The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-09
THE LABOR CONGRESS.
British Wage Workers Holding an
Important Session.
TRE EIGHT HOUR RESOLUTION
Adopted by Large SrpJority---Dfs-
ttnguished Politicians Watching
the workwith Intcrest---The Royal
Toast Causes a Dispute---A compro-
mise in Which the Queen is Not
Left Out

NEW CASTLE, ENGLAND, Sept. s.-The
proceedings Of the Trades Unions Con-
gress, now in session here and repre-
senting the interests of over 100000
skilled workmen of Great Britain, ere
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 political results,
Princess Beatrice, Lady Dixie, wife OF
Sir Charles Dixie, Mr.. Thomas Potter,
radical reformer member Of Parliament
for Rochedale; the Right Hon. Sir John
Gorst, NJ. p, for Chatham, were pres
ent at the opening Of the Congress yes
terday. During the course OF the ses.
sion aBen" Tillet, the labor leader, will
bring forward resolution favoring the
creation OF the State Board of Arbitra'
ton, with the view OF preventing strikes
and settling labor disputes between the
Yorkmen and their employers.
In all directions q keen canvass Tor
votes is being made on the question OF
an eight hour work day and us to
whether eight hours ii adopted as the
limit Of days work, shall be made o
legal days work and compulsory or
whether it shall be left to local trade
option. The Miners Federation, it is
supposed, favor q compulsory eight
hour law and the National Miners
Union is understood to be opposed to 1t.
The committee OF arrangements had q
serious dispute and some wanted an
exchange Of views over the toasts which
are to be proposed at the banquet
which wifi celebrate the closing
OF the trades union congress. Some OF
the most loyal Of the labor delegates on
the committee mentioned proposed that
the time honored toast "The Queen and
the Royal family, should be drunk. To
this proposition there was considerable
opposition. Some OF tho committeeman
were not in favor OF drinking to the
royal family, though they raised no OBJ:
lection to the Queen. Matters waxed
SO interesting that for a time it looked
as ii both "the Queen" ond the royal
family" would be dropped from the
toast list. Upon calmer reflection, how
ever, the committee came to a compro-
mise understanding, and agreed that
"the Queen and the country" should be
the loyal toast.
The parliamentary committees re-
port, which has just been issued, says
that it is to be regretted that the gov
ernment has given considerable bal
ance OF power to capital in the appoint
ment OF the royal labor commission,
whose duty it is to inquire into the re-
lations existing between capital and
labor and in the best means Of prevent
ing strikes. The report referred to
holds that in SO giving the balance in
favor Of capital, the government is will
fully biasing the inquiry now in prog.
ress upon the side OF the employers OF
labor. The report adds that the or
ganization OF labor is making satisfac-
tory progress throughout the country,
in spite OF the attempts OF employers
and directors of the companies to check
its development by refusing to confer
with the representatives Of the differ
ent trades unions.
In the course OF to.day's session, after
considerable discussion and much op-
position to the measure, the congress
BY a large majority approved a resolu-
ton favoring an international eight
hour law.