The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-06-25
Labor For
League Covenant
Gable Message From President
Received in Response to In
quiry as to Labor Provisions
Chief Executive Says They
Have IA Been Weakened but Not
Materially in His Opinion.

80.
Materially in His Opinion.
Atlantic City, June 2O.--Organ!zed
labor today indorsed the league OF na-
tions covenant and the labor proVl-
sions it contains which, according 10
cable message from President Viii
son. have been weakened although not
materially.
In giving it's approval by vote OF
29,75O against 420, the reconstruction
convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor made it clear that moth
ing in the Endorsement can be coa-
strued as denying the right Of SELL
determination and freedom to Ireland
as recognized by this convention. An
amendment containing the Irish pro
vision was unanimously adopted.
The presidents cablegram in reply
to one sent him by Samuel Gompers,
president of the federation, asking in
formation about changes reported in
press dispatches, follows:
Your message came while I was Jn
Belgium and reached me too late 10
make full reply. but as l indicated IN
an earlier message, while the labor
provisions are somewhat weakened. it
is the opinion of friends of labor and
my own opinion that they are not ma
terially weakened and that they will
constitute a most serviceable magma
CHI. -ta Will cable labor provisions,
but; fear it will be too late for the
convention
Mr.. Gon1pers' message to the presi-
dent said in part:
Upon my advice the executive coun-
Gil of the American Federation of
Labor has recommended to the cor
vention now in session the indorse-
ment of the league Of nations, includ-
ing the labor provisions. Reports
published here indicate that the labor
provisions have been so changed and
weakened as to practically nullify
their effectiveness.
81 can not ask the rank and file Of
labor to indorse provisions which in
any way have been made valueless.'
The message closed by asking
prompt reply definite information ana
q copy of the provisions affecting
labor "as now framed
Both the messages were read to the
convention. A third message received
from the American peace delegation
IN Paris. through the state depart
ment in which the changes made in
the labor provisions were enumerated.
also was read. It follows:
"Omit from protocol 2 article the
senate which reads: No high con-
tracing party. together with it's do
minions and colonies whether self
governing or not. shall be entitled to
nominate more than one member
@Refer also to communication con-
cerning the adoption Of articles which
were submitted by Sir Robert Bor-
den.
"Since changes of which you have
already been fully informed no
change whatever has been introduced
into the labor clauses Of article XIII
Of the treaty. The only recommenda-
ton introduced by the labor commis-
sion in the final version of the treaty
not found in the draft treaty is
lection of the rights of beneficaries
of social insurance in ceded territory
as follows:
In case the special conventions are
not concluded in accordance with the
above article within three months af-
ter the signing of the peace treaty.
conditions Of transfer shall in each
ease be referred to commission Of
five members: one Ct whom shall be
appointed by the government. one by
the other interested governments and
three by the governing body of the
international labor Office from the IA
tiopaIs of other states. This CON-
mission shall. by majority vote, with
in three months after appointment
adopt recommendations for submjs-
sion to the league of nations and :he
decision Of the council shall forth
with be accepted as final by Germany,
and the other governments concern
Il