The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-06
THE ENGLISH TRIBES UNIONS IN CON
GRESS.

GREsS.
At no time has the question Of capital and
labor been discussed with more vchcmcncc in
England than during the past few months. No
doubt the excitement WIS partly kindlcd 10y the
great strike in the United States and the troubles
which ensured hut IL is mninly owing to the
grave situation of British industries and the
marked decline in the demand for labor which
have followed the shriukagc in British exports.
Under these circumstances the proceedings at
the Congress of Trades Unions lately held at
Leicester aroused peculiar interest A remnrk-
able feature Of this conference was the spirit Of
candor and equity which seemed to animate a
majority Of the speakers. Thus it WIS admitted
that the law which permits workmcn to combine
for self protection. and which has transformed
the rupture of "A labor contract into a question
for the civil courts. must trammcl the action Of
ia a manufacturer 10 Il considerable extent. But
it was confidently afllrmcd-and Mr.. Brasscy.
the well-Nrown member Of Parliament. in II
spccch delivered at the same time. endorsed the
statemcnt-that a law which trains the work.
ingman to independence. foresight and econ
omy cannot be deemed hurtful on the whole
to tho commercial development of Great Brit
ain. OF course a section Of the English press
charges the present stagnation OF industry upon
the trades unions through their continual in
reference with the business Of the employer.
aud their cxactions by threat Of strike OF higher
wages and shorter term of labor. 1t was not
disputed at the Leicester Congress that such
course must tend to augment the expense Of
production. or that the Intervention OF the
unions by punging an employer in uncertainty
as to she future cost Of manufacture might even
lead him to refuse offers which would be trans
fcrrcd to foreign countries But granting that
"a certain measure OF mischief results from this
state of things. the remedy. II was suggested
should be sought not In legislation against
trades unions. but in promoting with all pos
she zeal the education Of the working class
and fostering more friendly relations between
employer and employed. Nothing. in short
could be- less sectional or inccndiary than the
prevailing tone Of tho meeting at Leicester. II
was repeatedly pointed out that workingmen
are quite ~ deeply interested as capitalists in
the commercial prosperity of tho country. and
that il the great body Of operatives could.
through better means OF education ho made to
see that eXorbitant demands might imperil the
Industrial supremacy of England, they would
be- promut to make concessions. II was held
unjust. however. to mako the wOrkingman sole
ly responsible for the present crisis. Or late
British manufacturers have grown careless,
and. we may add. Inscriptions. They neglect
To- study the specific wants of the countries with
which they trade; they fall back upon routine.
and rest too serenely on the traditions Of supe-
rior,y IIarassed. moreover by competition
on all sides they have too often forgotten the
old rules Of business probitv. and in many in
stances do not hesitate 90 vitate their products.
The action Of the Leicester Conference WIS
regarded with peculiar interest. because the
meeting followed so speedily upon the Inter-
national Congress Of Worknemcn at Ghent
The latter reunion had approved the railway
strike in tho United States. had voted in favor
of aboi-hng the present system Of wages, and
had advocated an International confederation
of trades unions. Ia AN address which WAS
forwarded TO the assembly about To- be convened
AZ Leicester the latter WAS asked to adopt the
following resolution:
Tie congress Of Rru.h operative: rccorpi1ins NE
~ all countris. order To- su.tan the >trns-e "i ii,
pru,tArlt against the dominant Glasses iu-uucs each
Of iis members 10 direct AL ms efforts u NA 'hd
This resolution was read at Leicester and or
dered 10 be- entered on the minutes. but further
consideration Of the motion was adjourned on
the ground that the delegates at Client had en-
! tered into political questions. By this action
| the British trades unions Indicated their r.
solve to conNnr themselves TO economic matters.
! The same purpose was distinctly brought out
/ in the discourse OF Mr.. Mcrrck the resident
| of the congress. Tho worlingmen of Great
! Britain he said. would rcpudiate any measure
which should tend TO prejudice the right- of
property. They respected, he said. the princi-
/ pie of individual ownership. In another pas
suac of his speech the President referred To- ar
Duration as a means of settling he continual
disputes between the operative and his employ
cr The system had been tried he stat, ii. in some
parts Of England. with entire success. and al
/ thoph tho decision had franuentiv boen nuuf u 4