The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-24
Employers and Workers
Say They Are Ready for
Industrial War.
MINERS IN CONFERENCE
Reported Ready to Launch
Vast Naturalization
Scheme.
RAILWAY STRIKE FEARED
Wilson May Call New Meeting
When Programme of Prin-
ciples Is Framed.
STRIKE FEARED
speciG DespotoA to The sus.


tional Industrial Conference called by
the President to work out construc-
tive programme for the settlement Of
Industrial conditions in the United
States is at an end. The conference =
was broken up as result of the
walking out of the labor delegation.
The employers delegation was ex-
cused from further service and the
conference formally closed by Chair
man Lane to-day after he had re-
ceived word from President Wilson.
Another conference, one representa-
tive of only the public of the United
States, is to rise phPnixlike from the
ashes.. This conference will be con-
vened tomorrow to proceed upon
some form of programme.
Failure of the great conference
labor leaders has left in Its wake,
however, a sinister atmosphere Of in
dustrial unrest. Employers and labor
chiefs each issued a statement to-day
defending their respective positions
Each declared it was ready to
meet the issue. And in many quar-
ters there Is seen behind this simple
statement, devoid as 1t Is of all threat,
determination to fight that may
mean an engulfing industrial war
fare.
Labor leaders, all of those who
gave a final word In leaving the con.
ference yesterday, declared fight.
The day has brought no direct action,
at least none that is publicly known,
but many indications were given that
labor proposes to enforce its demands.
having failed at negotiations.
There were two disturbing reports
One concerned a conference between
the mine workers and the railroad
brotherhood representatives called for
tomorrow for the purpose of working
out a plan for naturalization Of the
mines as we'll as Of the railroads OF
the country along the lines of the
Plumb plan.
Another was that general strike
date has been decided on by the
brotherhoods to enforce wage and
| other demands. The railroad shopmen
have demands pending, The firemen
and trainmen also have demands pen0
| ing but the engineers and conductors
have withheld action waiting upon the
| cost of living campaign and the indus
| trial conference. President Gompers
| announced before leaving the confer
ence that the fight would be caJried
to employers chops and he said the
full support of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor would be given the
| steel strikers.
Coal Strike Pending.
There is still pending the dispute be-
tween bituminous coal operators and
the United Mine Workers.
| Labor leaders all along the line have
| held a tight rein, promising results
from the conference or the Govern
ment's campaign. II is expected they
will take or be forced into the position
that there is nothing left in such a
promise.
After a day OF powwows two things have
have been determined with respect TO
the conference. The public group, at the
request OF the President, is to draft a re
| port upon the conference for the Chief
| IS 10
| continued through this group In the hope
| OF reaching constructive basis OF so.
| called labor or industrial relations.
| The session OF the National Industrial
| Conference called by Chairman Lane tor
| this morning never got under way. Be
| fore coming TO the conference hall the
| Secretary conferred with the President.
! and later met Bernard NJ. Baruch and
Thomas l. Chadbourne, and II was then
! view that the public group should remain
on the Job and undertake programme.
| Secretary Lane then called the general
| conference to order. He told the dele
gates that Withdrawal OF the labor group
| had changed the nature of the confer
ence He said he had been commissioned
! by the President 10 express to tho en-
ployers group the changed nature of the
conference and to say that the President
desired the public group to remain and
| carry on the work. inasmuch as the
burden OF the results OF Industrial dis
putes fell upon the whole people.
The employers group. after being re
| ieved OF further service. caucussed. and
| II was announced that a statement and
| report would be made as a part OF the
conference record. This was issued to-
night. During this time the labor seats
| IN the hall were vacant.
The public group held an executive
session this afternoon and a committee
| OF nve. with John d. Rockefeller. Jr,. as
| chairman. and John Spargo. Thomas D,