The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1919-08-15
A WORLD LABOR
BODY ORGANIZED
Ground Laid for Reforms in
Social Questions
NO PRACTICAL RESULTS YET
Entire Governing Board Changes, Ger
mans And Austrians Disappear
ing From The List OF
Officers.

<AAtiSISA udIu.- IuG luC6TudClOudl Lid
Dor Congress, at which a new interna-
tlonal federation was formed, came to
an end shortly before 10 o'clock Tues
day night, with many speeches from
the representative of the various ma
tons. From the speeches it could be
gathered that even after four years of
war, workingmen could meet to con-
slider their welfare without more than
an occasional exchange of sharp
words.
1t cannot be said that a great
amount Of practical work was accom-
plished at the first meeting, but ground
was laid for the future which
promises to prove fruitful in reforms
of social questions upon which the
workers of all nations are urging ac-
ton.
The last hours of the congress were
spent in discussing a number of i'm
portant resolutions with regard to
the League Of Nations, the socializa-
ton of national resources and the
blockade Of Russia and Hungary, all
of which were accepted by the con-
gress. Only the American delegates
voted against the resolutions, while
the British were absent, owing to the
necessity of catching a cross-channef
steamer. Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor,
explained that the Americans agreed
almost entirely with the spirit OF all
the resolutions, but that, owing to
their mandate, they could not vote
for them
The entire governing body has
changed since the last international,
the Germans and Austrians at pres
ent taking no part either in the presi-
dency, vice-presidency treasury or
secretariat. Many of the members ex-
pressed sorrow at the disappearance
of Carl Legien, the most prominent
German labor leader and organizer,
from participation in an official Ca
pacity.
Several delegation leaders spoke of
their hopes for the future, Mr.. Com
pers saying that the Americans would
do all in their power to further leg
islation for improvement of the con-
dition of the workers Of all countries.
Herr Legien told the correspondent
that he thought the international move
ment would prove successful and that
the workers Of all countries would act
together. He was totally against any
idea of a war revenge, he said, as
were all the German workers.
For Specialization.
In one resolution the congress de-
clared:
1.-THE economic disorganiZation &C
centuated by the war was caused by
the impotence of capitalism to reor-
ganize production in such a way as
to insure the well-being of the masses.
The congress declares it imperative
that the efforts and activities of the
working classes of all countries
should be directed toward obtaining
complete trade union organization as
necessary basis for realization of
the specialization of means of produc-
ton"
The bureau of the International
Trades Union Federation was in
structed to obtain information on the
result of specialization and to report
to the national centers, the report to
be accompanied by affidavits. The
resolution further states:
Gwen when the means of produc-
ton are socialized, it is only by nor
NAL production, scientifically and con-
tinually developed, that general and
individual well-being can be obtained
and guaranteed for all everywhere"