The Denver Jewish news., 1919-04-23
BEN CLAFF ADDRESSES CIVIC
AND COMMERCIAL AS6OCIA-
TTON. sHN


by the committee of the Civic and
Commercial Association, before that
body last Friday, approved the report.
with the exception OF one section,
which Recommended the omission OF
the, creation Of the Bureau Of Labor
as specified in Article 20 of the
Covenant. Mr.. Claff pointed out clear
Iy and comprehcnsively why that part
Of the report should not he adopted
and he was successful in having his
view accepted. Mr.. Claff spoke as
follows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen:
The report of the COMMITTEE on the
IAague of Nations is comprehensive
and discloses keen analysis OF the
Peace Plan. The committees critc'
islns are just, and Its recommendations
Of changes and clariiication Of the
same ure sound, with the exception
Of the o,ge, which recommends the
omission of the creation of the Bu-
rcau Of Labor specified in article No.
~ of the, covenant. The reasons
given by the committee are that u
deals with special interests and not
directly concerned with the primary
purpose Of the covenant, which Is
War Prevention Also that no pro-
visions are made for Bureau of Com
merce or capital.
In my humble Judgment. the com
nittee's reasons are nor valid, anu
should not be concurred in. There
are NO exceptions to article No. 20.
offered by any signstory nation out
side Of Japan, which is natural for
that country, for reasons that will be
given later. II is admitted by states
men and political economists, that all
wars Of modern times and more par
tieularly, the last one tnOt yet set
tledD which cost rivers of blood, BILL
lions of treasure. and brought heart
nclles. misery ana despair to count
less homes thruOut the world. were
fought for one object and one only
Esmeiy Industrial und Commercial
Supremacy" England for over u cpii-
tury the leading manufacturing ma
iIon of the world. with m industrial
reserve army OF unemployed to draw
en- for cheap labor, but production
restricted by stringent trade-union
ieguIa ations. found Germany with still
cheaper labor ond industrial forces
,riobilized to high point Of tffi-
cheney, a very stiff competitor in the
markets of the world, whil9 the man
ufacturers of our own country, where
wgges are higher AMI therefore the
cost of production greater. found the
competition of both England and Ger
many unfair, and almost impossible
l1 overcome. because of their lower
standards of wages. IL Is evident thai
the Peace delegates ut Paris reHlized
the need for international adjustment
and thus remove one of the most nc
yr.lvating causes Of War. UndOubted-
iy great pressure WIS brought to bear
uii the Peace Conferences by the con
sta,it demands of labor. Also the ris-
ing tide of Boislevisn and the spring
irg up of PrOlctariah dietatOrships all
ground them may have been instfu-
mental in convincing the Peace dele
Gates that official recognition Of labor
Interests are not only desirable, but
necessary.
We particularly should not object
to the Leagues becoming instrumental
IN raising the standard of living FOR
the European workers, and thus re-
move grievous cause of War. II
the attempt succeeded, we could tie;'
our serves dispense with the nursing
hotties (protective tariffsy for our in
fant Industries. immigration also
would cease to be menacing prob
lrm.
Labor interest should be given pref
crence to either capital or commerce.
Too many needed remedies for, labors'
ills that were enacted into Law by
.fair-pinded legislators have been an
nulled by our conrts because of. the
old and obsolete bugaboo that it was
class legislation. Unlike capital. and
commerce, labor has heart, mind and
81 ul to look after. Capital is II pro-
0ilct of labor. Commerce is only the
besides the covenant of the League
does make provisions for freedom ut
transit and equitable treatment of
commerce for all members o. the
League"
japan, ONCE buying nation is now