Workmen's advocate., 1889-06-01
GREAT BRITAIN.
IRREGULAR coRREsroSpENoE l

of the most promising features of the cial-Democratic movement in Great Britain is the progress of our ideas among the English trades unlonists. In most other countries 1t is the best trades unloniSts who are the most sincere Social-Demo- crats. In England it has been just the opposite hitherto. The Broad hursts, the Shiptons, the Howells, the Cremers, and the rest of the trade union "leaders," have dragged the rank and file of the trade union- ists at the heels of the Liberal Party. Consequently, in the earlier years of our agitation, we had no greater enemy to contend against than the average English trade unionist who, under the guise of a Radical, was in reality Conservative to the backbone so far as the inter- ests of his class were concerned.
 The question of the eight-hour working day has of late been actively discussed by the various trade unions, with the result that great and growing number of trade union- ists now support that measure. The international sentiment has also made great strides among the trade unionists. For this we have, per haps, to thank the narrow national ist spirit so often shown by the Trade Union Parliamentary Con- mittee as much as our own propa- ganda. At all events the recent ac- tlon of the Parliamentary Commit tee in refusing to transmit the cir culars of invitation for the Interna- tional Workers Congress at Paris, and to take any official part in the Congress, has raised a considerable feeling of dissatisfaction among the English trade unionists. Seeing that the Parliamentary Committee raised no objection at the Paris Congress of 1886, when the Possibil- ists (FEdfrati0n deS Trayaj7leurS SOcI02(steS de Fr0nCe) were ordered to convoke an international congress for 1889, and again at the London Congress last year, it is thought by many trade unionists that the Par liamentary Committee are morally bound by the decision of those two Congresses to recognize the forth coming Congress at Paris. A Trade Union Protest Committee, composed principally of members of the Social Democratic Federation who are also trade unionists, has been formed, to counteract the reactionary policy of the Parliamentary Committee. l may state that it was the hard and fast tstechnical rules laid. down by the English Parliamentary Commit tee which prevented Germany and Austria being represented at the London International Congress. The Protest Committee has entered into correspondence with the vari- ous trade unions in Great Britain and Ireland with a view to forcing the Parliamentary Committee to take more advanced action in labor matters than they have done for some time past, especially in regard to lnternationallsm.
 A very large and successful Social ist demonstration was held at Black stone Edge on the borders of Lan- cashire and Yorkshire on Sunday last. This demonstration was or ganized by the Lancashire branches of the Social-Democratic Federation. About 10000 people attended. The principal speakers were II. M. Hyndman and Cunninghame Ora ham, M. P. Blackstone Edge is a historical spot. It was @ well-known meeting place during the Chartist agitation of 1848.
 English Social Democrats have proved themselves to be good ad- ministrators. Annie Besant and Stewart Headlam have now thor oughly introduced the principle on the London School Board that work done for that body shall be paid for at not less than trade union rates of wages, and have pushed forward free education and the free meal for the children in the schools on every available occasion. On the County Council John Burns has