The Connecticut labor news., 1921-12-23
WORLDS TROUBLES MOSTLY ECONOMIC.
 GOMPERS STATES
Federation President Indorses Inter national Conference to Follow
 One on Arms.

Washington, Dec. g. .-"American idealis1n again has an opportunity to function for, the salvation of the world. 1 trust that those who are charged with the responsibilities of Government may see and seize this great opportunity" " said Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor. in dis 'cussing the International Economic Con- ference, proposed by the General Com rnittee on the Limitation of Armament, of which he is Honorary Chairman. Gompers is also member of the offic- ial Advisory Committee of the Disarma- ment Conference. He believes that such conference, to follow the success full idle factory wheels turning, bring work to idle hands, and solve many of the sor- rows of human needs, as well as unite the closely knit tangles of the worlds economic and financial system. In call ing such conference, he hopes to see America take the lead, he said today.
 MT. Gornpers'> statement indorsing the International Economic Conference, which has been proposed by the General Committee on the Limitation of Arma- ment, follows:
 "An International Economic Confer ence should follow the Conference on Limitation of Armament, taking full ad- vantage of the tremendous impetus which it has given to international thinking.
 At bottom the immediate troubles of the world today are economic.
 "The world IS not living normally. Over large portions of the world the machinery of production is practically at a standstill. In some places 1t is even Tn state of decay.
 Wo-1- ;e I:e,o;~%oI pied.
 ,''I venture to assert that thousands of skilled workrnen have lost much of their skill and much of their will to- work, because of the long continued absence of opportunity to work. The World is losing both immediate and potential pro- duction
 This Jeopardlzes progress.
 However much exploitation may in- terfere with the process, it is inespec- ially true that human progress, the inn provement of standards of living, the broadening of human horizon, rests upon our aggregate ability to produce and dis tribute wealth
 ''We cannot suffer great break down Ill production without paying a penalty. It may be immediately ob- vlous, but society pays, nevertheless.
 An economic conference, rightly con- ceived, going about its work i'll the spirit of the conference now being held, de- to achieve, having our best pos Sible contribution of mind and thought and unselfsh constructive abolity, could accomplish much toward a restoration of economic stability.
 "It must be clear that a purely fin ancial conference would be inadequate More than finance must be considered Finance may be discussed, but it is es- sential secondary to commerce and pro- duction. Production is primary; finance IS important, but secondary.
 "The root of the trouble is in the fact that factory wheels are idle, that human hands are idle, that human beings are in need. It is the basic needs of life that l must be considered. Commodities must | be studied. A comprehensive dealing l with necessities and fundamentals is the l prime requirements of the hour
 We have been given such hope, such l audacity to hope, by what we have been that 1t is possible to go be- yond hope and to expect that we shall | nave the great statesmanship to bring ! about the great project to success.
 The first essential on this globe Is the ] proper sustenance of human life The response already manifested indicates the 1 broad desire for a conference that will 1 consider human life It will be noted i that European leaders already are mani American 1dealism again has an oppor- unity to function for the salvation of !