The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-09-13

The world has emerged from the
greatest war in history with two main
ideas dominating human thought,
says Samuel Gompers, president of
the American Federation of Labor
The peace conference in Paris,
therefore, had for its main objects:
l. TO prevent future wars, and
2. To improve the world as place
for human habitation through the ex-
tension and improvement of demo-
cratic self government.
Former peace treaties have con-
cerned themselves solely with indem-
mites and boundary lines. Peoples,
money and territories have been
handed from vanquished to victor
about in proportion to the severity of
the defeat suffered by the losing ma
ton or nations.
The document brought into being
In Paris was built upon new princi-
pies.
A fact of paramount Importance in
gauging the integrity of the peace
conference was the fact that millions
Of people were liberated and set up
, under independent governments of
| their own choosing.
The Paris conference sought, as no
other peace conference ever has
sought, to reach into the mind of the
| people and wriet into definite terms
the deepest and best thought to be
| found there.
Epoch Making Step.
| So it was that the interests of the
worlds toilers came to be considered.
This was truly an epoch making step.
! The covenant of the League of Ma
! tions is the written verdict and agree
ment of the civilized world that until
| justice is done to those who work,
! Justice has been done only in part
| Not even the most ardent advocate
of the League of Nations covenant
or Of the labor section Of the treaty
is to be found in it. The Paris con.
| ference did not produce a perfect
document and did not give perfect
expression to the high ideals that ami
| mate the civilized world today.
The conference did produce Gocu-
ment that measurably expresses the
best and most constructive thought OF
the world and that opens the way
| absolutely to a complete expression ri
the highest ideals which mankind may
! have, and it is for that reason thai
the complete effort Of every forward.
looking person should be dedicated tt
securing ratification of the treaty.
The treaty of peace establishes ne
barrier to progress anywhere.
1t seeks to clear the way of some
of the most hopeless barriers tina
have held nations unclaimed in tn
past and tends to make obsolete the
institution of war which has beer
throughout the history of mankind
the most destructive agency it has
known.
Labor In the Treaty.
The labor section of the treaty O.
peace gives to the working people z
status in society which, prior to the
great war, was little more than g
dream in the minds of q few.
In the language Of the preamble
to the labor draft convention as writ
ten into the treaty Of peace, the whole
civilized world now agrees that:
Whereas. The League of Nations has
for it's objects the establishment Of
universal peace, and such peace ca:
be established only if it is based upoT
social justice: and
Whereas. Conditions of labor exis
involving such injustice. hardship anc
privation to large numbers of people
as to produce unrest so great that the
peace and harmony Of the world are
imperiled: and an improvement of thos,
conditions is urgently required. as TO-
ooo1o s11I-f1 no LAT np nf ha 1onl
Of work. including the establishment
Of maximum working day and week
the regulation of labor supply, tn
prevention of unemployment. the pro
| vision of an adequate living wage
the protection Of the worker agains
sickness, disease and injury arising gu
of his employment, the protection 0
children, young persons and women
lection of the interests Of worker
when employed in countries other tina,
their own, recognition of the principle
Of freedom of association, the organ
cation Of technical and vocational ed
uca ton and other measures.
| Whereas. Also the failure Of any ma
ton to adopt humane conditions y
labor is an obsta Gle in the way of othe
which desire to tn
The members of the League OF M
lions moved by sentiment of justic
and humanity as we'll as the desire t
secure the permanent peace or tn
world, agree to the following conven
ton:
Social Justice First.
Social justice here takes its plac
AS one Of the prime considerations o
mankind.
Nor is this social justice a 1ner
abstraction. 1t becomes in the treat:
.. { + peace something definite tina; enter
into the lives Of all people.
Perhaps more expressive of t.,
thought underlying the labor sectio
, of the treaty is the paragraph whicI
serves as preamble or introduction
: to the nine specific points constitutin
Rights. This paragraph reads:
The members of the League of Ma
5 tons, recognizing that the well-beins
, physical. moral and intellectual, of in
! dustrial wage earners, is of suprem
, international Importance, have frame
a permanent machinery associated wit
| that OF the League of Nations to turtle
, this great end. They recognize tina
|, differences of climate, habits and Gus