New-York tribune., 1919-10-26
Heads of Organization Re.
fuse to Adopt Secretary
Wilson's Call Limiting
Vote to League Members
SO Nations Represented
Colnpers Active in Prepara-
tions, Although U. S. Has
Not Signed Peace Treaty

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.--All Allied
and neutral countries listed in the an
mex Of the covenant of the league of
nations will be permitted to vote at the
initial meeting of the international
labor conference, which opens here next
Wednesday, if the view of Arthur Fon-
taine, of France, chairman, and other
members of the organizing committee
now here is followed. This is in keep
ing, it is said, with the decision of the
supreme council at Paris that the con-
ference shall be master Of its own
destiny" according to II. B. Butler, of
England, committee secretary, but con-
trary to the recent announcement by
Secretary of Labor Wilson.
Secretary Wilson announced in a re-
cent letter to Secretary Lansing that
States as "organizer" Of the conference
he would call the first meeting to or
der and receive the credentials of the
delegates, accepting as qualified men,
bers only represen latlves Of those ma
tions which are members of the league
Of nations as a consequence of ratitica-
tion of the treaty.
Holds All Members Eligible
Mr. Fontaine said to-day that every
nation invited by the United States is
| legally entitled to seat it's representa-
tives He held the treaty provision that
"the original members Of the league of
nations shall be the original members
of the conference" to mean that men,
bcrs of the league of nations are nee
essarily members Of the conference, but
not vice versa
Secretary Wilson has suggested
preliminary informal conference Of all
delegations to solve this and other
problems, but French, English and
, other delegates who have arrived here
do not look with favor upon this plan,
contending the proceedings would be
legal with all states participating in
any case. AS a practical matter, it was
said, since conclusions of the confer
cnce are merely in the nature of rec
concentrations, the important thing is
to bring as many countries as possible
into the conference, in order that it's
findings may meet general acceptance.
Gompers Shares Preparations.
The United States cannot be officially
represented at the conference unless
the Senate approves the treaty, re-
gardless of the action by the confer
ence itself. Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, however, was present at a
meeting of the organizing committee
to-day Mr.. Gompers had a prominent
part in framing the labor provisions
of the treaty, and was named as an
original member of the organizing
committee of the conference.
The question of seating German,
Austrian and Finnish delegates must
go before the conference itself. The
Supreme Council has approved their
coming to this country. and it is re-
ported an American transport may
bring them. Officials of the Depart
ment Of Labor, however, have received
no information regarding these dele
cations and have not provided for their
reception or accommodation.
Thirty-sx states have signifed their
intentions to participate in the con-
ference, and many of the delegates al
ready have arrived. Each country is
entitled to four delegates, two repre-
senting the government, one of the
working people and one Of the employ
ing interests. Each delegate may be
accompanied by as many as ten ad-
visors or experts.
Japanese Group Largest
The Japanese group of fifty-eight
persons is the largest that has arrived.
The Belgian delegation consists of
twentysix, and Great Britain and
France sent fourteen each.
The Department of Labor has been
notified that the following countries
will attend: Argentine, Bolivia, Bel
gium, Brazil, China. Columbia, Czecho-
Slovakia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador,
France, Great Britain, Guatemala,
Greece, Haiti, Holland, Honduras,
India, Italy, Japan, Nicaragua, Norway,
Panama, Persia, Paraguay, Peru, Po-
land, Portugal, Rumania, Sweden,
South Africa, Siam, San Salvador,
Switzerland, Spain and the Serb -Croat-
Slovene State.
The sessions will take place in the
Pan-American Building, where the
National Industrial Conference recent
ly came to an abrupt end
An adjourned session of the Interna-
tional Federation of Trade Unions,
which mot at Amsterdam last July, will