOrMenN Not
JumpmgJacks,
Says G0mpers

Samuel Gompers, president of thu
American Federation of Labor. ISSUED
the following statement today. wher
asked if the labor group would b.
likely to make any concessions o.
go back into the industrial confer
ence
We are not jumping jacks. We
are patient and have been patient
and have been both complimented
and criticised because we have
been SO patient. There was no am
biguity in the declaration made
before the conference yesterday.
1t was authorized and directed by
the conference of the labor group
that if that last proposition was
lot adopted l was to address
the members of the conference as
to our position and to announce
our withdrawal from the confer
ence. That was the unanimous
vote of the members of the labor
group. including the representa-
tives of the American Federation
of Labor direct, as well as the
representatives of the railway
brQtherhoods.
1 don't know whether YOU have
seen or recall the last proposition
which we authorized. 1t was mod
crate and was more generous, as
we wanted to meet the views of
the President. ! take il that you
have been furnished with copy
of the proceedings of the various
meetings. You just look at the
statement. of the employers group
= for their reason in voting against
the declaration for the collective
bargaining and you will find that
all through it runs every phase OF
the questions that are in cOntro-
verSy-the open shop-compulSory
arbitration-as the reasons why
they have voted against the resolu-
ton which had been approved by
the committee of fifteen. approved
by the labor group and approved
by the group representing the pub
lie.
That so-caIled Russell ndicott
declaration. with that EndicOtt
concession, which we agreed to.
and finally, under stress of the in
fluence of the Presidents request.
declared the right of the wage
earners without discrimination to
organize for the purpose of col
lective bargaining. etc. and the
employers voted against the prop
osition of the right to organize
without discrimination.
If Cannot Agree, Useless to Sit.
If employers cannot. as a group.
agree to the declaration that the
workers without discrimination
have right to organize, 1T Is
worse than useless to sit in con-
ference further with such men.
/ have said time and again have
always been willing to meet with
men who will be willing to meet
with me and even with men who
have been enemies and opponents.
Some have changed their minds
and modified their views.
We have withdrawn. and until
the conditions are changed, of
course. we have withdrawn. and
that ends it as far as we are con-
cerned. AS / said in the beginning,
we are not jumping jacks. We are
not only men responsible as citi-
zens. but responsible for millions
of workers.
The representatives of the public
group. made up largely of employ
ers and people who have been an
tagonistic to the labor cause and
labor movement. yet voted in ia
vor of our declaration.
Information has come to me that
the employers group. in their con-
ference, voted against the declara-
ton by a majority of one. 1 am
quite convinced that those employ
ers in that group who voted
against the declaration are unrep-
minded employers of the country.