Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-03-30

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All these considerations were not
fully brought forward at the Lon
don Congress. They were felt
rather than expressed. NJ. Ansecle
certainly protested in eloquent terms
against the class distinctions exist
ing among the workingmen them
selves. He thought it was scandal
ous that an artisan should look upon
himself as belonging to superior
class merely because he possessed Il
little more skill or artistic taste than
other and fellow wage earners. Mrs.
Annie Besant, who represented the
Women MatChmakers' Union,
caused considerable sensation by de-
nouncing the tendency of English
trade unions to narrow their action
to the mere requirements of their
craft, and to look upon unskilIod
labor with contempt. 1.-The aris-
tocracy of labor thus created now
treats the unskilled as their fathers
were treated by the middle-classes. "
OF course, these attacks met with
many protestatlons; but, neverthe-
less, they bore fruit, fer the follow
ing resolution was unanimously
adopted:
This Congress deeply regrets the alb
sence from it of any representatives of
German, Austrian or Russian trade
unions, and desires to convey to the
workers of those countries their pro-
found sympathy with the difficulties
against which they have to contend;
their earnest hope that, by united ac-
ton, these difficulties may be removed;
and their pledge that the Executive of
any future Congress will respect the
confidence of all bona fdc workmen who
may find it possible to attend such Con-
gress anonymously"
The above resolution must be
taken in conjunction with the vote
on international organization and
the unanimous approval of the
Workmen' 5 international Congress,
which will be organized in Paris this
year by the French National Com
mttcc. This means the creation of
another international, not excIu-
siyeIy of trades unions, but of labor
organizations, both political and
technical. The lesson taught by
the failure Of the old international
Workingmcn's Association seems to
have bcon taken fully to heart. We
hear no more mention now of a
General Council which is to govern
the whole labor world. The resolu-
ton on international action lays
down the principle that organiza-
tion, like charity, should begin at
home. The workers of each country
are invited to organize themselves in
trade unions and groups or societies.
These organizations, with or with
out the assistance Of municipalities,
are to create Labor Exchanges
Here the trades unions will have
their offices. The Labor Exchange
of Paris is now the headquarters of
one hundred and forty trade unions.
Demands for work or for workers
are registered at these Labor Ex-
changes. They form centres for the
collection of statistics affecting la
Dor. In fact, the Labor Exchange
is the headquarters for all questions
affecting the interests of labor. But,
apart from this, the same trade
unions and the same wOrkmen So
Cieties are also to constitute them
selves into a distinct political party
representing the interests of the
producers, Of the workers, Of those
who live on what they earn, as Op-
posed to those who live on the inter
est of invested money or rent. This
is to be the Labor Party of each
country, and these Labor Parties are
to be absolutely Independent of all
the ordinary political or middle
class parties, such as the Conserva-
tiyes, the Liberals, or the Radicals.
Practically, these labor parties al,
ready exist. In some countries, a
in France, they are a power in the
State; in others, they are but the