The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-20
the YANKEES WILL STOP II.

At the little town OF Jolimont, IN the
heart Of the mining region OF Belgium,
there was = convocation short time ago
which attracted but little Of ganerai atten-
ton. but which seems quite likely to
become ths initiative of the most important
industrial movement of the current era.
IL was . congress OF mining men, and Its
main object was TO effect IN international
trade-uDion Of miners. 10 the intimate
end Of precipitating general strike among
miners throughout Europe and America,
In favor OF eight hours for days work
and . general increase OF wages.
With reference to its purposes. the loca-
ton Of the congress Was judiciously
selected. The district Of which Jolimont
IL the center presents mining in Its most
forbidding aspecta The miners Of that
district suffer In the most aggravated form
Ill the miseries of the vocation They arc
missrably housed. clad and fed. work long
hours. receive small pay, and are subject
70 the maximum Of dangers and harsh
requirements. Here. more cons picuously
than at any other point that could have
been selected, the attendants upon the
congress would have object lessons Of the
evils for the correction Of which they were
called together.
The congress was large. influential and
representative body of men. though its
membsrship included quite . percspti5le
infusion Of the socialist element The
English delegates, including i've members
Of the British parliament took the lead in
numbers and influence. They represented
miners unions having IN aggregate men,
bership Of moro than four hundred thous-
and. Their programme IL to effect .
thorough organization throughout the
United states, Canada and Mexico - .
preliminary step. and before inaugurating
the concerted movements to the success OF
which they realize that united action in all
mining countries is essential.
Then IL 10 their purpose to call upon the
several governments TO take measures for
securing to miners shorter hours, better
pay and . general amelioration of their
condition. This being refused. . general
strike Of miners throughout ali the coun-
tries represented in the international union
In 20 Be ordered. At least that was the
spirit OF the meeting. though final action
on the strike proposition. through the
conservative influence of the English dele
gates. was postponed until the meeting of
the next congress. which is to meet in
April next and then decide whether Q
general strike shall Be ordered to commence
on the ensuing first Of May.
portion of the English delegation con-
tended stoutiy for the doctrine of self
help and against any appeal for govern
mental interference. bat they were over
whelmingly outnumhered, and the general
tone AID outcome of the deliberations gave
evidence that the socialistic spirit has been
making great headway. not only on the
continent, but In England rs we'll But IL,
IS Was pretty plainly insimated. the Euro
pcan miners will decline TO act until they
have Incorporated the American miners
into their organization. this country may
prove 10 be the great conservative force Of
the period, and may be able to avert ex-
treme measures that could not but be
s&I1iuatGuS W taG tA1tCzia4 iitcEe9tS Oh III
the countries concerned.
In San Francisco. Just ut the present
time. there is an illustration On q small
scale OF the great public damage. and espe-
cially OF the damage 10 workingmen which
would result II the designs OF the late JOLT
mon congress were carried 10 extremes.
A San Francisco firm is indispnsably the
lowest bidder fer construction OF two of the
fine ncw warships that are 10 be built by
the government. Should they &c,
the contracts IL viii involve the
expenditure of several millions on
this coast large proportion
Of which viii so TO workingmen- But q
clause Of the contracts makes Q strike an
excuse for non-fulnilmens on time, there
is an iron-molders' strike pending in that
city. and therefore Secretary Tracy hest
tases about letting the contract 20 this low
est bidding San Francesca trsn. And in
view Of this fact there are indications sha,
the strikers viii remove the Secreszry's OBJ
lection by abatsng their claims and CON-
promising on terms which they have here
tofose refused.
And thus. when IL comes 10 psach, viii
American miners be found stanaing--or ~
least . controlling majority Of them when
u ccmes 10 . question Of foreigners Hun
gsrians. B<sgisns and the lske-shrouxh