The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-23
Collective Bargaining Resolu-
ton Beaten By the Narrow
Margin of One in the Capt.
tai Group, While Endorsed
By the Public and Labor
Wings

WASHISGTON. oct 2".-I-abor today
withdrew from tn" National industrial
conference. tonight after It's iinal cr'
fort To obtain adoption of n collective
BARGAINING resolution had been defeated
bv the vote Of a majority Of the capitl'
group.
Although the representatives OF both
public and capital announced their IN
t"ntIon of remaining In the conference
the next move in the effort 10 restore
industrial peace To the country evident
ly rested with President Wilson.
Mr.. Lane will make personal report
of the situation to the President. but
neither leaders in tho conference nor
officials generally would venture pre-
diction as TO what course Mr.. Wilson
would take.
Meantime the conference will be call
cd together tomorrow as usual.
wilson's Appeal Futile.
Withdrawal Of the labor group was
announced by Samuel Gompcrs. prcsi'
dent of the American Federation Of
Labor. after a dramatic speech. II cam,
only n few hours after Secretary Lane
in on effort TO prevent what many from
almost the FIRST had regarded az the in
cvitablr, had read letter in which Pres
idcnt Wilson, debating from his sick
bed. appealed for harmony in the confer
cncc, and for tho final working out oi
a program OF industrial peace.
Representatives Of labor did not Jol'
in the applause which greeted th" letter
and Mr. GnmpHrs characterized "a
most unfortunate" motion by Joh'
Pargo, Of the public group. that cacl
gruup pledge the President that /;
would max" every effort To 'accCmplie"
Tho work for which IN" conference was
called. Tho motion Was withdrawn ard
tho conference recessed 50 the labor
group could meet to determine its future
course.
When tho conference convened in ;h'
afternoon. the labor group proposed (h'
collective bargaining resolution.
Lost On One Vote.
Under tho suspension of the rules tR'
resolution Immediately was brought Il
discussion and vote. tho labor and pub
lie groups uniting in its support on th>
roll call. The majority against the res
olution in tho capital group was on'
vote. but under the confcrcnc" rules I'M"
majority was sufficient TO defeat th'
resolution.
With the announcement of tho result
Mr. Gompcrs told the conference thr
resolution had been rejected "without
right or reason. rejected on grounds Sc
flirnsy that the men sitting in tho en-
ploycrs' group will have difficulty in cX'
planning their action TO their fellows III
he world"
! "You have defeated the labor group
in its declaration" declared the veteran
labor leader. but We will meet you
again in conference and when we do
meet you there you will be glad 10 talk
collective bargaining.
Lsbor's Withdrawal
"I have sung my swan song in thts
conference. You have by your action
lceisla,cd US out of tho gathering. VIC
have nothing further TO say. ana II j.
with a feeling of regret that we are h"'
able to remain longer. Our chict rcsrc'
Is tho defeat Of every fair propoStio'
on our part. Tho die is cast. We can
not remain longer.
Representatives OF the four railr"ac
! lhrothcrhoods remained in tho conference
until the session adjourned. but they
announced that they. did so ""ut Of cour'
,csy to the other delegates and thai
thcv were in accord with the main body
| Of the labor group.
Before the labor delegates left th'
fcontinued on Page Elevcn.)