The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-18
the locality In which the Congress was held,

the locality In which the Congress was held
the third rule laid down that the vote should
be by nationality each nation having one
vote. and the mai rlty OF its delegates de-
Gliding what that vote should he. Tie rea-
sonableness Of this provision also is manifest.
1t would be absurd for instance, in the Brus-
sells Congress, t. allow the resident Bel
ginns to outvote the rest Of Europe.
The fourth rule finally directed that
all questions to be discussed should
be communicated to the organizing com
mittee In time to DO printed and sent
around to the various societies six weeks
before the Congress mot. This regulation
requires no defence, ior it plainly would
enable delegates to receive instruction from
their respective societies how to vote; and,
moreover, 1t would give time to eliminate
any dangerous or illegal proposition.
Tho Marxists refused to assent to these
reasonable rules. and accordingly the two
Congresses did not come together in Paris
two years ago Before parting the Marxists
intrusted a Swiss committee with the COM
mission OF organizing their next Interna-
tional Congress, while the Possibilists, on
their side accepted tho Invitation OF
the Belgian workmcns party to hold
their next Congress at Brussels in
1891. Tho Belgian representatives dis
tinctly pledged themselves TO observe
the same rules as had governed the Paris
Congress. As matter OF fact, however,
they took it upon themselves. without con-
suting those concerned, to open negotia-
tions with the Marxist party and to PERSUADE
the Swiss committee to give up their idea OF
a separate Congress and to bring their adj
herents to Brussels. To obtain this result,
however, the Belgian committee had to
abandon the four rules above mentioned.
which they had promised the Possibilist
Congress at Paris to enforce.
The course taken by the Belgian commit
tee naturally gave great offence to tho
| English tradc unions. At the annual Con-
gress of tho English Labor Electoral Associ-
alton, said to represent 100000 trade union
| lists, 1t had been agreed that tho societies
present should go to Brussels. but insist
| that the four rules laid down at the Posi-
bilist Congress should be carried out.
| So, too at the Trade Union Con-
gress. held last year at Liverpool,
| 1t was unanimously determined to accept
| the invitation to the Belgian Congress, and
the Parliamentary committee were in
structed to take all means in their power to
! make that meeting success. There Is no
| doubt that the committee would have done
80 had the management Of the Congress
been kept on the old lines. But when the
| Parliamentary committee met. Oh June 25
Of this year, 1t was known that concessions
had been made by the Belgian COM
,Jol,
sibilists could not accept; and 1t was
accordingly decided that under the al
tered circumstances English trade unions
were not bound by tho Liverpool vote to
send representatives to Brussels. The trade
unionsm Of England. therefore. will not be
represented In its collective capacity; the
twenty-eight delegates reported by cable as
present only represent individual societies.
1t is thought also that sharp practice was
exhibited in changing the date OF meeting
for tho Congress from Aug. 10 to Sum
day, the 10th. English workingmen
could not reach Brussels on the MORN
ing Of that day without losing q
part OF the previous weeks work. and
many OF them also would object to taking
part in the proceedings Of the Congress on
Sunday. 1t looks, in short, as II there had
been going on at Brussels in the preliminary
arrangements for this Congress much the
same sort Of intrigue which split up the old
International, and finally caused the COL
lapse OF that society.
The absence OF any ono qualified to speak
for the English trade unions. in their COL
lective capacity, Is not the only element OF
weakness in the present Congress. The
little country OF Belgium has more dele
gates than all the rest Of Europe combined.
France has but sixty representatives, and
Germany but forty-two, although there were
eighty-three Germans at Paris two years ago.
From Italy there are but two delegates, and
there is but ono representative from Spain
although in former Possibilist Congresses
these countries took an active part. We
may take for granted that the four rules in
sisted upon by the Possibillsts. including the
regulation that the voting shall be done by
nationality, will not be adopted at Brussels.
| Under the circumstances, the decisions and
recommendations OF the Brussels Intcrna-
tional Labor Congress will have much less
weight than they might have had had the
Belgian committee been faithful to tho
agreement under which they were permitted
to organize tho meeting.
Lighthouses and Civilization.