The Washington herald., 1919-10-22
VITAL LABOR ISSUES
LOSE In CONFERENCE
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Il am not guessing. We VIII have
meeting In the morning"
Bernard N. Baruch, chairman OF
the public group, who has been one
OF the nainstays in keeping tie con-
ference going concern, would not
concede last night that the confer
ence had reached the end Of its USE
fulness. - y
Wilson Letter Uaread.
A letter from the President which
was given to Chairman Lane yester-
day to use in case the conference
was likely TO break up was not
read last night.
Labor's viewpoint on the defeat ad-
ministered was most laconicaily ex-
pressed by L. e. Sheppard. who said
after the collective bargaining reso-
luton had been voted down. and be-
fore the steel strike resolution was
called UP for disposal:
You might as well give labor the
solar plexus now"
The employers group rpads no oral
exposition of Sits reasons for voting
down the Russell Endicott resolution,
but confined itself to making a state
ment to pc inserted in the minutes.
Labor's position was set forth by
Mr.. Gompers, who warned the en-
ployer gtoup that defeat of the Issues
brought forth by organized labor
would result in the employers hav-
ing to cope with the radical forces
abroad.
Gompcrs Speaks.
Mr.. Gompers said that the en-
ployers would come to rue the day
on which they voted against organ
lied labor and asserted that the en-
ployers would never succeed in de-
stroying the organized labor move
ment as led by the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor.
The conference as a whole did not
get down to consideration of the is
sues until nearly 8 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. The day was spell mt
IN fruitiess meetings of the groups.
and toward the middle of the after
noon the public group went into II
long session in the endeavor to ar
rive at a satisfactory substitute for
the Russell-Endic4tt or Chadbourne
resolution on collective Bargaining.
The substitute resolution made but
one change. and that was to elimi-
nate the words trade and labor
unions" and to substitute the word
associations" Thus the first para
graph OF the resolution reads:
THE right of wage earners TO or
ganize in associations OF their own
choosing. to bargain collectively. to be
represer'"d by representatives OF their
own c.ICG-i''g in negotiations and ad-
justments with employers and in re-
spect to wages. hours Of labor and re-
lations and conditions. is recognized" d"
Wording Revised.
When the resolution came up on tbe
floor. Mr.. Chadbourne. of the public
group. said that he had been told by
Mr.. Morrison and Mr.. Mahon, OF the
labor group, that the words trade
and labor unions prohibited the idea
that any other body could be meant
Hence the committees change to elm
mate reference to unions and to use
the general term associations"
When this substitute resolution came
up both the Employer and the labor
groups voted against it. leaving the
public as its sole supporter. Previous
to the vote on this substitute. the
employers resolution. which was in
trodUced by Chairman Wheeler, was
voted down by labor and by the pub
lie. while the employer group voted
for it.
Second Change Defeated.
A second substitute resolution was
offered by Mr.. Chadbourne for the
public group. This resolution was the
same as the original Russell-Endicott
resolution. but with the words "and
other organizations" inserted I'm the
clause granting the right Of trade and
labor unions to collective bargaining.
The public voted for this substitute.
but 1t was defeated by the votes of
both the employer and the labor
groups.
On the Russell-Endicott resolution
for collective bargaining. which was
the original resolution presented by
Mr.. Chadbourne for the general COM
mite. the vote was Public, no: EN-
ployers, no; Labor. yes. The public
group vote was cast as unit. Its
members were not unanimous. and, ac-
cording to Mr.. Forester. of the public
group. the group was divided in the
proportion of ten for labor as against
eleven for capital. with Mr.. Gary not
voting.
The public Joined with capital in de-
feating the steel strike resolution.
while labor voted for the resolution.
This was the last stroke of the day.