New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-10
THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW
.,r rp,pEsUNIoN CONGRESS FAVOR MAX
Ut ING IT pERMISsIvE IN SOME CASES
SOME OF THE POINTS MADE IN nvAD'
RArE-MANY OF THE DELEGATES
socr sVJSTS
SOCIALISTS,

,,.os,,o Sent. o.-The Trades-Union Congress
- ;ts deliberations to-day. Inc prooeeu'
nm to the present have disclosed the lac' V'''S
n.e' -, trades.1nions and the newer menoele VI
oN IA tradss-unions are deeply imoueo WIN
". .I;s,, and kindred doctrines. Tlllett, puin'
I o,ber leaders are opposed to the Ola Onio"iS'0
o. s ~, Thomas Burt. NJ p, president oi ~ne
80 Congress. by Charles Fenwlck' MeDi''t
D..,;ouont for the Wansbeck DlVlsloh VI
v..hurber1ana who. like Mr.. Burt Is the SUI,
working collier. and has worked IN Co'i
b;mself and by other Members OF I"irn"-
,rbo arc leaders of the labor forces
De . 49,. ~ tho strength of these two parties was
., 49, vote taken Yesterday upon the ques.io" -
u unconditional eight-hour law. The delesao'
on D..nt,rr tbe northern miners tradee-unioh'
,5 .ho onnoSition TO the proposition TO place 'ii'
N--.oss on racord as being in favor OF such i""'
=, tho RESUMPTION Of business To-Day oS "
$40 90 156. a motion 10 the effect lhaU d
w ucducinc or fixing the hours Of labor ough'
:. "a - 90 nermissive or optional characleI was
ia ofter considerable discussion. Inc pro
- amendment in substance is that tle elgh'-
low when passed, shall not be enforced
NV, the consent of two-thirds OF the organ
,,ad members of the trade concerned Don
Tsu... sneal,inp against the amendment, urgeo
a., ,bs vast majority of wOrkmen were not aole
s,,ht ont an issue for themselves ana that the
~t,oduction of permissive principles would greaViy
.-o.oooo their difficulties in getting reduction OF
.Ioir hours of labor. Delegate Cowie, on behaii
- ,ho Nipers' Federation, representing l5O,OoO
miners advocated the adoption OF the amendment
Dolecate MawdsIev an operative cotton spin
or nrominent tradesuniOn leader and mem
hor ~ the Roval Labor Commission, supported the
r0issiva amendment and during his speech
..o@nol,, aTudad. 70 the fowery" language used
s. soms of the delegates He expressed the opln-
,oD that sucb flowers of speech would not solve
,h0 labor onestion. though, he added they might
a,0in the applause of ignorant mobs." TIRE
r0ondous uproar followed the utterance OF these
,orr+rg words and at one time IL seemed certain
,bat the sneaker would he subjected TO personal
,,ioance lie was finally compelled TO Withdraw
the expression, and cllmsiy apologized for having
uttered IT,
Continuing. Mr. Mawdsley said: 1.-THE origina-
tors Of the eight-hour movement are foreigners
who desire to secure Our work Ask French
man whether he is prepared TO give effect TO the
legend on his red flag, Liberty, Equality, Fra
ternity' Is he ready TO exchange manufactures
goods with us on the same terms? No, he docs
not want that sort of equality, and he shuts his
mouth on fraternity. lie only wants liberty
liberty to take away our business.
Mr. Curran, of Belfast, said that past eXperl-
ence proved that the unions were rich, though
they were incapable of securing permanent eight
hour day by voluntary effort. They would DC
the laughng-stock of Europe and America II
they rescinded last years resolution. Mr. Reeves
Of the Liverpool Trades Council, demanded OF
behalf of textile workers legal day OF eight
hours He opposed the permissive amendment
Hany speakers gave opinions characterized by
The utmost difference, even In the same trades
lIr. knight, of Newcastle, caused laughter by
asking if the bill should apply to editions, cot
ton workers, commercial travellers, domestic
servants and secretaries Of labor organizations.
Mr. Hardie, Of the Ayrshire Miners Organna-
ton, moved an amendment declaring that me
eight-hOur law shall he enforced in all trades ana
occupations except where majority OF the or
ganized members in any trade or occupation pro
test by ballot vote against the proposal MT
Burt characterized the amendment as subtly de-
vised nearly 10 stultify the resolution already
carried
The amendment was carried. 2S5 10 1873, amid
prolonged cheering: and. becoming a substantive
resolution by the withdrawal of the other amend
nents, il was adopted by vote Of 34l to 73. A
scene Of great enthusiasm followed.