New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-07
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
LABOR QUESTIONS THE ALLABSORBING
TOPIC OF TIE HOUR

ASSISTANCE SENT FROM ENGLAND
COMBINATION OF CAPlrAMTs
AGAINST LABOR rNIUNS-1IORp
HART1NGToNS SPEECH.
tBr cARLE THE IRrprNE1
Copyright: 1890 By The Ner York Tribune.
London, Sept S.-Labor questions form the
staple subject of public interest. The most strik-
ing feature Of the week is TO he found in the meet
ing of the Trades Union Congress at Liverpool
Until quite recently little importance was at-
tached to the annual gatherings of the Union
leaders. On the present occasion. however. the
Congress was more representative, and also EN-
hraced more varied sections of employees The
numerical strength Of the Unionism which the
four hundred and odd delegates represented OF
this occasion was little short of a million and
half One-ffth Of the delegates present repre-
sented what is called New Unionism. The last
twelve months have witnessed a great increase of
Trades Cnions especially among unsklllrd w"rk-
mep. The class Of men who lead this New
Cnionism is largely tainted with Socalistic doc
trines. Mr.. John Burns stands out as the most
prominent leader of this section For the first
time in his life lie was nominated delegate to
the Union Congress Throughout the week Mr.
Burns acted most aggressivcly with the result
that he has intensified his unpopularity among
the bulk of the workmen's champions ON sew
erL occasions the delegates protested against Mr.
Burns's blatant dogmatisn, and when the Congress
elected the members Of us Parliamentary Com
mitee he failed to secure a seat on what is vrth-
ally the cabinet council of British Trades Cnionsm
The detailed reports Of the sttings Of the
Congress form Instructive reading. The aSpira-
tons of the workingman. and some OF the nostrims
discussed and adopted, remind one OF the ageida
Of the Paris revolutionary clubs at the close
Of the last century. The naturalization OF hnd
of workshops, and Of mines, legislation to prevent
the sublettng of contracts, resolutions advocating
eight-hour labor by legal cnao,men, and other pro-
posals Of universal interference with private free
dom. contributed to drag the Congress down TO
the level of the continental Anarchists The
picked representatives of the industrial intellect
of Great Britain have poured forth Hoods OF
mischevOus twadde, painfully illustrating the am
biton Of our would-be masters.
The chief event of the Congress related TO the
demand for eight hours labor by Parliamentary
enactment This proposal. which has been grad
ually undergoing process Of crystallzation among
the workingmen during the last two or three
wears, has received it's impetus through the en-
annie of the workmen of Australia. In these
remote colonies the eight-hOurs doctrine is recog-
nized by both employers and employed without
the necessity of legislation. There is also feel
ing among large section of public opinion In
Great Britain that eight hours are quite
sufficient for certain classes OF heavy
labor, like mining, smiths work and kindred
cmployments But the great difference between
eight hours BY arrangement among the persons
concerned, and eight hours by Parliamentary
,egislation is that in the latter case any men or
<Ln,, ntht hours hnn mo
liable to fine or imprisonment. Such inter
ference with the freedom of the subject is start
ling proposal especially when it is recollected that
the advocates of this new demand have not hcsl-
tated to declare that if the labor market becomes
cluttcd the screw shall he given another turn,
and crusade undertaken for seven and even SlN
hours. There is, of course, no idea OF concedlh9
a proportiOnate reduction of wages. ana II docs
not escape observation that this new claim Is
made al the very time when the wages IN the
lower ranks of labor have hecn largely increased
The scene at the Congress when this important
dom,nd was carried WAS remarkable The
Daily News says that the delegates s1"od
on chairs and waved hats and handkerchieS.
Mr. Burns and Mr. Tom Mann shook hands
over the table. Cheers given for New
CnionsA ard the event produred eXnherant ell
tlusiasm All this. However is but one side Of
the picture Up to the present moment not one
single prominent politician has been found who
favors such rest rictions The Labor part in Paria-
ment is u mere handful an has no present prosper
Of influencing Ia any serious extent the House oi
Commons TO adept :his drastic demand. Cap
itasts will oppose II To the last extremity ana
though the cXigcncics Of party warfare have shown
in recent years that political leaders Will turn
their coats without the slightest conjunction IT.
order to secure access to the Treasury Bench. yet
il will be many year before even Mr. Gladstone.
Sir William HarcOnrt or Sir George Trevelyan
will dare to advocate such prcpostcrous legislation
In some respects the Liverpool Congress af-
forded really useful and interesting lessons. No
House Of political representatives ever applied
closure with such vigorous frequency as ""
have seen this week. The carnestness with which
the procedure Of debate was amended to control
loouacity contributes another example which
might we'll be followed by the British House of
Commons.
I referred last week to the zeal with which
the Trades Unions were responding to the appeals
from Australia for financial help 10 continue
their present gigantic struggle against the capi-
talists Of that colony. Up 10 the present moment
the total amount remitted mas not eXcceded
$4,000 So far the beating OF the
workingman's drum has not produced any
substantial result But there may be richer
harvest this a1ternOOn, "nich ie 'He uH'o'0' ~
day Of the working classes Tomorrow will wit
ness collections outside churches and clapcE
Automatic boxes giving receipts for shillings nnt
forms have already been placed in many Of the
railway stations and ministers Of religion have
been invited to make collections Hitherto these
appeals have evoked but little. response on the
mart of the Labor Unions. The British public at
large cannot forget that this Australian struggle
has been provoked by men with short lonrs
earning much larger wages than the work Eeoplc
of any other part Of the world. The real issue
OF the contest is whether the capitalists shall en-
ploy only Vnionist workmen. This grave ques-
Uon also threatens the employers in England.
Consequently there is no general or Widespread