St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-02
CHEERS FOR THE LEADERS.
Opening of the Trades Union Con-
gress at Liverpool.

OpcHluS Ol Cne IrtueS UNION OOu.
gress at Liverpool.
LONDON, Sept. 1.-The opening of the
trades union congress at Liverpool to-
day was marked by the greatest enthu-
siasm. The prominent labor agitators-
Burns, Mann. Tillett and others-were
wildly applauded. In the course of his
address. John Burns warned the con-
gress that it 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 unionism, it's i'm
pOrtance 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 de-
cisions and DEGREES. Employers of
labor are keeping as ANXIOUS a watch
wOrkmen who are represented in it by
delegates. While labor has been tend
ing toward more and more perfect Or
ganiZatiOn, capital has also been con-
centrating in SyndicateS and combina-
tiOns, and it is difficult to predict how
much further the two movements can
be pushed without reaching point of
collision or deadlock. The socialists
emphasize this difficulty. and their par
tlSanS in the congress are ready to argue
that, despite its apparent success, trade
uniOnism is but temporary expedient,
which will ultimately be circumvented
by the capitalist employers, who are in
position to Outlive the employees when
it comes to final struggle. The social
lists therefore claim that nothing short
of radical change in the wage system
will effect a permanent uplifting of the
masses to condition of reasonable
comfort. But the socialists are in
hopeless minority in the con-
greSS. and nothing revolutionary is
likely to come of the meeting. The
London dockworkers and gasWorkers,
lightermen and leatherwOrkers are rep
resented now for the first time in gen
eraI labor conference. Among the
most pTomine mt representatives of labor
present are MeSsrS. BroadhurSt, Burt
and John Wilson, members of parlla-
ment: John Burns, Tom Mann, Ben
Tillett, Ben Pickard, Glen Edwards,
Hayden Saunders and George Shipton.
Lady Dixie, Beatrice Potter aud Mrs.
Routledge. secretary of the Women's
trades council, are looking after wom-
ems interests. The programme of the
congress, subject to possible modifica-
tions and additions, is as follows:
1. Employers liability bill q Certifi-
Gates of competency for men in charge of
steam engines and boilers. 3. The desra-
bility of increasing the number of factory
and workshop inspectors. 4. Public con-
tracts and fair wages 5. The right of rela-
tives of deceased miners to be represented at
coroners' inqnests. 6. Cooperation ana its
relation 10 trades unionism. z. Representa-
ton of labor in parliament 8. Eight-hour
day.
The discussion on the last-named
question will probably be exceedingly
animated, as its advocates and OppOserS
are nearly equal. most of the new unions
favoring the limitation of working hours
by legislation, while the older and more
their delegates to oppose such view at
present. The election of new chair
man of the parliamentary labor commit
tee will also arouse a hard struggle dur
ing the meeting. Henry Broadhurst,
NJ. F., has resigned the position. Mr..
Fenwick, M. P, and George Shiptoi.,
secretary of the London trade Council,
are rival aSpirantS for the place. The
congress is held in Hope hall. The
mayor of Liverpool welcomed the dele
gates, and all the city officers are ex-
erting themselves to make everything
pleasant for their guests. This MORN
Jugs session was largely devoted to the
reading of annual reports by the preSi-
dent, William Watkins, who is general
secretary of the carpenters and joiners'
union, ana by the secretary, Joseph
Goodman, who is also secretary Of the
Liverpool trades council. This after
noon and evening were devoted to eX-
curSiOns and sightseeing.