The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-02-07
(ro BE CONTINUED
Trades Union Congress in Sheffield
PEN AND INK SKETCHES OF DELEGATES.

PEN AND INK SKETCHES or DELEGATES.
We clip the follwing from the Leeds IT,
teUigencer, of Nov. 3lst.
What one sees in the Palace Of West
minister on the foggy February afternoon
which ushers IN the new session is, to be
sure, more grand and stately than what
one saw yesterday in the Sheffield Temper
ance Hall when the Labor Parliament was
quietly and modestly opened" There
was no Black Rod OF Gold stick in waiting
to deliver with pompous solemnity thatim-
pressive Message from the lordly keeper
Of the Great Seal to ''Mister Speaker, ,-
no Royal Commissioners IN Court dress to
appal the spectators with their ostentatious
display of dignaty, and no honorable
members fresh from the shires looking as
discontented as schoolboys at the close of
the holidays. There was no mace or other
''bauble no swearing Of legislative oaths,
and no mysterious summons" to the
'other house" About noon Townhead
street was invaded by grave, elderly per-
sons laden with carpet-bags, and wearing
that equivocal smile peculiar to strangers
anywhere. They were inohensive looking
men, mostly of mature age, and with
nothing remarkable about them but their
garments These were the terrible deli
gates concerning whom one hears 50 much
and knows so little the Dantons, Marats,
and Robespierres las old ladies devoutly
believe) Of Trade Unionism, who are
cge, it d by alarmists with all manner of
sinister designs against the frame work Of
/ L., ill., l. II
appeared as they entered their St. Stephen 5
YEARLY swinging their carpet bags to and
fro, and seeming grateful that their pill
grimage through the sloppy streets Of
Sheffield vas at an end. Inside the Hall
thes worn-out travellers were plunged in
to confusion of overcoats, pOrtmanteaus.
umbrellas, and printed documents, through
which they made a gallant struggle, emer-
ging somewhere near the platform with
smiling faces and hands outstreched to
greet acquaintances with whom they unex-
pectedly met. The annual Congress is to
many honest delegates time when old
friendships may be revived and new ones
formed mixture, in point of fact, OF
business and pleasure, with the pleasure
predominating. Half an hour or 50 is spent
in general congratulations, preliminary
coughing, an exchange Of opinions about
the weather, and sweeping statements con.
cerning the amount of slush and dirt
through which it wasnecessary to navigate
between the Midland Station and the Tenn.
perance Hall after which Mr.. Macdonald
apperas on the platform to give what We
are all 80 ahxiously desiring uiielicet, in
formation. MIR. Macdonald, who repre-
sents some one hundred and thirty thousanc
miners, and seems able to represent a.
many more without Inconvenience, is a fin,
North country looking man of large mould
and with face radiant with good umor
His eyes twinkle as he speaks, in harmony
as it we're with the merriment which MI
words provoke, and he is in all that h,
says or does bland, courteous, and obliging
As the President of the Parliamentary
Committee he, Of course, is regarded il
the light of Nestor by his brother Union
ists, and is welcomed with cheer when h
advances to the table and mods familiarl,
and affably to us all. You feel, in spite 0
yourself, personally complimented by tina
nod, and are disposed to feel grateful fo
SO distinguished favor. Speaking in
voice which really possesses atinge Of Nun
steI brogue, Scotch nasality, and Englis
distinctness, Mr. Macdonald tells us-t
our great surprise-that we are mot vast
ing time, inasmuch "a committee Of dele