Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-02
THE LABOR CAUSE.
Drawn Seen and Heard in
Field and Council.
BRITISH woRKMEN IN CONGRESS.

Subjects That the Gathering viii Dis
cuss and Prominent Leaders Present
American Wage Workers Take Day
Out and Parade and Picnic by Tens of
Thousands-An Imposing Demonstra-
tion at Chicago with Over 20, 900 Men
I'm Line-Labor Day Elsewhere.
LONDON, Sept. 2-The opening of the
trades unions congress at Liverpool yes
terday was marked by the greatest en-
thusiasm. The prominent labor agitators,
Burns, Mann, Tillett, and Others were
wildly applauded In the course of his
address John Burns warned the congress
that it was necessary TO keep the labor
movement out of politics, as 1t was essen
TALLY an economic question and had moth
ing to do with Liberalism or Conserv-
at ivism as such The congress is by far
the largest and most important OF the
kind ever held. The steady ard rapid
growth of trade unionism, 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 sig
nificant, and much depends upon its deci
sions and DEGREES. Employers of labor are
keeping anxious a watch over the de-
alterations of the body as the workmen
who are represented in it by delegates.
Contention of the Socialists.
While labor has been tending toward
more and more perfect organization, cap
ital has also been concentrating in syndi-
Gates and combinations, and it is difficult
to predict how much further the two
movements can be pushed without reach
ing point of collision or deadlock. The
Socialists emphasize this difficulty, and
their partisans in the congress are ready
to argue that despite its apparent success,
trade unionsm Is but a temporary expe-
dent, which will ultimately be circum-
vented by the capitalist employers, who
are in a position To outlive the employees
when it comes to the final struggle. The
Socialists therefore claim that nothing
short of radical change in the wage sys-
TEN will effect permanent uplifting of
the masses TO a condition of reasonable
comfort.
Prominent Agitators Present.
The London lockers and gasworkers,
the Liverpool woodcutters, lightermen,
and leatherworkers are represented now
for the first time in a general labor con-
ference. Among the most prominent rep
resentatives of labor present are: Broad
hurst, Burt and John Wilson, members
of parliament; John Burns, Tom Mann,
Ben Tillett, Ben Pickard, Glenn Edwards
Hayden Saunders, and George Shipton.
Lady Dixie, Beatrice Potter, and Mrs.
Routlege (secretary of the Women's Trades
counciD are looking after woman's inter
ests.
Questions To Be Discussed.
The programme of the congress, subject
to possible ,modihcation and additions, is
as follows: First, employers liability
bill; second, certificates of competency for
men in charge OF steam engines and boil
ers; third, the desirability of increasing
the number of factory and workshop in
spectors; fourth, public contracts and
fair wages; fifth, the right of relatives of
| deceased miners to be represented at coro-
| ner's inquests; sixth, cooperation and its
relation TO trades unionism; seventh, rep
resentation of labor in parliament; eighth,
eight-hour day. The discussion on the
last named question will probably be ex-
ceedingly 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 conservative unions have instructed
their delegates to oppose such view at
present.
The First Days Proceedings.
The congress is held in Hope hall. The
mayor of Liverpool welcomed the dele
gates, and all the city officers are exerting
themselves to make everything pleasant
for their guests. Yesterday mornings
session was largely devoted to the reading
Of annual reports by the president, Will
lam Watkins. John Burns made a motion,
which was carried, expressing the SYM
pathy of the congress with the men who
are now on strike in Australia, and urged
that material help be sent to them. He
described the strike in Australia as the
greatest battle ever fought in the interests
of unionism. Mr. Mann announced that
e10, 600 had been collected for the benefit
of the strikers, and that subscriptions
were still flowing in.