The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-08-01
THE PAN-AMERICAN
LABOR CONFERENCE
Especial to Labor Press.)

American Labor Conference, re-
Gently held in New York, discussed
the following questions:
/ Declaring its answering faith
in the League of Nations and the
Peace Treaty, as well as the labor
conventions incorporated therein,
the Pan-American Federation of
Labor held its second annual con-
vention here at the Hotel Continen-
tai
The conference before adjourn
ing, reelected its officers, Samuel
Gompers, President; John Murray
English-speaking Secretary, and
Canuto Vargas, Spanish-speaking
Secretary. The next convention
will be held in Mexico City.
The principal matters before the
conference we're immigration, on
which President Gompers, at the in
yitation of the delegates, explained
the attitude of the recent conyen-
ton Of the American Federation of
Labor; the peace treat and the
League of Nations, which were en-
dorsed; the territorial dispute be
tween Peru and Chile; internal up
heavals in Nicaragua, and the or
ganization of unskilled workers in
Central America. to combat the ag
gressiveness of American capitalists
there.
Delegates felt that close CO.
operation between organized labor
in the United States and Mexico
would prevent a conflict between
the two republics. President Com
pers, alluding to the meeting be-
tween A. F. of l.. delegates and rep
resentatives of the Mexican Fed
Grafton of Labor in 1916, said it il
Illustrated the power of organized la
Dor to influence the political af-
fairs of nations Secretary Vargas
said: The workers of both coun-
tries will prevent a conflict. They
did it once, 1916, and there is no
reason why they cannot do it
again. The same viewpoint was
expressed by Luis n. Morones, del
egate from the Mexican Federation,
who declared:
of the labor movement of the
United States, in cooperation with
the labor movement of Mexico,
makes its best efforts to persuade
those elements which are interest
ed in bringing about conflict that
the working people of both coun-
tries do not want strife the diff
Guilty will be passed with no serious
results and the governments will be
able to reach satisfactory settle
ment."
On a similar subject, that of pro-
harmony between Chile and
Peru, President Gompers said;
I'VE are not discussing the claims
Of either Of the countries. The
proposition of the committee to try
and bring about better state of
feeling between the peoples and
the governments of these two Coun-
tries is perfectly within the limits
Of this body. AS matter of fact
it was due to the political situation
between the peoples and the gov
ernments of Mexico and the United
States that brought the Pan-Amer-
can Federation of Labor into eX-
stence. And let me add this-had
The working people of Germany and
Austria had the intelligence and the
courage to set themselves up
against the war and demanded a
peaceful settlement, we would not
have had the war of the past five
years"
The resolution endorsing the
Peace Treaty and League of Nations
plan said: 1--WE heartily endorse
and approve the covenant of the
League of Nations as part of the
Peac eTreaty as an earnest effort
10 maintain the peace of the world;
TO do justice to every nation, large
and small, and thus safeguard the
peoples and nations from a recur-
renee of such a slaughter and de- !
struction as the world has witness
ed in the war just closed"
Regarding the labor clauses the
declared I'VE welcome
with satisfaction and heartily en-
1orse the labor draft convention
and the labor charter in the cove
nant of the League of Nations of
the Peace Treaty and earnestly ex-
press the hope that the time may
soon be reached when under the
covenant of the League of Ma
ions and the labor draft convention
Ill the workers and representatives
If the countries of the world may be