Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-10-11
TIE ENGLISH LABOR CONGRESS.


The New York World of Thursday last
had an article, fiom its correspondent at
Manchester, England, giving an interesting
account of the proceedings Of the fourteenth
annual meeting of the representatives of the
English trades unions, an article which is OF
interest in these times of strikes and labor
disputes among ourselves. From 1859 TO
1870 the working people of England made a
determined stand against the hardships and
oppression they were compelled 10 submit
TO. Their organizations were made the sub
! iect of inteuse yiiuperation and bitter ridi-
Guile on the part of those who considered it to
be to their interest TO keep the workingmen
in condition approaching to that OF serls
and vassals. Experience has proved that
the efforts of the downrodden have resulted
in good and brought about reforms and
changes which those who were at first OPP
posed now generally acknowledge to be for
The good, mutually, of employer and emf
ployed. The unions, however, were COM
PEELED TO recognize, in the course Of their
struggles that the employers had case as
we'll IS themselves, and that no
settlement could be well made un-
less The interest If the employer was
consulted as well as their own. This discoy-
~ brought reflection and self-restrsint: and
action was taken only on sound grounds ard
when there was fair prospect OF succe IS.
In 1868 the chief-justice of Kuglaud de-
cided that the regulations OF the unions
Operated in restraint of trade" which was
IaT, All III fr,a
ly societies connected with them, without
any protection by law for their funds. Much
excitement followed, and steps were taken 10
hold a congress OF labor, congress that now
meets every year. The upfavorable legal de-
cision led 10 the appointment of govern
ment commission 10 inquire into the COM
plants Of the working- people, which, in the
eud, resulted in beneficial changes OF law.
At these congresses the subjects OF the linn
itation of the number of apprentices, the
hours OF labor, protection of lie in labor in
volving risk national education, co.opera-
ton, and arbitration we're discussed, also the
desirability OF having representatives in
Parliament, which resulted in the cleo: Jon
of two members. In subsequent lesis-
lation on labor subjects the congress
aud its legislative members were able
successfully to oppose some arbitrary bills
offered in Parliament, and TO secure the pas
sage of some excellent legal provisions. The
abominable system of paying in goods in
stead OF money, for instance, was abolished;
the system, OF treating the person employed
in domestic or farm service as criminal in
Use he broke bis contract, while similar
sst on the part of the employer subjected
Ia m TO civil damages only, was done away,
b,lh cases being made civil. The annual
congresses generally bsse their discussions
upon the proceedings of Parliament respect-
ing questions pertaining to labor. In 1875
a labor bill the unions ardently supported
was passed, and there was great rejoicing
among them in consequence. The present
congress, says the correspondent, is a supe-
rior body of men: ga finer nor more lntelli- |
seat-lookipg body of men than these repre- |
sentatiVes of the workingmen of England |
l never saw. TEeEe was a dignity about |
their proceedings, and 1 may say about the |
toae of the report as well, as far removed |
from what one associates with meetings OF |
trades unions as anything that could be i'm |
agined. IL was that diguity which you only |
see when men know the limit as we'll as the |
, xtent of their power, aud so knowing both
feel secure" This Is very high commenda-
ton, and such rs similar body OF Euglish /
workiHgmen could not have won or deserved
fifty years q, hDt hard bought knowledge |
and painful experience las taught them that
the effort to accomplish their purposes by
the use OF mere brute power, seeking to drive
and force employers 10 adopt measures die
lated BY the worknen from their standpoint
alone, in indifference rs to the welfare OF the
employer, will, although sometimes Tempo
rarily successful, in the end bring disap-
poiniment. Nationally TO look at both sides
Of question requires thought, and thought
brings the dignity that gives weight to the
proceedings of the English Labor Congress
This brief sketch is not undeserving of the
attention of the working people on this side
he l