The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-08-22
DANCER IS seen
IN LABOR TERMS
OF PEACE PACT
Conditions Fail to Cope With
Existing Evils Declares Sem
ator Thomas.
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22-The labor
provisions of the peace treaty fail to
cope with threatening labor evils and
point toward program which may
disturb the domestic peace of the
United States, Senator Thomas, Demo
crat, Colorado, declared in a speech
today in the senate. He expressed
grave doubt whether that section of
the treaty could be accepted under the
constitution.
The interna tional labor conference
to be set up, Senator Thomas declar-
ed, would be an important integral
part Of the league of nations, though
the provisions creating it are not in
Guided in ttae league covenant .,- ~
"Inasmuch as orga niZed labor cor
rectly speaks of itself as a class,
said the Colorado Senator, cit is en-
tirely appropriate to say that by in
Guiding this program in the treaty,
distinct recognition and separate Or
ganization are given to a class. To
enthrone a class, whether by revolu-
ton or by treaty, is but to estrange
other ella asses.
Objects to Uniformity
cit may be possible to reach the goal
of uniformity in the conditions of la
Dor and l question whether it can be
done otherwise than by making the
standard the lowest and levelling
down to it. Strict uniformity in
world labor conditions can be at
tanned only at the expense Of the
American wage Garner. l cannot
avoid the conclusion that these
articles designed for his physical and
spiritual improvement may make him
the equivalent of the continental wage
Garner"
Referring to the provision that the
credentials of delegates to the inter
national conference may be passed on
by the conference itself. Senator
Thomas continued: PERSONALLY I do
not like a covenant which subjects the
selection of high officials by the gov.
ernment of the United States for the
discharge of important international
functions to review and possible re
lection by an external authority. The
treaty thus makes the conference a
substitute for a supplement to the
president and the senate.
Hits Rights of Court
For some time l entertained q
doubt whether article 405 did not in
vest this conference with a species OF
legislative or treaty making power
Auu pIOpoSdlS lOl IllS SAtCISlOn VI
this power will probably soon follow
the esta blishment of the permanent
organization if | correctly apprehend
the purport of the official introduc-
ton.
Il do not look for the early advent
of the stupendous upheaval which
must come to the structure of the
American government before it can
constitutionally assent to such a dele
ga tion of power, but I can we'll i'm
agine how efforts to secure it would
profoundly disturb our domestic
peace; for the labor program points
that way"
The senator also said he could no,
avoid the conclusion that certain judi
cial rights vested by the constitution
in American courts would be delega ted
to the tribunals set up by the labor
section.
Painting a gloomy picture of labor
conditions in this country and declar
ing that organized labor was employ
ing methods which threatens the
nations political and social existence
Mr.. Thomas declared these were tbs
real matters that should concern leg
islators.
"Yet here are conditions" he con
tinued, which the labor section OF
the treaty neither provides against
nor catalogues among those requiring
correction by International covenant