Evening star., 1919-10-15
ILLNESS AFFECTS
CONFERENCE WORK
President and Mr.. Gompers
Would Have Been Factors
in Vital Decisions.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
These are critical moments in
American history, and nervous eX-
haustion has now taken it's second
victim-Samuel Gompers, the fore
most spokesman of labor. President
Wilson lies i'll at the White House.
Capital and labor needed his inspira-
ton to bring about agreement Now
the head of the labor movement is
suddenly subtracted from the confer
ence. Rudderless. and still without a
strong enough feeling of compulsion
to take the initiative in vital ques-
tions, the industrial peace conference
moves on, partly on hope. partly on a
blind confidence that more discussion
will bring something concrete. but
mostly because of a fear of what the
public would say if the conference did
collapse.
Labor Disappointed.
Every important conference has it's
ups and downs. The trouble with the
industrial peace conference really is
not an altogether too steadfast cling
ing to respective viewpoints. but a
feeling of ignorance concerning the
extent to which concessions can OF
win be made: The bif M steel STU strike e, was tas
delegates when they got here. Labor
is disappointed that its simple re-
quest for a committee to investigate
the strike situation was refused. AZ
seemed for awhile as If labor would
lose all confidence in the conference
because of that refusal But something
tangible has been offered which must
keep labor in attendance at the con-
ference as heretofore. That something
is a definite promise to get to work
Immediately upon set of principles,
including court of conci1iation to
which the steel strike, the coal strike
and toher industrial dimculties may
be brought for adjudication.
Really the different viewpoints ex-
pressed on the wisdom Of accepting
labors suggestion for the appoint
ment of a committee to look into the
steel strike reveal some interesting
tendencies inside the conference.
Judge Gary isn't a member Of the
committee on fifteen, but members of
the whole conference feel at liberty
to discuss the steel situation with him
informally Again and again. one
hears criticism Of the head OF the steel
corporation for refusing to meet the
workers, but one also hears criticism
accede to the request Of the President
of the United States that the strike
be deferred until the industrial con-
ference could meet.
Objected to Radicals.
Judge Gary's objection is said to have
been chiefly to recognizing certain men
with radical tendency and to a fear
that he would be obliged to retain In
his plant men who were really boil
shevists in their aims. The existence
of such a radical group, or rather the
activity of bolshevists and ]. w. WIS
in the steel districts. was admitted by
MIR. Gompers in his dramatic speech. at
the Tuesday session. He had argued
that the radicals would get the upper
hand IL tho advice of the conservatives
that he and his associates had d1sap-
proved Of the steel strike and had
wanted the steel workers to accept the
Presidents suggestion for a postpone
ment. but that the strike was tnevi-
table because OF the tyranny the men
Federation Of Labor had gotten behind
the strike really to control and guide
1t along lines of law and order. Prob
ably X Judge Gary would be free to
get rid Of the trouble makers inside his
organization. he would have no hesi-
fancy in dealing with any body that
the workmen sent to represent them.
So the conference itself. recognizing
that the principles involved in the steel
strike are inseparably bound up In the
general questions before the industrial
conclave now in session here. has found
itself after all compelled to adopt a
program first and then offer 1t to capi-
tai and labor everywhere as a basis fol
adjustment
| Coincidentally with the working ou
of such a program there is nothing
TO prevent the Secretary of Labor
or the President Of the United States
requesting the steel workers to e.
| back 20 work and the company L
establish status quo until after th'
industrial peace conference has adopt
| ed set of principles to guide in
| dustrial relations generally.
! All groups seem to be agreed on tn
principle of court of conciliatiol
to which disputes can be carried. Gu
of that sugg estiOn will grow con
crete plan. More ideas are being de
| veloped daily. and while action on tn
resolution asking for committee L
settle the steel strike-a committe
not necessarily composed Of member
of the conference here-is poStpone
! while the conference works out
comprehensive plan for the settlemen
of strikes, nevertheless the fact tina
the steel strike is on and that Goa
strike rs scheduled for next mont
and that the public is impatient tina
some machinery be provided at ono
TO handle growing Industrial unres
all this combined is having
healthy influence on the conference
Neither the employers nor labor viii
be willing to take the responsibilit
for any break up. gloomy and discour
aging as the prospect may seem a
times Every confab fuctuates fror
optimism to pessimism and back agai
and the Industrial peace conferenc
here Is no exception. But ultimatel
1T will get some agreement, som
CONFERENCE.-The determination
. written in the faces of the men in al
three groups.
L