The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-31
THEENGLISH SOCIALISTS.
THEIR TACTICS WITH THE CON-
FERENCE OF TRADE UNIONIsTS.
Trouble Ahead-Distrust ofthe Union
lists Some Socialist Lesders-Lsbor
Leaders Losing Ground-Unorgan-
lied Workers.
(Coppight)

Leaders Losing Ground-Unorgan-
lied Workers.
CCopyrightO
LONDON. Aug. 21.-There is every pros
pecS of pitched battle between the social
lists and their opponents at the twenty-third
annual congress of the trade unions, which
opens at Liverpool on Monday, Sept. 1.
For long time the congress has been one
of the principal events Of the year, the most
interesting the practical point of
view-of the crop of congresses which in
England the first month of autumn brings
forth. 1t is reported by the press
and regarded by the public as Civ
ing definite and authoritative ex-
preston to the wishes and feelings
of organized labor. The impending congress
is regarded with enhanced interest because
it Is believed that it will prove turn
irg point in the fortunes Of trade union ism
aud in the progress of labor organization.
For the socialists intend renewing the battle
for supremacy in the congress when was
begun at Sweden last year, and 10 that END
have been busilv preparing. With many
good people in England it has been contll-
hally a source of satisfaction that the
unlons have kept free from sOciaIlstlc doc
trine They are now wondering with much
concern how long the unions Will escape
the contamination.
The rise of socialism in the councils of
trade unions Is, of course almost thing OF
Yesterday. and it has been brought about
by the Introduction of new men, not-at
least not Il any extent--by the inversion
of the old. Until the last few years, En-
yllsh socialists held aloof from the unions,
at whose slow msthods and moderate doc
trines they cast many sneer.
There were, of course. a few indi-
xiduaI socialists in the ranks of the
unionists, and in course of time some
of these conceived a shrewder policy.
Hitherto unioaism had been almost entirely
confined to skilled labor; the workman
whose capital was only the strength OF his
sinews and the power of his muscles had mad
no part in its creation, no voice IN It's pohcy
and only small share in its result. 1T was
among the democracy of labor, as compared
with the trained mechanics and artisans who
are said to form its aristocracy, that the
seeds of socialism could be sewn with the
promise of a rich harvest. If the day laborers
and other disunited classes OF work people
could be organized into unions, if their
voice could be heard at the congress, it was
thought that a good stroke of soclallstlc
policy would be effected. A few enthusiasts
set themselves TO this task, and we're success
full 10 some extent In this way Lewis Lyons
became prominent as the organizer or the
tailors. But it was the triumph Of John
Burns who, since first entering as
an engineer, had been mem
Der of the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers, as the leader of the dock
strike that signalized the success of
the socialists new departure AS the direct
result of the strike there came into being
the Dock Laborers' Union, which now num-
bers 80, 900 members, and has an income of
q LII
of other organizations has been formed,
enlisting large classes Of men who had hith-
erto been beyond the pale of unionism. 1t
is to this reserve force that socialism looks
as a means of capturing trade unionism, and
which will doubtless make itself felt more
or less effectively at Liverpool.
In point of numbers the power loom
weavers appear to be strongest, with 1000,
the engineers coming next, with about the
same membership as the dock laborers'
union. The Northumberland and Durham
miners union musters about $4,000, aud
carpenters and joiners' $1,000.
At the end of 1889 it was reported by the
registrar of friendly societies that there
were 2SS unions, but it is estimated by Mr..
Burnett, the head of the labor bureau, that
the number is really three or four times as
many. A small part of the great increase
in the number of societies during the past
two years is due to the spread of the spirit
of combination among working women,
which Lady Dixie and Miss Potter
have done so much to promote.
Dressmakers, tailoresSes, seamstresses,
laundresses, matchmakers, shirt and
collar makers and various other sections of
workwomen are now banded together in
unions and entitled to representation at the
congress. The movement, it must be con-
fessed, however, has been formed from
without and not from within their ranks.
In some of these societies none of the menu
bers at present are qualified to represent
them at congress, and the ladies who have
initiated them would not be eligible
to act as delegates The rules of
the congress require all the dele
gates to be working members of the socie-
ties thew represent, and under these rules
Miss Edith Simcox last year had the
credentials received from the London
tailoresSes returned to her.
The socialists tried hard last year to raise
Mr.. Broadhurst from the secreta ~yship, but
completely failed. month or two ago,
however. Mr.. Broadhurst, whose health for
some time has not been of the best. gave
notice of his intention to resign, and so
the battle will be fought over again
at Liverpool. The socialists will doubtless
make "a desperate effort to put one of their
number into the office. The EN- oluments of
the secretarysnip are, of course sma /, but
VIC ohOoOJoO w ~ 10 idI k6r OoOTR6
Shlpton, the secretary Of the London trades
council-a federation, as it were, of the
metropolitan societies-is likely to be pro-
posed as the success or to Mr.. Broadhurst,
while Mr.. Threfall of Sheffield will proba-
bly, be the candidate OF the socialists
There is no personal antipathy to Mr..
Broadhurst He shares the dislike of the
socialists with the other labor members las
they are called OF parliament although by
a few he may be regarded as more uure-
generate than his brethren; for having
accepted the office of under-secretary for
home affairs in Mr.. Gladstone's short-lived
administration of 1886. When the question
of labor representation in parliament is
reached at Liverpool, these dozen
gentlemen will probably be subjected
to n moro or less violent attack from
the socialist delegates 1t is difficult to
understand the head and front of their
offending. Their claim to be regarded as
representatives of labor is unimpeacha de
Until his appointment by the trade union
congress about fifteen years ago Mr. Broad
hurst worked in a stoneyard. as his father
did before HIM. Mr. Thomas Burt, tn,
member for Morpeth, worked from hi
childhood upward in the mines of Northum
berland. and more than twenty years az,
led successful strike of his fellow miners
Charles Fenwick was toiling in the sam
pits when he was invited to be.
come the member of parliament for tina
division of the county, while BENJAMIN
Pickard fine man har ha