New-York tribune., 1919-07-29
Threatens to Leave Inter.
national Trades Union
Meeting if More. Than
One Delegate Is Allowed
Split Over Voting Plan
French Side With German.
Swiss and Belgians in
Dispute at Amsterdam
Nep York Tribune


Copyright. 1919 New York Tribune Inc)
AMSTERDAM, July 2s.-A feature
OF the first open session of the Inter
national Trades Union Conference to-
day was the threat Of Samuel Gompers.
president of the American Federation
of Labor, to withdraw from the gather
ing should it be decided that more
than one delegate would be permitted
to represent each country.
The threat came after a discussion
of the basis of representation and the
system of voting. Tobin, of the
American delegation. proposed +ha.
each country have vote for every
100000 organized workers paying dues
to the international. which would give,
as Durr, the Swiss leader, pointed out,
controlling power to the large .oun-
tries.
Arguing that numerical strength
resentation, Durr suggested that each
country have vote for every million
or fraction thereof. which would give
Germany four and Switzerland one.
After a prolonged discussion on the
vote the English were the only sup
porters of the Americans, while the
Belgians, French, Dutch Swedes. Nor
wegians, German and Danes voted with
the Swiss, this vote coming before the
international.
Threatens to Withdraw
Supporting the American notion, Mr..
Gompers said: 1--WE differ with the
Swiss proposal, but the difference is a
thing apart from whether there be one
vote for every 250,000 or for 100000.
There is in this motion possibility that
hor ,1<vht hn tvr,N dole
tions from each country. We won't sit
III any gathering where more than one
centre is recognized from each country.
"There must be only one body of
organized labor in each country. Other
wise it is clear invitation for ma
tional division, rivalry and dscord.
There is enough trouble in every coun-
try without adding to it by recognizing
more than one labor body"
Jouhaux. OF the French delegation,
said he thought that it was wise to in
vte the organizations not previously
members Of the International, and that
the question of the voting power could
be left until ;. later time, when old
members would have time to appeal to
those not now affiliated. The French
showed a concliatory spirit, and the
first vote found them, with the Bel
gians, on the side of the Germans.
German Urges Unanimity
Legien. German head of the old In
.crnational, urged unan!mity and mod
Grafton for the good OF labor as whole.
When the full congress opens on Mon
day, with syndicalists and representa-
tives of the new countries grown out
OF the war in attendance, political
questions will be inevitable, but there
is little possibility or the international
being stampeded into political or
ganization.
Most of the bitterness has already
disappeared. The moral issues and
responsibility for the war have become
secondary issues, as the European ma
tions desire to concentrate in the fut-
ure on a programme of labor strength
cning international relations, and nc
one is quicker than Mr.. Gompers to
recognize the fact.
The hours of labor, the protection OF
me health of the workers, immgra
ion and the international labor ex-
changes are a few of the many sub
iects coming before the conference
Mr. Gompers expects to make a com
orehensive speech Monday describing
me working of his Paris committee
and explaining the plans for the Wash
lngton congress.
The resentment of the neutrals
Gems to be decreasing. Oudegeest
chairman Of the conference. tells me
that he now expects an amicable set
Element with the Internationa irmel
than ever before.