The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-21
CONFERENCES ID
 ADJUST PACKERS
 QUARRELS BEGIN
Labor Secretary, Representa- lives of Big Five" and Union Officials Ready to
 Tackle Problems
By Associated Press

Washington, March -o.-Re presenta- lives of the five big packers and of their union employees tor;ght conclud- ed preparations for tomorrow's con ference with Secretary Davis, who at the direction of Presioen. Harding and with the assistance of Secretaries Hoover and Wallace, will attempt to mediate in the controversy arising from the decision of the packers to reduce wages and alter working con- ditions.
 Dennis Lane. secretary of the Anal gamated Order of Meatcutters and Butcher Workers of North America, and R. s. Brennan, attorney for the order, who will represent the en- ployes in the conference. arrived in Washington during the day and to- night conferred with Samuel Gompers and Frank Morrison, president and secretary, respectively, vr the Ameri- can Federation of Lapor. President Gompers on entering fnro conference with Lane and Brennaz, announced that the employees would have the moral support of the American Fed eration of Labor in the.r attempt as labor leaders said, to compel the pack CTS to observe the working agreefn ent concluded during the war. HEARINGS ARE SET The representatives of the packers, Carl Meyer and James .. Condon, have been in Washington the past week and have presented their sfce of the case to Secretary Davis. The employees del- egates will be accorded a similar hear ing by Secretary Davis prior to the meeting in joint session. The exact procedure to be followed tomorrow had not been worked ou. so far as could be learned tonight Sec etary Davis, it was learned, haS been pledged the assistance of Secretaries Wallace and Hoover. but whether the latter would sit in the conference was in doubt
 'srhe one big point involved in the controversy" MT. Lane said tonight, ''is the validity of our contract. This IS the real question and not the eight. hour day or the attempted reduction of wages"
 Labor officials generally attached considerable importance to the outcome of the conference. for the result, it was salo. might set prececent for settle- ment of all of the many controversies involving continuance or abrogat ton of wartime agreements as to wages and working conditions.
 Proceedings of the conference and the results attained by Secretary Davis in his and the administrators first attempt at mediation in a labor dis Polo VIII pc WdtcneQ crOSely.
 GOMPERS TALKS
 The employees representatives were to meet with American ~ederation of Labor officials this afternoon, but tha return of MT. Gompers from New York delayed the meeting until tonight. Be- fore going into conference with Messrx Lane and Brennan. MT. Gompers said: Tt goes without saying that ths packing unions will have the moral support of the American Federation of Labor. The fact that their, repre- ssntauves bring with rnem a vote showing the almost unanimous sun- port of their rank and file is an added reason for their counting upon our support"
 MT. Gompers declined 70 indicatA whether the federation would 20 furth CT than lend its moral support Any further action. it was sara, would rA- ouire the vote of the executive coun- ell of the federation. wnIch could be taken by telegraph.
 MT. Lane conveyed 70 President Gornpers and Secretary ,yorrison tha decision of the organized employees Id the meat packing industry.