New-York tribune., 1919-10-24

The delegates walked out, much In the
manner Of men who have heard the pre-.
Jude, and wonder what sort Of music /.
to follow.
Late to-day the public representatives
appointed committee made up Of John
d. Rockefeller, jr, chirman; John
Spargo, Ida Tarbcll, Thomas J. Jones
and Ward N. Burgess, to decide on the
future course Of the public group. a
majority wanted to adjourn for two
weeks, but 1t WAS finally decided by q
vote Of IL 10 8 to meet again at 2:So
o'clock tomorrow.
Employers Group
Reviews the Conference
The employers group gave out q
statement tonight. 1t read:
"The adjournment Of the National
Industrial Conference as originally
constituted brings up sharply the qucs-
ton Of whether the weeks of con-
troversy over one phase only oS in
dustrial relations leaves the situation
without a single gain. The employers
group, soberly reviewing the work of
tho conference, discovers three def
mite gains:
First, 1t has been demonstrated that
failure is inevitable where preliminary
organization Of the elements compos-
ing such a conference Is absent and
where no preparation is made for the
orderly presentation OF program
which shall include all Of the known
factors upon which industrial rela-
tions are based.
Second. collective bargaining, an &C.
cepted and desirable policy in indus
try, has been brought more promi-
nantly before tho country and will
influence sincere effort on the part
Of innumerable manufacturers to find
an acceptable medium through which
this collective relationship may be Sc
cured and maintained in the industrial
establishment.
Third, collective bargaining as poll
icy or principle cannot be safely used
in the broad and general sense with
which the public has been accustomed
to express it, but must be- defined
clearly az to its applicability to the
varying conditions Of industry and the
varying relations that exist betroen
wage Garner and employer.
Contracts With Toilers
Must Be lnviolate
fundamental to the whole question
of collective bargaining is the respon-
sibility Of those who bargain, and this
is directed quite as much at the en-
ployer as at the wage Garner or the
organization of which the wage Garner
is a member. Only where there IL u
definite dual responsibility lived up to
as scyupulously as is required In other
contractual relations can collective
bargaining in any form or under any
Interpretation be successful.
"Then it must be remembered that
the industrial life Of the country in its
employment relations divides definitely
along certain lines. No one will deny
the right of the individual wage earne,
and his employer to negotiate terms Of
employment for industrial relations &C,
ceptable to both, but aside from thi.
there is the dealing between the en-
ployer and his employees by means Of the
shop industrial council, dealing through
trade Of labor union, and all Of these
methods are acknowledged and practisec
by employers.
ut may be charged that the employ
ers' group in defeating the Gompert
resolution, denied the right Of organiza.
tion and OF collective bargaining. But
the conference learned definitely thai
the right of organization and collective
bargaining arc interpreted by the labor
group in one way and one way only, or
ganizing and bargaining through trad,
an dlabor unions. 1t would be unfail
to make any prorouncement on thes
two important principles which woul,
convey as the belief Of this conference
such an Interpretation.
Labor Sought Victory
Through Cunning Phrases"
"The purpose Of the resolution
through cunning phrases coined to carr
double meaning. was to commit the con
ference to support the only brand Q
collective bargaining ever offered by tn
group presenting it, and the employef
wero bound to resist to the end.
1.-THE employers group could no
deny the right that 1t so freely an
fully conceded in its own substitut
resolution which the conference de-
feated, and it stands to-day, with tn
adjournment Of tho conference, upo
the record Of It's substitute and its in
terpretation, confident that the sobe
judgment Of the American people wi
come to understand that the postio
taken was in the defense Of the ope
shop, an American institution tn.
shall not be undermined and destroye
by any organized combination seektn
to threaten its life.
"Our social and industrial fabric 1
not IN danger. Employer and was
Garner will live and work togethe