New-York tribune., 1919-03-22


fight of America against the wo,1
for the preservation of principe,
fundamental to the movement of which
Gompers is the first spokesman.
In the Commission on Internatiop,
Labor Legislation, of which he is pres
dent, there has been going on for soma
two months struggle involving the Euro
pean labor political idea and the American
trade union idea.
The European idea contemplated tho
setting up, under the league of nations
of vast international machine for th
international regulation Of almost eyerv
thing relating to labor. This idea con.
templated the use of international comuul.
sion in labor matters. Standards were 10
be fixed on an international basis and mads
the subject of process of international
levelling. International minimums were 70
be fixed, international insurance schemes
agreed upon and international tribunals Of
adjudication set up.
Gompers, from the first, stood against
the use of anything stronger than mora
suasion in the international field He op
posed any vast international framework
and staked his case on the reconstruction
programme of the American Federation Of
Labor as reported fully in dispatches to
The Tribune
At the outset Gompers stood practically
alone The commission of which he il
president is composed of fifteen members
appointed by the peace conference. Ten Of
these members represent the five great
powers, two from each. Five other men.
bers represent the small powers. Grad
ually Gompers began to win support. One
of his earliest supporters was the French
Minister of Labor
Within two weeks the great stumbling
block had been reached and if there had
been a forced settlement Of the issue at
that time there might have been serious
consequences, SO far as the work Of the
commission was concerned. However the
lmpasse was simply sidetracked for the
time being and thus ceased TO become au
Impasse. The commission went on agree
ing on what could be agreed on. In this
way so much was agreed on that when
everything agreeable had been cleared out
of the way it was a much simpler matter
to go back to the disputed question and
reach a settlement
Back of the European programme sub
mitted to the Gompers commission stood
the labor political organizations of England
and the continent. At least two Socialists
were members of his commission. Prse
tlcally all of the matter brought forth BY
the European members was inspired by The
French Socialist Party and the British
Labor Party. The British Labor Party
submitted to the British members Of the
commission memorandum programme COT
slsting of almost 10000 words. The FrsneA
Socialists were much more concise, While
the Americans went to bat with pro
gramme contained in some seventeen para
graphs of one and two sentences eaen
The Americans concerned themselves viii
fundamental propositions directly relates
to the processes of work
AS a result of the work Of this con-
mission there will be held this fall wori'
sion's recommendations are accepted
the peace mission.
In this world industrial congress dee'
gates representing labor and employers
all the nations under the league OF nauop'
will appear. 1t is expected that this ~ /
sembly will take on something OF ''
nature of world industrial parliament sa' {
4Lok +
programmes for industrial progress. \
Early in the life of the Gompers eoA
mission it was expected that this in's'
national congress would be held in VIE
ever city became the capital of the less@
of nations, but Gompers scored another We :
tory for America in securing reeoa
mendation to have the congress held =
Washington, D. c., provided the Amens''
government will agree to issue the call ~
the meeting 4
Gompers is expected to sail aimoH
once for America. He will preside over :.
conventions in June, one the annuai y.
vention of the American Federation
Labor the other the annual convention
the Pan-Amercan Federation OF
which probably will be held in New ~
Immediately following the A. +. OF u. nss
ing in Atlantic City. 1t is possible -
shortly after this Gompcrs may nav
necessary to return to Europe to ss
an international trade union cons !.
which he has hoped could be assemO,ss' ..'.
contradistinction to the purely po'rs. -.
organization assembled by Arthur hs''s
son and his followers. 49,