The sun., 1919-10-27
Decisive Action Expected at
First Sign of Disloyalty
by Unions.
FALL TO TAKE INITIATIVE
Thomas of Colorado Also to
Speak in Warning-Affects
International Conference.
Special Despdtoh to TIE Sun,


becomes effective, will be to impel the
United States Senate to consider elimi-
mating all the international labor pro-
visions from the peace treaty. Already
there is a definite move on foot to
achieve this end. The first sign of dis
loyalty of organized labor to estab-
States will, it is believed, bring swift
and decisive action in the Senate and
win a majority to the cause now ad-
vocated by a limited number of SEN
ators.
1t was because of labor,s loyalty
during the war and adherence to es-
tablished Governments that the Peace
Conference agreed to incorporate an
international labor programme in the
treaty. The resonrcefulness and pa
triotism of American labor during the
war caused President Wilson heartily
to indorse the plan. If organized labor
however. is about to turn disloyal and
attempt to carry into effect threats
against the Government Of the United
States this Government probably will
feel ahsolved from any obligation to
champion legitimate concessions to
labor and Senators who heretofore
have been disposed favorably toward
labor may find it necessary in the in
terest of the country to take a radi-
cally different view.
Thomas Prepares Speech.
Senator Thomas (Colo.) is preparing
speech before the Senate. which will
strongly advocate elimination of the in
ternational labor provisions from the
treaty.
Senator Fall IN. NJ is going to make
the initial move along this line and the
matter will be up for debate at precisely
the time when the public will be in
position to judge of the loyalty or dis
loyalty of organised labor toward Presi-
dent Wilson's appeal not to engage in a
strike not only unjustihable but unlaw-
full.
The meeting of labor union chiefs
which Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor has
called Will take place here simultane-
ously with the coming meeting beginning
Tuesday on the so-called international
labor conference provided for in the
peace treaty. The United States will not
be officially represented at this latter
conference, as the treaty has not yet been
! ratified, but American representatives
will be present unofficially and there
will be close liaison between this interna-
tional conference and the conference
1 Ix-n
transpires at one conference naturally
will influence the other and II American
| la Dor is to set the pace for the world
| in advocating open defiance of estah'
| lished government, the effect will be OBJ
| noxious not only TO the United Stat
Government but to all the European
Governments as well.
II is practically certain that If or
ganized labor in the United States re-
fuses to heed the Administration appeal
| this action will be taken as warning
| by the Senate. 1t will be taken as a
| timely example Of what might be eX-
| pected II the United States made the
concessions to organized labor, which are
provided for in the pact.
Senate Sympathy Waning.
Already the effect of the threatened
coal strike and the attitude of some OF
the labor chiefs have cast cloud ovet
| the coming international labor con-
ference. The part played by the foreign
| element in melting radicals in the Amer
| lean labor organizations to defy estab
ished rules OF law and order has moi
| increased sympathy OF Senators toward
] the aims and ideals OF an 'internatiopa
| labor" organization.
! Senators are now beginning carefully
/ 10 scrutinize the exact concessions mad,
| to organized labor In the peace treaty
| The great majority in the Senate. lik'
| President Wilson. gave labor the benefi
of the doubt because OF its loyalty dur
| ing the war. But the threatened atti
| tude OF some of the labor chiefs ha
| caused a pronounced feeling of hesita
tion. AS the United States has not rati
! fed the treaty It is in no sense bound L
accept the labor provisions. II would
cause little surprise If President Wilson
recommended a change of attitud
toward those provisions II his appeal OF
behalf of the American people 4
ignored.
The opposition to the labor provision,
in the peace treaty has been based s,
far on the ground that the treaty shoulC
not incorporate an agreement between
a class OF people in one nation and {
class of people in another. This ha
been Senator Thomas's view. He ha
believed the principle fundamental!
wrong.
Technically the international labo
conference can go no further than rec
ommend action for the indorsemen
of the various parliaments, but actuall,
international labor could bring tire
mendous pressure upon any Governmen
which did not yield to Its recommenda
tions 1t could employ strikes. boycott
and other means to inhict injury on tn
national life OF any country. Its powe
Therefore would be undisputed.