The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-21
THE LABOR CONGRESS.
Proceedings of the Six Days
COnvOcatiOn i'm Paris.
The Delegates Agree on a Labor
Programme for the World,

The International Workers Congress
which has just closed its six days session at
Paris, was very largely attended, and those
who We're in attendance declared it to be an
enthusiastic and successful meeting. It had
been called together by the French working.
ingman's party, the "Possibihsts" as they
are called there. There were present
421 delegates from France, and repre-
sentativcs from America, Holland,
Denmark, Belgium, England, Spain,
Italy, Russia and Agiers. The Polish refu-
gees also sent delegate. The hall was gay
with flags, tho scarlet Of militant socialism
cleaning brilliantly from balcony and flag
staff. On the platform rose the figure OF the
Republic Graped in scarlet cloth, and on
either hand dropped the flags of England and
America, signaling the international char.
acter of the gathering. In all there were
over 600 delegates. The proceedings were In
perfect order, throughout.
At the same time there also assembled the
Socialist or Marnst Congress with nearly the
same number of delegates At the opening
of the Workers Congress it was proposed by
Mr.. 81. Hyndman, the famous English
memLsr Of Parliament, that the two Con-
crosses should fuse themselves into one.
The Marnst people refused to agree to the
UGOpUSlUlOu VI Guo ShEASoo, eAAes
there was no union. The interesting fact
was brought out that though Austrian news
papers had been suppressed by the police
merely for announcing that the Congress
was about to take place, nevertheless there
were Hungarian delegates from over forty
societies. -.... ,...
At the proceedings each day there were
elected two Chairmen, one from France and
one representing the foreign delegates. The
delegates first made reports on the condition
Of labor in the different countries. NJ. Def
net, the Secretary Of the Belgian Labor
party, said that the new Belgian law, estab-
fishing courts of arbitration, had not proved
success. M. Defnet insisted on the neces.
sity Of establishing intimate relations be-
tween the English and Belgian coal miners.
The Spanish delegate pointed out how pow
erful tho labor organizations Of Spain had
been in the days Of the old International
and how these bodies had fallen to pieces in
consequence Of internal squabbles over theo-
rectical questions; but he remarked that
they were now prospering once more, and
able to support seven labor newspapers.
The first question discussed was the sub
ject Of international legislation on labor.
Mr.. Brown, representing the Amerl.
can Knights of Labor, said that
as in America there were forty
Legislatures, one for each State, it was diff.
cult to obtain improvements by the action OF
trade unions, because of the constant influx
of immigrants. He urged thnt the many
dishonest Misrepresentation made by emil
grafton agents ought to subject such men to
severe penalties The workers Of Europe
would win the sympathy and support of the
Americans if they would take up the subject
Of emigration.
Four French delegates and Dane spoke In
advocation Of international legislation to
limit the hours Of labor. They pleaded In
night work, and improved inspection Of fac
tories and urged that children should not be
allowed to labor before they were sixteen
years old.
John Burns, from England, pointed out
that workmen preferred Parhaments and
laws, with eight hours Of work, to Anarchist
freedom with fourteen hours Of work.
Mr. Fenwicl, M. p, said that when trades
were we'll organized they generally obtained
reasonable Improvements. In conference
held that afternoon with foreign miners he
had found that the English miners worke6
seven and half hours, while they earned
fifty cents day more than the German and
Belgian miners.
The following resolution was adopted:
The Congress a1firms the principle that
each nationality is the best judge Of the po-
litical and social tactics it should pursue. In
view Of International correspondence, an In
ternational Correspondence Bureau shall be
created by the Syndical Chambers Of each
country. A similar Correspondence Bureau
shall be created by the Socialist parties In
each country.
At the closing session the real work Of the
Congress was accomplished. The delegates
agreed with fair unanimity, upon labor
f1,~ kI,oxr SranIr In
tions called for these enactments:
1. Eight hours day to be the maximum
of the days work fixed by international law.
Q. At least one days holiday to be given
each week, and no work to be done on fete
days.
s. Abolition of night work as far as prac-
ticahle for men, and entirely for women and
children.
4. The total suppression of labor by chill
dren below the age Of fourteen, and protec-
ton Of children up to the age of eighteen. -.
5. Complete technical and professional
education.
8. Overtime to be paid for at double rates,
and limited to four hours in tNyenty-four.,
2. Civil and criminal responsibility Of the
employers for accidents.
8. An adequate number of qualified inspec-
tors to be nominated by the workers them
selves and paid by the State or the COM
mune, with full power to enter workshops,
factories or religious estclhl;sh:,,ncts ct any
time, and to examine the apprentices at then
own homes.
9. Workshops to be organized by the work
ers with subsidies from the municipalities OF
State.
10. Prison and workhouse labor to be con.
Quoted under the same conditions as free
labor, and to be employed, as Tar as possible,
,,,,h1tr xuprlrc
II. No foreign laborers to be allowed to ac'
cept employment, and no employers to be
allowed to employ such laborers, at rates OF
wages below the trade-union rates fixed for
their trade.
10. A minimum wage to be fixed in every
country, in accordance with reasonable
standard Of living. =,
13. The abrogation Of all laws against the
international organization of labor.
II. Equal pay and opportunities for women
and men for equal work.
The Congress adjourned to meet at Brus-
sells in 1891.
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