The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-10
THE BIG LABOR CONGRESS.
4 STIRRING DEBATE ON TIE EIGHT
HOUR QUESTION.
Tuesdays Action RecousIdered-The Con.
gress Votes that Eight Hour Laws
should he snhlect TO tho Special Needs
OF Each Trade or District-A Biuuder.

should he snhIect TO tho Special Needs
OF Each Trade or District-A Bluuder.
NEWCASTLE. Sent. o.-Ths Trndes Union
Congress, resumed It's deliberations to-day
The proceedings have disclosed that the new
trades unions and newer members OF tho OLD
trades unions are deeply imbued with social
Ism and kindred doctrines. Tillett Burns.
and other lea lcrs are opposed to tho oid
unionis led By Mr.. Thomas Burt. NJ. T.,
President OF the present c ngress. and BY Mr.
Charles Fenwick. NJ. r.. who, Ike Mr.. Burt. Is
tho son OF a working collier and has worked In
coal mines himself.
Tho first test Of the strength OF these two
parties was in the vote taken yesterday upon
the question of an International eighs-hour
law. The delegates representing tho north
crn miners trade unions led the opposition to
placing tho Congress on rec, I'd as In iavur OF
IN International eiGht-hour law. They con-
tended that a universal law fixing uniform
hours OF work would seriously injurs the
worknen outside Of certain favored districts.
Delegate Knight. representing . boiler
makers union declared that he could see In
foreign governments interference in labor
problems the reason why 1t is proposed to ask
tho British Government to regulate the hours
of labor In Great Britain. This. according to
the speaker. was to go back q hundred years.
At tho resumption Of business to-day. by a
vote Of 242 to 1855. motion to the effect that .
bill reducing or fixing tho hours OF labor ought
to be OF a permissive or optional character was
carried. after considerable discussion.
Tho amendment proposed to the EiRht.hour
International law recommendation is In SUBJ
stance thnt the Eight-hour law then passed
shall not be enforced without the consent OF
two thirds OF the organized members OF the
trade concerned. Several OF the delegates pro-
tested against the acceptance Of the amend
ment on tho ground that by so doing the dele
gates would stnltify the resolution passed In
regard to q compulsory eight-hour law.
Ben" 1iilett. speaking against the amend
ment urged that the vast majority OF work
men we're not able to fight out m issue for
themselves. and that the introduction OF per-
difficulties in getting u reduction OF their hours
Delegate Cowie. on behalf OF the Miners
Federation. representing 100000 miners. said
that he approved OF the permiss.ve principle
in reference 70 tho propose, eignt.hon law
delegate Mawdsiey. an operative colt,
spinner. a promi"en n. II, trade union leader. and
his spe ch on tho subject sc0tfI ugly alluded to
ae H M. De.esats Hawdsiey .Sprssssd the
opinion that such flowers OF speech would not
os the he.sh IN aaa'a
A tremendous uproar followed the utterancs
Of these word. and, ut one time. 1t seemed GER
tain that the speaker would he subjected TO
% ySsHs to DIS psH ns
where above the tnmuIt; and TO such an extent
did The Indignation q The delerntos manifest
itself. that Dele gate Alawds!,eywas finally com,
psea /. wndraw his hsxn r9msrS ana
After this. Delegate Mawdsley was allowed to
proceed with his argument. bat it was evident
his uniucky break had done moro harm than
At c c Mr. Mawdslsy said: The orisi.
Trenehman. whether he is pt:r9red 70 give
sIuaity. fraternity il he ready t" exchanges
mau uIactured gods with us on the same
eausy nna he shuts his mouth on ira,crni.y
ne only , wants I1berty-liocr'y to take away
Mr. Cmrran OF Belfast said that past expert
ence proved that the unions wsre itch. though
Trey we're quito incapable OF securing per-
They would be the laughing stock Of Europe
and America If they rescinded last years
Mr. Raevos Of the Liyerpool Trades Council
demanded on behalf OF the textile workers
legal day OF eight hours. lie opposed the per-
Many speakers gave opinions characterized
by the utmost difference. even in The same
ter BY asking il the bill should apply to edi-
tors cotton workers. CONNIE cial travellers,
domestic servants. and secretaries OF labor or.
Mr. Wilson said that the Sailors ana Fire.
mons Union wanted o compulsory eigtt-hour
law.
Mr. Hardis OF tho Ayrshire Miners Organ.
ization moved an amendmsnt, declaring that
the eight hour law shall DO enforced In all
jority OF tho organized members In any trade
or occupation protests By ballot vote against
the proposal
Mr.. Burt characterized the amendment as
subtly devised to stultify the resolution already
carried,
amid pro onGed cheering: and becoming u
substantive resolution by tho withdrawal OF
vote Of 341 to 20. scene o: great enthusiasm
followed.
This concluded the discussion on tho eight
hour question. with the exception OF y special
resolution in the case OF miners.