Evening star., 1919-05-04
WORLD LABOR LEAGUE
AID TO ALL WORKERS
Expected to Raise Standards Everywhere
and Thus Equalize Production Costs
and Trade Opportunities.

| workers admitted to any country
3. A system OF inspection to insure
enforcement Of laws and regulations for
the protection of the employed.
World Labor Conference.
The other part of the recommenda-
tons of the commission to the peace
conference contains the machinery for q
| permanent world labor conference. This
in turn is divided into two parts, the
hrst being an international labor confer
! ence, composed of delegates appointed
| by the governments and elected by the
| employers and workers of each OF tho
| high contracting parties. The second Is
an international labor Office, controlled
| by governing body.
| 1t Is proposed that the international
labor office shall be permanent organi-
zation Of twenty-four members Twelve
Of the members shall be representatives
of the governments of the high contract
ing parties. eight to be nominated by
| the governments and four by the dele
gates representing the governments at
the general conference. OF the other
twelve members, six shall be elected by
the delegates to the general conference
representing the employers and six shall
( be elected by the delegates to the gem
eral conference representing the work.
Ing people.
| The duties OF this International la
Dor office shall be largely to collect
(, Information and distribute it, relating
to labor conditions and labor legisla-
aye 10
| to the general conference when it
| meets a program to be acted upon by
it. The labor office will also be em-
! powered to make Investigations where
, international disputes over labor
| questions arise. and to carry out the
duties placed upon 1t by the provi-
| sions of the convention in the settle-
ment of such international labor dis
putes. 1t will publish a periodical in
English and in French and such other
| languages as may be deemed neces-
| sary.
To Be Legislative Body.
The general conference is the legis-
lative body. 1t shall meet at least
once every year. Each of the countries
| represented shall be entitled to four
dele gates two representing the gov
ernment. one representing the en-
ployers and one representing the
workers. The unit rule OF voting has
been abandoned. and the delegates
may vote individually. While the as
signment of delegates leaves it SO
that a combination Of government and
employer delegates may be as as three
to one If they line up against tho
workers delegates II was the belief
Of the commission that public opinion
would work upon the government
delegates SO as to prevent such q COM
bination to the detrinrent OF labor.
| The general conference, sitting as a
legislative body. may adopt such
items in the program before IL rs 1t
desires, but two-thirds vote II nee
! essary for affirmative action. These
proposals OF the general conference
| may take either of the following
forms; a recommendation to tho high
contracting parties with a view to Its
being given effect by national legisla-
tion, or a draft international conven-
ton for ratification by the high con-
tracing parties
Conflict Is Avoided.
| It ia agreed that each OF the oon-
tracing parties shall bring the REQ
| ommendatton or draft convention be-
fore the author1ties empowered to
deal with legislation or ratify con-
ventIons within a year. In the case
Of q draft convention. however. where
a federal state is concerned. like the
United Statea, which has a Constitu-
ton and whose states have oonsti-
tutions empowering than to deal with
labor legislation, tho federal state is
allowed to regard the draft cunven-
ton as a recommendation simply. 1t
was found necessary to adopt such a
plan because tho commission found
that to do otherwise might place the
| whole scheme In conflict with the
| Constitution Of the United States and
the constitutions OF the constituent
states.
| After the general eorferenee has
| adopted a policy and legislation has
| followed. and ono of the contracting
| parties fails TO live up to 1t. pro-
vision is made for complaints by the
! other contracting parties. for tnvesti-
| cations and finally for the use of
economic measures to force the re-
calcftFanA state into limo. Tho per
| manent court of Justice. proposed un-
der the league Of nations constitu-
ton. may be called upon to pass upon
such disputes before final action is
| ia ken.
The eatfFeNPlaD "a eeveFed In great
detail in a draft convention submit
ted to the peace conference by the
commission headed by Mr. Gompers.
This convention is divided into four
chapters, containing forty-one ar
ticles and two protocols to sections.
One of these protocols reads as fol
lows;
Present Benefits Safeguarded.
TN ne case shah any Of the high
contracting parties be asked sr re-
quired, as the result OF the adoption
of any recommendation OR draft CEN
ventien by tho conference to diminish
the protection afforded by it's existing
LEGISLATION ia. tho workers concerned
In order to enable the delegates to
tho geReea1 oomfesenoe - h9ve full
information With regard 10 vxz4sus
matters and Industries en- ina Fro
gram submitted fer aottsa b. the