The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-20
Industrial Conference Facing Row on
Clause Forcing Employers to Deal
With Representatives Other Than
Employees
Right of Wage Farmers to Organize, Bargain
Collectively and Choose Representatives Not
Questioned by Amy Group

Washington Oct. ~ The gener-
al committee of the Industrial con-
ference tonight reached bedrock In
its consideration of the resolution on
collective bargaining.
All groops are agreeable to the
principles set forth in the first par
aEraph of the Russell Endicott res
oiutlon which recognizes the right
of wage earners To organize. to bar
gain collectively and to be repre-
scented by representatives of thIer
own choosing on election by a ma
jority.
But the employer and the labor
groups are still apart on the second
part of the resolution which reads
that this must not be understood
as limiting the right OF any wage
Garner 10 refrain from joining any
organization or 10 deal directly with
his en- plcyer If he so chooses"
This qualifying paragraph is ac-
ccptaole 10 labor bu, capital objects
to 1t. Capital wants this suhsti-
tute:
That the right of the employer
to deal or not to deal with men or
groups of men who are not his en-
ployes and chosen by and from
among them is recognized. and that
no denial is intended OF the right
Of an employer and his workers
voluntarily to agree upon the form
of their representative relations !"
Labor claims thar IL capitals sub
stitute vas adopted the result would
be that capital would have the right
TO refuse 10 arbltra ts~s whenever II
saw fit.
Neither the labor nor the pubic
group thinks that capital should
have this right. Both think that
he interests of the people generally
demand that any dispute should be
a subject of deliberation between
the par c es ~ To the ffspute
in order that a decision be reached
which will be reasonably fair 10 both
and TO the public. il the public be
involved.
The diff1cult task of the general
committee OF fifteen is to make ar
hitratlon compulsory upon The en-.
ployer but in a form which will
meet the objections raised by cap
ital against being compelled to treat
with any representatives OF labor's
choosiI * to whom II could offer
specific and rightful objection
Suggested Amendment
One suggestion has bean made that
the resolution be amended so that
IL viii insure against ahridgnent Of
he right of the employer to make
personal objection for a specific
n ason againt a representative chos-
IN by labor and 10 demand another
representative OF labor's own choos-
ing. Tonight the general COMMITTEES
had arrived At provisional resolu-
hon but II admittedly is not in form
10 present 70 the conference as a
whole for debate and vote. Hence
II was stated that when the con-
ference meets in the morning it will
he asked to take a recess go that the
collective bargaining resolution NAV
he taken up by the groups for sena-
rate consideration.
The insistent objection Of the en-
ployers 10 any resolution which
would concede collective bargaining
without any reserva ton was made
clear In a staten ent tonight by Nag.
nus W Alexander, managing dire.
tor of the National Industrial con.
ference hoard
MI. Alexander IA not a member ~
the conference, but his board Is rep
resented by four delegates. L. r.
Loree, who has been the Spokesman
of the employer group, Frederick p.
Fish. S. Pemberton Hutchinson. ana
Edwin Farnham Green.
Mr. Alexander says;
The cruX or the situation Is this:
In case of differences between en-
ployer and his employees shall the
employer be compelled to bargain or
negotiate for settlement with persons
other than his employeso That is
the point of difference between the
| employer group and the labor group
in the industrial conference To
many people 1t may seem trivial
Is OF Vital Importance.
Even the public group did noe ~
alize that this was vital ana urged
the employer group to accept tlha DE-
mand Of the labor group in order 70
secure harmonious action in the con.
ference. Its vital Importance was
shown In the tenacity OF the an.
ployer and labor groups in holding
out each for its provision In the col ;
lective bargaining resolution.
The employers insist that they
| must be free TO deal with representa.
tive EMPLOYERS or with labor union
] representatives as may seem best -
| each case. and the labor delegates
insist that their representatives rnust
| ing gssy@
| In fact one Of the labor loa4Sks
! told the conference that II or1nxAn
| their contention labor would HaGle
nothing more Of the conferences. That
| statement can mean nothing 6luo
! than that labor came to the confer
ence for the specific purpose Of gain.
ing a concession which wouA ooAlS
pei employers throughout thA ac1-
try 10 deal. to the exclunapnSs *
every other form of Representations
with every walking delegate. evary
agitator, and every person claiming
to be a labor leader. and haHtnn
gained the consent OF seupln&o4