Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-16
Industrial PdrLey
Hits Stone Wall
Continued From Page One

slider some line of orderly procedure
the conference eyinced purpose to get
down to business. Up to the present
its progress might be lil1ened in crude
simile to bird with broken wing.
Right About Face
The labor group in voting for post
poncment of action on the resolution to
arbitrate the steel strike turned right
about face on its action yesterday. 1t
then demanded vote. The real truth
is that the group fell into confusion
over the absence of Mr.. Gompers.
1t matters not what opinions may in
fiuencc members of the employers and
| peoples groups, the power of Samuel
Gompers as leader of men is recog-
nized by all. He is in reality "a
big little man." as he has been called.
! His cool Judgment. experience and far
sightedness have saved several critical
/ situations here.
and advice the labor group decided to
gain time by postponement in hope of
his speedy recovery.
s. Pemberton Hutchinson. of Phila-
delphia, of the employers group, cx
pressed the sentiment of his associates
when he objected to adjournment for
the purpose of enabling the steering
committee and each group to discuss and
report on the subject of collective bar
gaining. He said that the subject was
of such magnitude and Importance that
it could not be acted upon by his
grou; by this afternoon or even Friday
afternoon.
Conference Much i'm Earnest
I do not believe, as a matter of fact
sitter talks with members that the con
vcntion itself will be prepared to act
within the specified time. 1t must no
be inferred from criticisms of its meth
ods of procedure that this conference
is not in earnest. 1t is very much so
1t is a body of sincere. thoughtful ant
patriotic men and women, but it has
been hampered to Il certain extent iron
the beginning by an awkward and cum
bersome system of parliamentary usage
1t has succeeded within the last twenty
four hours in freeing itself from som
, of these obstacles.
Adherence to group voting nae
reached a point where, on the ridicu
= lously simple question OF adjournment
4 the negative vote of the employers
t group would have defeated the com
| bined votes of the other two groups
+ The chairman, Secretary Lane, decide
- that such rule was unthinkable an
o that hereafter all purely parliamentary
questions would be settled by ma
iority vote of all the members.
Collective bargaining, which was un
der discussion last night and this morn
c ing, is inseparably linked with tn
question of the ''open shop" For thi
reason l am of the opinion that tn
convention will be unable to decid
- upon any plans on the subject by thi
afternoon, if indeed, this week.
10 Farmers Long winded
+ Unless some one whispers a word {
Ell kindly advice to them the farmers
representatives will write their caus
ID to death. Every other group or in
= dustry endeavors to give expression
= its views in briefest possible form. tn
# farmers go to the other extreme. The
% are long winded and prosy. The a
% of condensation. of saying much Ill
few words, is apparently unknown
% them.
Il This was illustrated when half tn
e time of the morning session yesterda
If was consumed in listening to the sec
retary read six closely typewritte
pages of foolscap, a statement frol
them. After the first page the mem
,s bers lost interest. Some read news
+ papers, others drowsed and a few con
IS versed together in whispers. This
= the second pronunciamento the farm
10 ers have put forth. To their credi
,s however, they have not retarded I'll
"a work by speechmaking they have take
it out in writing.
~ The much excoriated Plumb bill fC
I control of the railroads has been pre-
= sented in a somewhat milder form
" the conference. 1t came from one
the railroad brotherhood'S member.
:, The plan not only embraces transportiO
u lines, but private industries, in whC
q the workers shall be entitled to a one
Is third representation of the directorat
+, In all industries of a public charac
is ter, existing by rights of public gran
1t or monopolies, a similar plan is cor
lie templated.