The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-13
Agree to British Article fOl
Handling of Question.
COnfereeS Get Past Big Obstacle
in Their Path.
MAKE RAPID PROGRESS NOW
Workings of Policy VIII Protect
LabOrerS of World.
Raise the Standard of Hire in
All Countries.


the commission on international labor
legislation of the peace conference
Wednesday to accept article " of the
British draft of measure to settle
the future status of international la
bor marks the passing over safely or
an obstacle which the labor leaders
expected would provoke bitter con-
test. for the reason that it is the most
radical of the projects organized labor
is seeking to graft upon the constitu-
tion of the society of nations.
This article provides that at the pro-
posed international labor conference
the representatives of the govern
ments, the employers and working
people shall be entitled to speak and
vote independently without regard TO
the views expressed by the other rep
resentatives of their nation and to
have power TO draw up conventions
binding on the nations represented.
The rapid progress made upon the bal
zuce of the British draft into which
will be incorporated certain features
o. the French labor plan, appears to
warrant the belief that the essential
aims of the delegates of both nations
will be accepted in their entirety by
the commission. altho final action by
the peace conference is predicted.
What the section Says.
The British draft covers a wide field,
including the following provisions:
Uniformity of the rights of work
men employed abroad. their protec-
ton against loss when in a foreign
country thru the lapse of state insur-
ance against sickness, old age, accl-
dents, unemployment and similar
causes.
Prevention of unemployment thru
the adoption by the different govern
ments of a policy of distribution of
orders for public works so as to keep
the demand for labor at an approxi-
Inately uniform level. The relief of
the unemployed thru system of reg
istration and cooperation between
employers in different lines of indus
try, to meet fluctuating labor demands.
Opportunities to unemployed young
workers for the continuance of their
edccation at established centers-
A system of inspection of factories
and workshops to insure the execution
OF labor laws.
Protection OF Children.
The protection of children. youths
and women with educational oppor-
tunities for the children and the regu-
lation e. nightwork for the youths.
The Imitation of the working shift
for young persons to half that of
adults with no overtime or night work.
The recognition of the rights of
working men to combine and the right
OF peaceful picketing.
The recognition of the right of
working men to combine politically
and the right of trades unions to par
ticipate in politics. Working hours to
be fixed by laws in each state with an
international standard as the mini
mum. The regulations of home work
in small workshops or in sweatshops
to be attended to by each state, in
view. of the difficulty of settling this
problem by international legislation.
An international code regulating work.
ing conditions in the mercantile ma
rine under every flag to be worked out
by a special maritime commission of
the league of nations in continuous
session to take up new points.
Wages Are Different
1t seems to be agreed that the
wholly different wage and money
standards of the east and west would
make the definite fixing of conditions
as to these matters impossible.
AS to the right of workingmen to
combine, the British view is that this
at least should be insisted upon by
the working classes, altho it now is
denied by Japan. The measures of
hygiene, insurance and the regulation
of the work of children, it is also con-
tended. ought to apply to native Ash
attic labor.
The British plan also contemplates
the creating of a permanent interna-
tional commission to fix minimum
wages according to the conditions in
the various regions and to make
special study of native labor problems.
For International Parliament.
1t is proposed to include in the
league of nations plan the constitution
OF an International parliament, COM
posed of delegates from the existing
national parliaments to suggest la
Dor legislation to the society of ma
tions. The abolition of military train
ing in school and the international ex-
change of university students also is
proposed.
The French labor proposals include
the recruiting of labor thru national
employment bureaus, prohibition upon
labor of children under IA years of
age. prohibition of night work by
women and a maximum eight hours
working day in factories where the
furnaces are always lighted. together
with laws regulating hygiene and the