The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-28
STRIKES A LAST RESORT
British Labor Delegates SEN
sible Talk Purposes of an
Industrial Mission.

New York, Nov. 2S, 1S96.-Samuel Woods
secretary of the Trades Union Congress
OF Great Britain and ex-Menber of Parlia-
ment. accompanied by John Madison
president Of the Trades Union Congress
that met September last in Scotland, a
big leader in the British labor world, ar
rived here today on the steamship Cam
pania They came as delegates from the
Trades Union of Great Britain 10 the
convention of the American Federation of
Labor which begins in Cincinnati on De-
cember IA.
While in the East the Englishmen viii
stay at-the home of Mr. Woods brother
in-law, Alfred Smith, at No 19l Oxford
street, Providence, r. I. Mr.. Woods was
first asked about the great dock strike
which Is now agitating the great sea-
board cities Of the world, particularly in
Germany. He said he did not know much
about it. as he was on the water when
ever, that the proposition Of the strike
had been agitated on the other side for
some time before it actually took place.
He gave it as his individual opinion that
he did not think it would be successful
Mr. Woods said that he and Mr.. Madison
came here not as representatives Of any
section of trade, but of a congress of
trades In England. ne said, there was
ne politics in the labor party With them
il was labor before politics. although he
admitted that in the House OF Commons
there were eleven district labor leaders.
He also admitted that number of petty
offices in Great Britain were held by
union leaders. or those whose selection
was urged by labor unions Not town
OF 10000 inhabitants. he declared, in all of
Great Britain was unrepresented in the
Town Council by labor advocates. No
one is allowed as a delegate to the Con-
gress, he said, unless he is a bona fide
wcrkingnlan or a paid representative of
a certain trade.
This, he said, was TO keep out adventur-
eTs. Members OF Parliament cannot. there
fore, be delegates to q Trades Congress
because they are out of business and are
net bona fde workingmen. These con-
crosses are governed by Parliamentary
Committee consisting OF twelve members.
The only member OF this committee that
receives q stated salary is the secretary.
Messrs. Woods and Madison represent
as delegates of the great labor unions
of England over 800 different trades whose
membership amounts to one and quarter
million people. The miners are the
strongest in number, their membership
bSAiiS oft@ -vvsuVV. ANSAt I5lliS Tie tS&tile
workers, great many of whom are wom-
en-. They muster SO, 600 The engine men
and the amalgamated railroad servants,
the former with 10000 and the latter with
&c, 900 members. are the next strongest.
ssThe Trades Unions IN Great Britain, it
seems to me" said Mr.. Woods, "aFe a
most important factor in the regulation
of wages hours and Political influence.
They are stronger over there than they
ara here.
Asked regarding his attitude on strikes,
Mr.. Woods said ~ believe in strikes only
as last resort. Arbitration am opposed
slider by casting a yete can help out two
bodies that can't agree among ther-
selves. Strikes are coed" he continued,
effort should be made by labor ana capi-
tai to come TO an understanding before
they are resorted TO.