New-York tribune., 1919-06-18
Federation Agrees to Delay
Action on Paris Pro-
gramme Until President
Can Submit His Views
Irish Win; Soviets Lose
Congress Asked to Recognize
Island Republic; Bolshe-
vism and Mooney Downed
Stnn orreanonderc E

~ LAIN 41O Cll1, June 11.-Untll
President Wilson's views Of the labor
programme Of the peace conference as
1t now stands are known to the leaders
OF the American Federation of Labor
there will be no discussion of the la
Dor programme. the league of nations
or the peace treaty. In line with this
policy, the Federation leaders to-day
obtained postponement of the discus
sion Of these topics, scheduled for to-
morrow, until Friday afternoon.
In th mean time it is expected Mr..
Wilson will have had opportunity to
answer cabled inquiries as to the exact
status Of the labor programme. This
cable, together with a statement of the
conditions developed in the convention
of the Federation, has been sent to
Paris through the State Department,
and 1t is expected full reply will be
in hand by Friday afternoon. Whether
a message from Mr.. Wilson will be
read to the convention depends on the
leaders of the convention. If they be-
lleve an expression of opinion by him
is necessary, it probably will be pro-
duced at the psychological moment.
Latest Data Wanted
The convention was gwen a slight
hint of this action late this after
noon when George w. Perkins, speak
ing by direction Of the committee on
foreign labor relations, obtained nost-
ponement to Friday of it's report. The
committee, he said, was aware thar
changes were being made in Paris.
and IN order to make no mistake had
taken steps to get the latest and most
correct data. On this statement. An
drew Furuseth, of the seamen's union.
who was scheduled to. lead the fight
on the labor programme tomorrow.
seconded the motion to postpone.
just before this action the conven-
tlon, by an overwhelming vote. de-
stroyed any chance the radicals NAV
nave thought they had of securing in
oorsement OF a general strike in be-
nalf OF Tom Mooney. The debate was
long and at times bitter, but in the
end only handful Of votes opposed
the passage of a resolution condemnine
the tactics of the International Work
ers' Defence League, which has as
sumed charge of the Mooney case.
IN the debate the charge was made
and not denied that funds collected for
MONEYS benefit were misused For
the radicals w. D. Patterson said the
movement would proceed despite the
Federation, and James A. Duncan, one
OF the leaders of the recent Seattle
strike, and Benjamin Dentlebaum, of
Detroit, declared strikes would take
place in these cities July S.
Won't Recognize Soviets
The Mooney case came before the
convention after resolutions calling
for recognition Of the one big union
and the substitution of May l for La
Dor Day were almost unanimously re-
jected, and similar fate had befallen
attempts to force the passage of reso-
lutions calling for the abolition of the
Russian blockade and recognition of
the Soviet government.
In the matter of Russia the resolu-
tions committee recommended the with
drawal of American troops from Rus
sia, as advocated by Mr.. Duncan. 1t
refused Endorsement Of the Soviet gov
ernment on the ground that it does
not represent the people of Russia. No
IF hot ho
recognized, said the committee, until
a national assembly, selected by popu-
lar vote, is instituted.
The committee made a distinction
between the Russian soviet govern
ment and the Irish republic favored
earlier in the day, Chairman John P.
Frey declared, because the Irish repub-
lie is government selected by the
people of Ireland, and the soviet was
established by denying the right of a
national assembly to meet and by the
force of bayonets.
Max Hayes, of Cincinnati, veteran
radical leader, sinsisted that food be
sent to Russia, to which Mr.. Frey re-
piled that under present conditions
this would mean aiding the soviet,
which controls all transportation and
means Of distribution.
Charles C. Shay, of New York, lead
er Of the theatrical mechanics, forced
an ending of the discussion by an ap-
peal that home affairs be taken up.
Irish Adherents Win
The desire on the part of the Fed
Grafton administration to do nothing
to embarrass Mr.. Wilson was not strong
enough to prevent the Irish radicals
in the convention having their own
way in the matter of the Irish re-
public. The committee on resolutions
presented a mild, automatically word
ed resolution that could offend no one,
putting the convention on record as
favoring the right Of lf-determina-
tion for Ireland.
This was not pleasing to the more
radical of Irish blood or birth, and
William D. Mahon, president of the