, 1919-10-30
Labor's Withdrawal From the
Industrial Conference in
Washington.
PUBLIC GROUP ONLY STAYS
Coal Miners Reject Offer and Prepare
to strik-Government May oper-
ate mines-Senate Committee
Adopts Strong Reservations
to the Peace Treaty.
BY EDWARD w. PickARD.

After two weeks of discussion and
negotiation, the industrial conference
at Washington was almost disrupted
Wednesday by the withdrawal of the
labor delegation. Mr.. Gompers led
his bloc out of the conference because
Its resolution on collective bargaining
was rejected. AS he departed he de-
clared the employers group vas
adopting exactly the position assumed
by the l. w. What workers should
not enter into agreements with an
ployers-and that he had nothing fur
her to submit. You have defeated
labor in its declaration here" he add
ed, but we will meet you again in
conference, and when we do meet you
there you will be glad to talk collec-
tive bargaining"
= Spokesman for the capital group de-
MED the employers We're opposed to
collective bargaining, but said the res
olution submitted. If adopted, would
go out to the world as a concession
on the part of the employers group
that they recognize the necessity of
the unionizatIon Of all the Industrial
establishments in the country and the
kind of collective bargaining that the
labor unions insist upon as distin-
guished from other kinds"
> The group representing the public
approved the resolution, and II was
beaten in the employers group by only
one vote, nut the rules of the confer
ence require a unanimous vote for the
passage of any resolution. L. F. Shep-
pard of the railroad conductors
charged that political motives inspired
the action of some of the delegates,
and to others 1t was apparent that the
steel strike issues really were respon-
sible for the attitude taken by the
majority of the capital group.
President Wilson. on his sick bed,
had dictated and signed a letter to the
members of the conference pleading
for continuance of the sessions until
a solution of industrial relations was
reached, and this was read by Chair
mar Lane. hut 1t did not have the de-
sired effect on Gompers and his col
leagues. At first II was thought their
withdrawal meant the breaking up of
the conference. but the members of
the public group said they would keep
on with their work. and President VIII
son sent another letter asking that
this course be followed.
The failure, so far. of the Industrial
conference to accomplish anything Is
disappointing enough, hut public at
tentiOn is conferred Just now on another
labor trouble that Is i~mminent-the
threatened strike of soft coal miners
which is set for November l.. Secre-
tary OF Labor Wilson has been work
ing desperately 10 avert this. and made
a proposal that would grant the miners
an increased wage, hut that ignored
their demand for a 36-hour week. The
miners committee formally rejected
his offer. though II was thought the
operators would agree TO il. and the
leaders of the miners left Washington
at once TO prepare for the struggle.
The territory involved is the central
competitive district" including west
ern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois.
Secretary Wilson and the other gov
officials directly involved in
this matter did NOT our their
plans for the future. but they have in
timated that II necessary. in order to
insure II supply of coal to consumers.
the mines will be kept open and oper-
ated by the government. with troops
on guard. Congress also may inter
vene II the efforts Of the government
fail Already in 10Th house and sem