Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-09-09
AN EIGHT HOUR WORKDAY
Favored by the Newcastle
Trades Union Congress.
EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN LABORERS

The Delegates win Not Toast the Royal
Family. but WIN Drink to tho Health
Of The Queen and the Countrywide
Strike and Its Uses.
NEWCASTLE, Sept 9.-The proceedings
of the Trades Union congress now in ses
sion here, and representing the interests
Of over I,bOO0 coo skilled and unskilled
workmen Of Great Britain, are attracting
widespread attention. In some quarters
the congress is termed The Workmen's
Parliament" and the movement is looked
upon as likely TO lead to important polite
al results. Princess Beatrice, Lady Dixie
wife Of Sir Charles Dilke Mr.. Thomas
Potter radical reformer). NJ p. for Roch.
dale: Sir John Gorst, NJ. P. for Chatham
aud parliamentary secretary of the Indis
Office, and other members Of parliament
were present at the opening of the con
gress,
Ben Tinett's Scheme.
During the course Of the session BEN
Tllett, the Labor leader, viii bring for
ward a resolution favoring the creation OF
a state board OF arbitration, with the view
of preventing strikes and settling labor
disputes between the workmen and Their
employers
The Eight Hour Question.
In all directions a keen canvass for votes
is being made on the question Of an eight
hour workday aud as to whether eight
hours If adopted as the limit of a day'f
work, shall be made legal days worn
and compulsory, or whether il shall be left
to local trade option. The Miners Fedora.
ton is supposed to favor a compulsory
eight hour law, and the National Miners
union is understood TO be opposed TO il.
An international short Day.
A resolution in favor Of an internationR
eight hour law was carried by vote OF
2s2 TO 1863 amid great cheering
The resolution declares that the British
government should endeavor to bring
about such law In conjunction with al
foreign governments, and demands that
an international conference be convokec
for the purpose.
Equal Pay for Women.
The president Of the congress, Mr.
Thomas Burt, NJ. p, In his opening ad
dress Congratulated the congress upon be
LIN tAN AaA kAoN RtA1 Va REPRESENTATIVES, VI
trades unions 70 meet in any part Of the
world. He also said that he was glad ts
see that women's unions were so largely
represented at the congress, as the womer
needed more organizing than the men.
He expressed the opinion that wherever
women did the same work ia quantity and
quality as men they ought TO ask the same
pay az the men, and the latter ought tt
support them in their demands. [Loue
APPLAUSE
The Strike as a boomerang.
Continuing, Mr. Burt predicted that a.
the trades unions grew stronger strikes
would diminish IN number and In impor
lance. A strike, he said, was always an
ugly weapon with which to enforce claims
A strike, in the speakers opinion, was
like boomerang, which, il not skillfully
thrown, comes back and wounds the
thrower" Still, Mr.. Burt admitted, strikes
were necessary when the blindness ano
deafness OF Mammon obliged workmen Il
stop the wheels"
Referring to arbitration as a means Of
settling disputes between employer and
employee Mr. Burt said. where arbitra
tion affords chance Of arriving at a set
Element il is criminal to strike zap
plause
II Would Lead to Disaster.
Touching upon the subject of state leg
islation in regard TO workmen, their man
ner of employment and their hours of la
Dor, Mr.. Burt believed that self help was
the best solution for existing social prob
lens and declared that, in his opinion, ad
vocacy Of the suggestion that the state
should be the producer and employer OF
LII 8 -
He reminded the delegates that an i'm
portant problem for workmen was to dis
cover some means which would bring
about better distribution OF wealth. and
so raise themselves in humanity, materia
well being and in nobility of character.
The Queen and the Country.
The committee of arrangements had 6
serious dispute and some warm exchanges
OF views over the toasts which are to bt
proposed at the banquet
Some Of the most loyal Of the COMMITTEES
proposed that the time honored toast
"rhe Queen and the Royal Family,
should be drunk. To this proposition
there was considerable opposition sons
OF the committeeman were not 10 favor Of
drinking to the royal family, though thel
raised no objection to the queen.
Upon reflection, however, the COMMITTEES
agreed that THE Queen and the Country
should be the loyal toast.
The Government Accused.
The parliamentary committees report
which has just been issued, sets forth tina
it Is to be regretted that the government
has given a considerable balance Of powe
to capital in the appointment Of the roya
labor commission.
The report holds that, in 50 giving thu
balance in favor Of capital, the govern
ment Is willfully blasting the inquiry nov
in progress upon the side Of the employer
Of labor.
Nine Persona Poisoned.