The sun., 1919-10-30
US. REPRESENTED IN
/ LABOR CONFERENCE
Secretary Wilson Opens First
Session Of international
\ -
Gathering. .,
THREE GROUPS ORGANIZE
Question of Admitting German
Delegates Up To-day
Gompers to Attend.


of the International Labor Conference
which formally opened here to-day, was
to take steps to obtain the virtual par
tlcipation of the United states IN the
conference, although Congress has de-
cided against the appointment Of oeie-
gates prior to ratification OF the peaee
treaty.
On motion Of Baron Mayor des
Planches, Italian Government delegate.
United States employers and workers
organizations were invited unanimously
to send representatives to take part IN
the conference, which Is still in q STATE
Of being organized"
While no attempt was made to obtain
the appointment of Government dele
gates, as such action would have peeh
in direct conflict with the decision OF
Congress-, the United States will be rep
resented in the conference through Sec
rotary of Labor Wilson, who opened TO-
days session, and probably. will con-
tinue as permanent chairman during the
major portion of its deliberations.
Secretary Wilson said that ne would
accept the nomination In view OF MS
Interpretation that the organization OF
the conference cannot be completed un-
til the League of Nations 10 created,
and that the United States Is charged
by the Versailles treaty with the or
iRdnlSatlOn OF the COHibTeucc.
Gompers Labor Representative.
| The American Federation Of Labor and
| thesChamber Of Commerce Of the United
States were invited by the organizing
committee to name the worker and en-
ployer delegate. respectively, to repre-
sent this country. Samuel Gompers,
| veteran chief Of the Federation. will rep
resent the workers Decision as to the
| Oh -, 80 no har NJ
will await the arrival here tomorrow
| Of Homer L. Ferguson, president.
| Owing to the lack Of time, the ques-
| ton of the admission of German and
Austrian delegates was not taken up
to-day and probably will be the first item
on the programme tomorrow. Dele
| gates generally express agreement that
the former enemy powers should be ad-
mitted without delay.
! The resolution to admit them, which
was prepared with the assistance OF le-
| gal advisers who assisted in drafting the
League Of Nations covenant and will be
submitted to-morrow, makes mention of
| the fact that "in the negotiations con-
corning the treaty the allied and asso-
| ciated Powers agreed with Germany
| and Austria to accept the idea OF their
early admission to the International La
Dor Organization and decided to remit
|
! Washington conference for its decision
with a recommendation In favor OF their
admission after the conclusion OF the
conference"
Report Outlines Organization.
The report Of the organization COM
mittee, submitted by Arthur Fontaine
chairman. and Professionally adopted by
the conference, outlined in detail the de-
| velopment OF the International Labor
Organization and submitted the tenta-
tive programme and standing orders for
the conference sessions.
Interpreting the provision of the peace
treaty providing that Of the twelve
members of the governing body Of the
conference eight should be named by
the countries of chief Industrial impor.
lance, the committee named min. cOun'
tries with the understanding that Ger
many be admitted the last country OF
the list and that Spain should b,
dropped. The other seven nations ar,
the United States, Great Britain, France
Italy Belgium. Japan and Switzerland
Following the adjournment of the con
ference separate meetings of the gov
ernmental. employers and workers dele
gates were held. Baron des Planches o.
Italy was elected chairman OF the Gov
ernment representatives, and G. II
barnes, member of the House OF Com
mons and a member OF the War Cabinet
was nominated for vice-presidsnt OF tn,
conference representing the Government
delegates. Jules Lecocq Of Belgium wal
chosen to head the employers. VIII
elected Jules earlier. also of Belgium, a.
their nominee for vice-president.
The labor delegates chose Stuart Bun
ming OF Great Britain as chairman. bu
postponed selection of vice-presiden
| until tomorrow