New-York tribune., 1922-06-04


~riafirr - industrial conditions Of
international interest. and this dlvi-
son has already issued = large num-
Der o. publications. including the week
is "rahour and Industrial Inform J.
,ior" and .he monthly International
Lahour Review" The diplomatic divl-
sion conducts the official correspond
erca ~ TIE office With the different
member nations. ard undertakes 20 see
ttat rroper action is taken with refer
crce - ths draft conventions and recon-
r~erdatiors o. the general conferences,
ard that tho obi ira'ior- stipulated IN
the Treaty - Versailles are properly
observed Il also prepares the agcrds
for the conferences and performs at
secrafarial work IN connection win
them and with the meetings of ths
governing toir To assist these two
important divisions. eight technical
rerrices have been created % study
resrecfivslv immigration ard unem.
n'oyrert. agriculture. Russia. indus
frial heait1. .rrrsfio'. MARITIME
Affairs. social insurance sni 1ro1pc-
ao-. Per~a~s-f correspondents have
tee- appointed in an the mere I'M
rrr+art countries.
Tha expenditures O. the Irterna-
-ioral Labor Office and the govern
ir- body which has charge of it are
net b. funds provided b. the League
~ Nations The 1921 budget called
for over seven million gold francs.
rorp than onc-thiri of the total in
come q ;he league in that year.
Some criticism has developed over
Tho method % work q ths lnterna-
tional Labor Oacc. the accusation
beng made that az times the oAiee. IN
its Investigations. has gone beyond the
scope ordered by the government body,
that rs Investigations have not always
been impartial ard that IN consequence
trey have not always helped 20 in
prove employer-employee relation
ships To determine the justice Of
these accusations a commission - ex-
+ pcrts appointed By the League Of Ma
'iors irvestigsted the organization and
work o. the ofice. In is findings e
vel founded and uphoids the once
In its handling o. social and Industrial
questions.
The difficult situations that have
been precip.tated hy tho conflicts 5s-
tween the activities and recommenda-
tlcrs of the organization and national
interests illustrate some or 'he dam
gers that lle in attempts - STANDARD zc
labor conditions ir countries econom-
.caliy and socially SO widely different
as those included in the organization.
The establishment Of the orEarizstina
a. the peace conference was tae re-
suit q the wave Il sent!menta.isr
toward labor following the war, me
increase IN the power % labor curi.e
the war. the fesr of Bolshevisn among
re powers g. the conference ara the
.rAue-ce over politics welded ~ .ahor
organizations and soeisiistic parties II
Lurope. Al these factors combined
fo raise the hopes Of labor leaders as
'o what could be accomplished o. IL
tcrratioral action toward imTrosing
labor conditions and raising existing
standards Of labor legislation 90 81!
countries.
An immediate industrial millennium
however. is not 90 be expected as re-
suit of its efforts, and is woTk raises
serious problems from the American
roirt Of view. Different geographic
conditions. differences IN Climate. IN
natural resources and in productivity
o, the SOL. international competition
social conditions sanctioned o- time
and custom and economic lsW-all nave
o0erated and Will continue 20 onerate
Or restrictive influences or .1ternation-
81 labor legislation. folt.ca. oppor-
trnism nationa. politics and se.nsn
advantage may take precedence over
economic cors.aerat. oIs. and national
welfare may outweigh na'lona. consid-
eratiors. as !n the case o. the protest
arains. agricultural reputation made
b. Switzerland and France
/.
r-.sed as 20 the future of the inierrA-
.o-s. labor organization III case Of the
continued absence o. ire United states
ard Russia. for with the continued I'M
movement 90 world economic corci-
..ors AID tie return o. g more normal
basis C competition ar inequality r
.ro connective basis between member
and member states is bound 20 be
created by tre fxing o. certain stand
.fts ard conditions Of labor tor the
1cw hers o. ne organization.
The industrial policy Of re Jrlted
c.-ter. moreover. is a. variance with
chat q Continental countries. In
tI- United States the Individual osts-
rs-rcrt IS accepted - the u1it @;
-ro4rrtior. ard the principal o. the
omen shop has always prevailed IN fnc
majority - industries n other indus
4~.,- c,urtries. particularly u Europe,
tso closed union shop is tae r1.e. and
CO ective bargaining through trade
union representatives is the common
procedure. On ;he Continent tae Irin-
cir.e is upheld that whatever can be
done by governments should be; N the
United states She feeling has aiTays
been that government control and IN
reference should be avoided when
possible.
Furihermore. since the regulation Of
labor conditions IN this Country, except
in interstate commerce. Is speci1cal4y
reserved 20 she separate states. a seri-
Gus co-stitrt.onai di@culty would ap-
near with rega-d % the adoption o. tne
draft conventions o. the internat.ora.
labor organization b. ne United
States Congress. The most q could d
would be 20 pass o, the decisions O. the
general conference rs recommend
tiors 20 the state legislatures. where
they would become mere proposals tor
industrial legislation.
In view o. these difficulties which
arise in any attempt az internatlona.
labor legislation and o. the lrnda-
nenta' difference between the indus
trial situstion and philosophy o. ths
United states and that OF other cou1-
,rics the question arises whether u
would not be wiser policy % let these
two industria. PHILOSOPHERS. that OF the
United States and that which may be
charsc.erized as the European. wors
out side By side unhirdsred FOR a SUI
ecient tine 90 prove eoneiusivcly IN
der which philosophy al those engaged