The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-10
The Trades Union Congress at Newcastle.


look at the collections OF Worlds Fair.
----------
The Trades Union Congress at Newcastle.
The twenty.fourth Congress Of the Trades
Unions. now sitting at Newcastle, seems
likely to prove the most important meeting
Of the kind ever held in Great Britain. An
unusually large number Of societies Is rep
resented 1t being foreseen that an attempt
would be made to reach definite decision
on two questions Of extreme interest to
workngmen, tho expediency, namely, OF OBJ
tanning an eight-hour labor day by legisla-
tive enactment, and OF organizing distinct
labor party.
1t will be remembered that at the Con.
gress which convened In Liverpool last year.
a resolution In favor OF a legal eight.hour
day was carried, but only by small major
ity, and In the face Of strenuous opposition
on tho part OF the weavers and spinners
and considerable section OF the miners.
1t was expected that both parties would this
year rally their forces for final test
Of strength, but the result Of the vote
reached on Tuesday must be regarded as
q drawn battle. 1t would have been
one thing to pass resolution calling
upon Parliament forthwith to make All
eight-hour day binding in all trades. 1t
is quite another thing to carry even by
large preponderance OF votes-239 to 1854
resolution requesting the British Govern
ment to convo!ie an international confer
ence for the purpose OF arranging. In con-
junction with all foreign Governments an
international cighthour law. 1t Is perfectly
true that n British artisans work but eight
hours day, while their Continental COM
petitors work ten or twelve British prod
ucts being moro costly would eventually
be ousted from tho markets OF the world. A
consideration OF this fact. however. did not
hold back last years Congress at Liverpool
from demanding an immediate passage Of an
eight-hour law, and II such q measure Is to
wait until Continental Governments acqui
esce In like legislation, it will be virtually
postponed to the Greek kalends. The dayis
far distant when German and italian, or even
French workingmen. will obtain an eight
hour day in all trades, and therefore .the
scheme Of an international conference will
como to nothing. 1t is. nevertheless. quite
possible that before this Congress adjourns
on Saturday. 1t may call on Parliament to
give British workingmen an eight-hour day
by statute.
The other question, whether British work
ingmen should, before the next general
election form u distinct labor party, may
well cause profound anxiety to Mr.. GLAD.
STONE and his fellow Liberals. For except in
Birmingham. and In those districts OF the
metropolis where Lord RANDOLPH CHURCH,
ILL aud other cxpounders OF tho so-calleu
Conservatives Democracy have considerable
influence. II large majority OF British arti-
sans hitherto could be safely counted on to
vote for Liberal candidates. or late, how
ever. the Liberals have been even more ac-
tive and conspicuous than the Conservatives
in opposing an eight-hour labor day, tho
late Mr.. BRADLAUdH, in particular, having
set his faca firmly against that project.
From the tenor, also, OF Mr. GLADsToSE's
somewhat cautious references to the
subject one Is justified in inferrinR that he
disapproves of legislative limitations Of the
hours Of labor. The suggestion made by
Mr.. EDWARD DICEY that the Conservatives
should adopt the elght-hour programme,
has not, OF course, the slightest chance OF
being accepted by such leader ns Lord
SALISBURY II, then, British artisans are
resolved TO have an eight-hour day, appar-
OF their own, seeing that neither Of the ex-
listing political organizations will assent to
their wishes. That Is just what workmen
had to do this summer in New South Wales,
and the result of their voting for candidates
OF their own was a complete arrangement
OF political calculations.
As very little is known In this country re-
garding the constitutions. scope, and aims
of the trades union congresses. some facts
relating to the subject may be Of interest
The congresses meet yearly. the first Of
them having assembled in Manchester in
1868 There were then present only thirty
four delegates. representing about $4,000
persons; In the present Congress there are
upward OF 500, representing million and a
half Of working people. The delegates are
elected and paid by the various societies
and councils sending them. and each dele
gate must present credentials duly signed by
the officers Of his society. together with two
dollars and half toward the expenses OF the
Congress. The Parliamentary Committee Is
practically permanent body. elected by the
whole Congress yearly. and supported by
voluntary contributions from trades unions
or trades councils. Nooutsidc helps accept
ed. Tho Parliamentary Committee carries
OF the work from year to year on tho lines
laid down by the congresses. and reports its
proceedings TO each successive Congress on
the day OF its assembling. Tho only paid
officer sthe Parliamentary Secretary, whose
salary is now $1,000 year. but al honora-
rum OF SIS is voted yearly to tho Treasurer.
Tho other expenses accrue from the hiring
of Offices, from printing, stationery,
postage. and the preparation OF Par
liamentary papers. At least fifty i'm
portnnt measures In the line Of remc-
din! legislation have boon more or less tho
outcome OF the combined action OF tho
trades unions since it began In 1868 During
the whole Period OF twenty-four years the
aggregate expenditure OF the Parliamentary
Committee has been less than $4,000, of
which less than $4,000 has been paid us
salaries. When We contrast this triiiing
outlay with the quantity OF useful work ac-
complished. we must acknowledge that the
Parliamentary Committee Of tho British
trades unions has made remarkable record