Report of the Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor Volume 39 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 Excerpt: ...It is enough to mention that they included an informal open-air luncheon on the battlefield of Cambria with Sir D. Haig, the British Commanderin-chief; a State luncheon at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a luncheon at the Elysees with the President of the French Republic; a dinner with General Diaz, the Italian Commander-in-Chief, and a dinner with the King of Italy at the Royal Villa near Padua. Wherever the Mission went it was received by the highest personages almost exactly as though it had been officially representing the Government of the United States. "These facts are likely to be of no little importance in the future, since labor men will not soon forget that in these political times they have even without credentials been recognized as representatives of a great democratic state. It was indeed evident that French and Italian Socialist Labor Leaders appreciated the honors paid to the American Labor Mission as reflecting upon themselves and their own class. When the American delegates went from luncheon at the Quai D'Orsay Palace of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to confer with the Confederation Genr erale du Travail at its offices in the working class quarter of Paris, the French laborer naturally felt that he was receiving a share of the honors paid to his American colleagues. 2. Direct Results Achieved. "The good effects produced by the Mission were partly, perhaps mainly, indirect and of a kind not susceptible of being catalogued. Among its direct achievements, however, the following are conspicuous: "(a) Proof that organized labor in the U. S. is solidly supporting the Government. "This was particularly valuable in France and Italy where pacifist labor and socialism have declared in favor of President Wilson's po...