New-York tribune., 1919-05-14
Fairly Satisfactory as a
Whole, but We Did Not
Get All That We Wanfed,
Says A. F. of L. Leader
Official Verdict Later
Exemption of the Oriental
Workers From Restric-
tions Causes Objection

James Duncan, first Weep esident of
the American Federation of Labor,
who. on account of the disability of
samuel Gompers, is presiding over the
sessions of the executive council of
the Federation in the Hotel Continental,
admitted last night that some dissatis-
faction is felt in official labor circles
with the peace treaty
We did not" he said in reply to a
question, get all we wanted How
ever, | do not know of any one who is
perfectly satisfied. On the whole, |
think 1t is a fairly satisfactory docu-
ment.
THE matter is not yet before the
council, as the mission which went
abroad has not yet reported. The mat
ter, therefore, will have to come up
later"
Mr.. Duncan did not indicate what the
points Of dissatisfaction are. 1t is
understood, however, that one has to
do with the exemption of Oriental
workers and workers in backward
countries generally from the operation
OF international labor laws, provided
Tor IN the labor acovenant of the
treaty This was changed after Mr..
Gompers and his associates left Paris.
AS 1t stands the matter of the eight
hour day and other reforms are
recommendatory rather than manda-
tory.
The reported intention of Arthur
Henderson, the leader of the British
Labor party, to visit the United States.
was not discussed in the meeting. Mr.,
Duncan said.
We know nothing of Henderson's S
Intentions" said he, except what has
been printed in the papers. l know
i'm nd !,
comes he comes as politician rather
than as a trades unionist. lie is an
old campaigner, who knows his busi-
ness. We would not butt into British
affairs. If we did, Henderson and his
people very properly would tell us to
mind our own business. BY the same
token it would be presumptuous for
Henderson to come here and try to tell
US our business.
Henderson represents a political
party and not the British Federation
OF Trades Unions. When I met him in
Petrograd he was in the Cabinet He
has not been in office since the last
election. The British Federation of
Trades Unions probably will have rep
resentatives at the Atlantic City con
vention. AS usual, they elected two
delegates last year, but for some rea-
son connected with the war thev did
not come over"
These delegates come to us as rep
resentatives of labor and not a DO
litical movement just as other dele
gates have come in other years"
The matters taken up yesterday, Mr.
Duncan said, had to do with iuris
dictional disputes between subsidiary
unions and routine matters generally
Later the council will take up the
question of prohibition, reconstruc-
! tion, including compulsory health in
surance and immigration. It's findings
on these matters will be reported to
the annual convention of the fedora
tion at Atlantic City June 9.
Mr.. Gompers strength was unequal
to the strain of sitting through the
full session. In the late afternoon, ac-
companied by his son and a nurse
he went for a short drive
Talk about joy rides" he said
I've been kept in one room for two
weeks for little jaunt in broad day
light down Broadway. If l were ad-
dicted to joy rides, that sort of treat
ment would cure me in very short
order. It's like being in Jail"