The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-02
WORLD TEXTILE
 SESSION BEGUN
Three COrnered Dispute on 4O-HOur. Week ; Dele=
 gates of g Nations
BY c. L. SULZBERGER United Press Stan Correspondent

Limited Press Stan Correspondent
 Washington, April 2-(U.P.) - A three-cornered dispute over advis- ability of establishing worldwide 4o-hour week in the textile industry appeared today in the background of the first session of the 1nterna- tionlal Textile Conference. As dele gates from g countries gathered for their initial meeting at 2 p. nl., it was authoritatively reported that friction was expected over the issue The United States, backed by French representatives, will take the lead in advocacy of work-week lirn- itation. England opposes the move on the theory that the industry is too rarnified to be embraced in a single treaty structure. Japan feels is does not need a shorter week be- cause there Is practically no unen- ployment there and consequently a labor shortage might develop.
 Seek Japan, Britain
 Well-infcrmed sources predicted . trade would be sought by which Japan and Great Britain could be brought over to the French Amer ican viewpoint. It was believed some attempt might be made to induce the United States and Great Bri- tain to use their influence on the Philippine and Indian governments to allow Japan larger quotas in tex tile markets there. In return for this favor, Japan might be induced to favor the shorter work-week. At present, Japanese mills operate on a 50 to 56 hours basis.
 Winant to Play Part
 The official American representa- tive, John c. Winant, former chair mai, of the social security board and President Roosevelt's unoh1cial advisor on labor legislation, is ex- pected to play an important part in any such behind-the-scenes man. euvers. Winant was a delegate to the last Geneva conference of the International Labor of1ce, which is sponsoring the two weeks meeting here at President Roosevelt'S sug- gestion. It is understood that Wi- nant recommended the conference in order to press for the new accord which might tend to ease unsettled conditions in American Textile mills. After two weeks of discussion. formal recommendations will be made to the convention and if they are adopted they wil lbe transmit ted to the Geneva conference of the I. L. o. in Jupe. Should the 40- hour week be voted by this preliln- mary conference, 1t would have to be adopted by a two-thirds vote at the Geneva meeting. The various governments represented would then have to ratify 1t. Today's session will hear a message of greeting from President Roosevelt and speeches by Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins, Secretary of Com merce Daniel c. Roper and foreign representatives. Addresses will be translated by an automatic tele- phone system into German, Span ish and Japanese.
 The American Employers delegate is Q. Max Gardner, former governor Of North Carolina. The employees delegate is Emil Rieve, president Of the American Federation of Hosiery Workers and g member of John L. Lewis committee for industrial or ganization. one of the chief prob lens facing the conference Is that of increasing world consumption of textiles. The industry Is faced with a constantly shrinking market for It's goods despite rapidly booming production, eriabled by technolbgical Improvements.