The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-09-08
international Trades Union Con-
gress Holds Its Opening Ses-
sion at Edinburgh.
No Delegates Present Except
Those Who Actually Work
at a Trade.
Some of the Matters Which Will
Come Up for Discussion at
the Meeting.

EDINBURGH, Sept S-The Goth annual
trades union congress OF Great BRITAIN
opened its sessions at the Assembly
rooms, George street, this city, at noon
About $50 delegates were i'll attendance.
The congress will close Saturday, sept
l2. The vehement arguments and bltter
personalities of the 2Sth congress, held
at Cardiff last year. will not be repeated
this year, as the new constitution
adopted then directed the improved
formation of the congress of 1895. Men
like John Burns, Kier Hardie and
Henry Broadhurst are not present. Ill
their place are real wCrkingmen, such
as the Northumberland and Durham
Miners union and the Boiler Makers
union, who latterly have taken no part
in the annual congress.
Samuel Woods, secretary OF the par
liamentary committee. i'll an interview
with representative of the Associated
Press previous to the meeting, sand
Only workmen Are Delegates.
1--WE have not more than 800 dele
gates this year, owing to the new
standing orders, and our congress IS
/ much more workable. Under the old
constitution there would have been over
ZOO delegates. The delegates this year
are only bona fide workers at their
trade and legal members OF their trades
societies No member can be dele.
gate unless he is actually working at
his trade at the time of his appointment
or is a permanent paid working official
of his trade union.
1--WE are likely however, to have
little rub or two over an attempt to re-
vert to the old way of voting, where
each body or union represented had one
vote. Under the new standing orders
each delegate has cne vote for every
1000 workers whom he represents. This
is direct representation, and ! do not
think it will be overthrown.
A further intimation of the trend OF
this congress is contained i'll resolu-
luton proposed by the power loom
overlookers, to rescind the famous col'
lectivist resolution adopoted at the Nor
wich congress of 1894, on the initiative
of Kier Hardie, and in its place to sub
stitute the following:
One of the Resolutions.
THAT in the opinion of this congress.
It is essential to the maintenance of
British industries to nationalize the
land, mines, minerals. royalty. rents
and railways, and municipalize all
water, artificial light and tramways
undertakings within their several
authorities and that the parliamentary
committee be instructed to promote and
support legislation with the above
object"
There will also be a great number oi
other resolutions to meet the views OF
the leaders of the various trades repre-
eented as to the needs Of their particu
lar branches Of labor.
The Miners National union, repre-
eenting 10000 miners OH the northern
counties, sent Is delegates, including
Messrs. T. Burt, M. P, G. Fenwick. NJ
p, and John Wilson, NJ P. This body
was not represented at Cardiff las
year.
Amoag the other societies represented
are the Boiler Makers, 80, 800 members
Boot and Shoe Operatives, 4l,OOO
Amalgamated Society Of Carpenter
and Joiners, 1000: Card and Blowing
room hands, 4,5OO; Alliance Cabine
Makers, 1900; Coach Makers, 5,95S
London Society of Compositors, 1O,5OO
Dockers Union, 100000; Amalgamate,
Society of Engineers, 81, $50; Gas Work
ers Union, 24,OOO; Miners Federation
of Great Britain, l54, 900; Amalgamate
Society Of Railway Servants. 40, los
and Northern Counties Weavers asso
ciation, So 1875.