The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-30
FROM the OLD WORLD.
X. TREvELLIcK,
Preaidenf Htata I.ahar Ioiol

Compiled from the London Bee Hive.
The International WOrkIngmen's Assoc
c1aIIOn.
The last council meeting was principally
devoted to routine business There was no
news respecting the Geneva dispute. Mr..
Jung, the secretary for Switzerland, an
nounced that he had forwarded q loan or
El0 from the dayworking bookbinders, and
FL IS. was received, which had been coll
lected in the French branch, and the Lon
doner Arbeiter Bildlngs- Verein. The trades
unions established in Germany by the agen-
cy and with the assistance Of the interna-
tional WUrkingmen's Association have fur
hlshed the chiefs Of the iron trade in the
Rhinish province, with an argument against
the Prussian government with regard to
reduction OF the import duties on foreign
iron. The Chamber OF Commerce of Fiber
fed and Barmen is Of opinion that a reduc-
ton Of the import duties on iron will CON-
pletely ruin the russian iron masters. The
English capitalist maintain that they must
reduce the wages Of their workmen to Be
able to cope with the foreigners. The Ger
man iron masters demand the continuance
of protection against the English to save
themselves from utter ruin +; yet the wagt
received by the Prussian workmen are less
than hslf what the British workmen receive
and the hours of labor are more. In its re-
port Of April l4th to the government, the
Chamber Of Commerce says: "The iron trade
Of Germany once PROSTATE remedy il impos-
sible. Much capital will then be lost, and
thousands of woTSingmen deprived Of the
means of subsistence "a matter thet would
be the more critical, as the labor question
becomes more and more serious, and the In
ternatonal Workingmen's ASSOCIATION as
sumes more and more active and menac-
Ing attitude" This statement proves that
the association has not labored in vai- The
capitalists demand public inquiry il he
present state Of the Prussian iron ade.
The workmen insist that the inquiry shall in
clude an investi cation Of the condition Of
the workpeople employed in the trade.
TIE WIGAS MAsoSs.-The masons have
struck work to enforce rules OF which they
had given notice. The great point is a pro-
posed reduction Of six hours per week, and
this il is determined to withstand.
TIE EMPLOYEES Of the Dowlais Iron
Works, 10000 in number, have struck, on
account Of an attempted reduction Of their
wages.
The Leeds District Trades Council has
adopted the following as their platform
!. The proper adjustment Of the laws relating
to master and servant.
2. Legal protection for the funds or trades
unions,
8. broad and comprehensive scheme Of ma
tonal education
4. Where practicable, direct representation
OF industrial interests, by the return Of work
ingmen to parliament
s. The promotion Of the cooperative system
and partnerships Of industry.
8. The settlement Of trade disputes by boards
Of arbitration, composed Of an equal number Of
masters and men.
WE have been informed that the Labors
OF the Trades Union COmmi ssios, or West
minister Star Chamber, concluded on Tues
day last, 20 far as the examination Of wit
nesses is concerned. The future sittings
will be devoted to the preparation Of their
report to be presented to the Secretary Of
State for the Home Department.
THERE is every prospect Of The strike q the
operative masons in Birmingham being
brought to an amicable arrangement. Du-
ring the past week several conferences have
taken place between representatives Of the
master builders and the masons, and mutual
explanations give promise OF q speedy settle
ment Of the dispute.
THE masons Of Birmingham struck work
on Friday, May Sth. The dispute is as to
the rules relating to worked stone coming
into the town, AM piece work.
The STOCKPORT 3RIcKLAYERs.-The strike
among the union bricklayers at Stockport is
still proceeding. The bricklayers have
struck work at all the union yards, in order
that the non union bricklayers may have no
bricks to use.