Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-10-31
WORLD CONGRESS ON
LABOR FACING FIGHT
ON SEATING TEUTONS
Gompers First IT, S, Dele
gate - Capital to Have
Representative - French
and English Languages
Standard

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30.-Admis-
sion of German and Austrian dele
gates is expected to precipitate a
fight when the international labor
conference resumes sessions late to-
day.
The German delegation embarked
at Rotterdam with the hope that the
conference would change the rules.
The Germans are due to land Sun
day. They are travelling on pass
ports vised for admission to the Unit
ed States by this government.
Those backing the movement to
seat them now say the purpose of
the conference will be defeated unless
Germany has a share in framing the
recommendation for uniform world
industrial legislation.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, today
may be seated as the first United
States delegate. Gompers will be
named by the federation as It's rep
Morrison. The chamber of commerce
of the United States also will name
delegate. No representative of this
country sat yesterday, because the
conference was created by the peace
treaty and the senate has not rati-
fed the treaty. However, the con-
ference now has formally invited
| the federation and the commerce
IoT fn TO
The conference recessed through
this morning to give all delegations
chance to caucus. Groups repre-
senting employers, organized labor
and governments were to select three
vice presidents. A permanent pres
ident of the conference was to be
elected late today.
Confusion Of Tongues
Interpreters were almost as numer-
Gus as delegates at the opening ses-
sion. Every word uttered by Sec
rotary Wilson, temporary chairman,
and by each delegate, had to be
translated into second language.
| This is because both French and
English are official tongues of the
conference. All documents are print
ed in botn languages.
| Among the several hundred dele
gates and technical advisers attend
ing the conference more than TWEEN
! ty tongues are native. Delegates
who speak N languages other than
the two official ones are required
to arrange for interpreters.
A motion to add Spanish as an
official language now is waiting ac-
ton by the conference. Introduced
by the delegation from Ecuador, the
motion drew strong backing late yes
terday from the Spanish and South
American delegates.
Some delegates who speak both
French and English dispense with
the official interpreters. They make
two speeches on the same topic. One
such is Slavko Y. Gronitch, repre-
senting the new kingdom of the
| Serbs, Croats and SloVencs.
The many translations necessary in
all discussions indicate the confer
ence may require months to COM
plete it's work, which is the consid-
Grafton of five subjects set forth in
the peace treaty. A simple motion
meeting with no opposition yesterday
required nearly a half hour for dis
position.
Boards and close-cropped mus
|
gates. Only in the English and Ca
madam delegations are the members
noticeable because of their smooth
faces. Many delegates from the for
mer northern neutrals" wear the
upturned mustaches similar in style
to those popularized by the ex-kais-
err. Arthur Fontaine, of the French
delegation, effects a long square-cut
beard, while Delegate Waddie, from
India, has long black Van Dyke
whiskers.
While the conference discussed
minor matters late yesterday, spec
tators found entertainment in try
ing to pick out the different dele
cations by the flags displayed on
each table. More than 400 flags
decorate the Hall of the Americas,
in the Pan-American Union building,
where the conference meets.
Greece is represented in the con-
ference by John Sofianopoulos, An
gel Skianopoulos and Timeleon Lam
brinopoulos.