New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-14
AT. OFL. PRAISES
WILSON'S WORK
international and Domestic
Policies Endorsed at
Convention

Baltimore, Nov. 13.-The interna-
tional and domestic policies of the
Administration received the indorse-
ment of the American Federation OF
Labor at the opening Of its thirty
sixth annual convention here to-day.
President Gompers applauded the
handling of the Mexican situation and
the Lusitania case and the passage of
the seamen's act, the eight-hour rail-
road law and the Clayton antitrust
law.
Secretary Of Labor Wilson delivered
the principal address, in the course OF
which he said that Of the 300 disputes
between labor and capital that had
come before his department 275 had
been settled in a manner satisfactory
to both sides before q strike had been
reached.
Organized labor's activities in the
field of legislation, international poll
tics and domestic affairs during the
last wear were set forth in the annual
report Of the executive council. The
membership OF the federation, the re-
port said, had increased $4,000 in the
last year, 2,07l,S36 Deing enrolled at
present.
Optimistic About Future
Speaking of the tremendous oppor-
tuntes opening up before the labor
movement, the report says: Never in
! history has there existed such feeling
and spirit of unity, solidarity and fra
! ternity. Ii augurs well, not only for
| the wellbeing of the workers of our
own time, but of all the people for
all time"
In discussing international labor re-
| lations the report speaks of the failure
! of the effort TO have a world labor
congress held at the time and place
of the holding of world peace con-
/ gress at the end of the war. This sug-
gestion is offered by the council
Labor Representation Urged
ave suggest that the organized labor
movements of those countries that
| shall participate in the general peace
conference to determine terms and con.
ditions of peace at the close of the war
| shall urge upon their respective gov
ernments that the wage earners shall
be represented in an official commits
sion from their respective countries.
Tho same policy ought to be pursued
also by organized labor movements of
neutral countries if it shall be deter
mined that neutral countries also will
participate in the general peace con-
ference.
Thus, representative wage earners
would be seated with other representa-
tives Of the nations in general confer
ences connected with the formulation
Of peace terms. In this way the ideals
and needs of wage earners would be
presented and considered by the gen.
eral official body"
In discussing Pan-American labor
relations the report suggests that
Pan-American federation sis not only
possible, but necessary"
In taking the position that the prin-
ciple OF the eight-hour day should be
conceded as right that ought not to
be arbitrated, the report says, Neither
President Wilson nor the railway
brotherhoods rejected the principle of
arbitration, as the railroad presidents
have wrongfully claimed. Those mat
tiers are arbitrable which concern
property and property rights"
After the reading of a synopsis Of
the report of the executive council
adjournment was taken until to-mor-
row morning.