Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-02
Opening Of the Trades Unions
Congress at Liverpool
The Gathering the Largest and Most
Important General Labor Con-
ference Ever Held.
Prominent Representatives of L Dor Present.
Programme OF the Congress-Animsted
Debates Promised.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
NEW YORK, Sept. 1.-The opening Of
the trades unions congress at Liverpool
to-day was marked by the greatest en-
thusiasm. The prominent labor sgita-
tors, Burns, Mann, Fillett and others
were wildly applauded. In the course OF
his address John Burns warned the con-
gress that 1t was necessary to keep the
labor movement out of politics,
as it was essentially an economic
question and had nothing to do with
Liberalism or Conservatism as such. The
congress is by far the largest and most
important of the kind ever held. The
steady and rapid growth of trade union
ism, its importance to all men who labor
in large bodies, the victories it has won
for its supporters, all combine to make
the present meeting significant, as much
depends upon its
DECISIONS AND DEGREES.
The employers of labor are keeping as
anxious watch over the deliberations OF
the body as the workmen who are repre-
resented il 1t by delegates. While labor
has been tending toward more and more
perfect organization capital has also been
concentrating in syndicates and combi-
nations, and it Is difficult to predict how
much further the Two movements can
be pushed without reaching q point
of collision or dead lock. The
Socialists emphasize this difficulty and
their partisaus in congress are ready TO
argue that despite its apparent success
trade unionism is but q temporary ex-
pedieut, which will ultimately be cir
cumvented by the capitalist employers
who are III a position to outliVe the en-
ployes, when it comes to the final strug-
gle. The Socialists, therefore, cllim
that nothing short of radical change in
the wage system will effect the perma-
nent
UPLIFTING OF THE MASSES
to a condition If reasonable comfort, but
the Socialists are in a hopeless minority
IN the congress, and nothing revolution
airy is likely to come of the meeting.
The London lockers and gas workers,
the Liverpool wood cutters, lightermen
and leather workers are represented now
for the first time in general
labor conference. Among the
most prominent representatives OF
labor present are Messrs. Broadhurst,
Burt and John Wilson, members of par
lament; John Burns, Tom Mann, Ben
FIllett, Ben Pickarte, Glenn Edwards,
Hayden Saunders and Geo. Shipton.
Lady Dixie, Beatrice Potter and Miss
Routledge, secretary of the woman's
trades council are looking after the
women e interests.
THE PROGRAMME.
of the congress, subject to q possible
"a A
l. Employers liability bill.
9. Certificates of competency for men
in charge of steam engines and boilers.
3 Desifability of increasing the num-
Der OF factory and workshop inspectors.
4. Public contract: and fair wages.
5. Right of relatives of deceased
miners to be represented at coroners' in
quests.
trades unionism.
{. Representation Of labor in parlia-
ment.
8. Eight-hour day.
The discussion on the last named ques-
ton will probably be exceedingly ami
mated as its advocates and opposers are
favoring the Limitation of working hours
and more conservative unions have in
structed their delegates to oppose such
views at present. The election of a new
secretary of the parliamentary commit
tee will also arouse hard struggle dur
ing the meeting. Mr.. Henry Broad
hurst, NJ. P. has resigned the position.
Mr.. Fenwick, N. P. and George Ship
ton, secretary of the London trades
council, are rival sspirants for the place.
The congress is held in Pope hall. The
mayor of Liverpool welcomed the dele
gates, and all the city officers are exert
ing themselves to make everything pleas
ant for their guests. This mornings
session was largely devoted TO the
reading of annual reports by
the president, william Watkins, who
is general secretary of the carpenters
and joiners union, and by the secretary
of the Liverpool trades council. This
afternoon and evening were devoted to
excursions and sight seeing.