Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-05-14
WEDNESDAY. .....,.M MAY IA, 1919.
LABOR AND THE PEACE TREATY

President Wilson has cabled to Sec
rotary Tumulty that among the mos
important results of the peace con
ference is the attitude taken in recog
milton of labor.
Publicity has been given to thu
cable message, doubtless with a view
to making it appear that the presi
dent secured this recognition. Tha
he favored it is true, but the mar
who had most to do with this is Sam
uel Gompers, president of the Amer
can Federation of Labor He attend
ed a conference in Paris of labor rep
resentatives from many friendly ma
tons.
Labor had demonstrated, during the
pendent upon its loyalty and unity
The hour to strike for world recogni-
ton had come. For weeks the inter
national labor delegates held daily
sessions, formulating their plans, The
foremost figure was Mr.. Gompers,
When ready, the delegates submitted
their wishes to the commissioners
preparing the peace treaty and coven-
ant of nations.
Probably the labor delegates eX-
pected opposition and had been led to
expect achievement only through the
championship of President Wilson.
But the wishes of the labor confer
ence were unanimously approved by
the commission.
When the clauses were passed on
70 the Big Four" France. Italy, Eng
land and the United States, no obiec-
ton was made and they became a
part OF the peace treaty, in the form
prepared by the International Labor
conference.
The working out Of the provisions
will be in the hands of an annual In
ternational Labor conference, the first
next fall.
There is nothing in clauses in the
interest of labor calculated to arouse
any national opposition, and any polit-
ical party platform in this country is
likely to substantially approve of the
policies outlined.
The seventh clause was intended to
be elastic because it would be imposs
BILE to make the rules apply to all
countries,
There is no demand that In all re-
gons the hours of labor shall be the
same.
The fourth clause states that every
worker should be paid according ia
the conditions. civilization and re-
quirements of the time and country
in which he lives, That avoids the
impracticable plan to have uni
form standard of wages-to level the
pay of European. American. Japa.
nese and Chinese labor.
Here, according to Mr.. Gompers, are
the clauses the international confer
ence at Paris prepared and which the
league adopted unanimously as part
of the peace treaty the United States
senate will consider
The high contracting parties de-
care their acceptance of the following
principles and engage to take all nee
eSsary steps to secure their realization
in accordance with the Recommended
tons to be made by the Interna-
uonal Labor conference as to their
practical applications:
l. In right and in fact the labor
of a human being should not be
treated as merchandise or an article
of commerce.
,. Employers and workers should
be allowed the right of association for
all lawful purposes.
8. No child should he permitted TO
be employed in industry or commerce
before the age of fourteen wears, in
order that every child may be insured
reasonable opportunities for mental
and physical education. Between the
years of fourteen aud eighteen, young
persons of either sex may only be EN-.
ployed on work which is not harmful
TO their physical development and OIL
condition that the continuation Of
their technical or general education
is insured
I. Every worker has a right to a
wage adequate to maintain a reason
able standard of life, having regard to
the civilization of his age, time and
country.
5. Equal pay should be given 'tc
women and to men for work of equal
value in quantity and quality.
s. A weekly rest. including Sunday
or its equivalent, for all workers.
7. Limitation of the hours of work
in industry on the basis of an eight
hour day or forty eight-hour week
subject to an exception for countriu
in which climatic conditions, imper-
feet industrial development or indus
trial organizations. or. other special
circumstances render the Industry
efficiency of the workers substantially
different. The International Labor
conference will recommend basis APP