The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-09-08
ANNUAL, SESSION OF THE BRITISH
TRADES CONGRESS ON AT
EDINBURGH.
BITTER WRANGLES BARRED.
SCENES OF THE CONGRESS All
CARDIFF WILL NOT BE RE-
PEATED
PROFESSIONAL AG1TAToRs OUT
Only Men Actually Working at Their
Trades Are to BE Admitted
As Members.

Edinburgh, Sept. THE twenty ninth
annual trades union congress of
Great Britain opened it's sessions al
the Assembly rooms, George street,
this city, at noon today. About $50
delegates were in attendance. The con-
gress will close Saturday, September
u.
The vehement arguments and bitter
personalities of the twenty-eighth con-
gress, held at Cardiff, last year, will
not be repeated this year, as the new
constitution adopted then, directed
the improved formation of the con-
gress of 1896. Men like John Burns,
Kier Hardie and Henry Broadhurst
are not present. In their places are
real Workingmen, such as the Nor
cumberland and Durham Miners I'M
ion, and the Boiler Makers union, who
latterly have taken no part in the an
nual congress.
Samuel Woods, secretary of the par
liamentary committee, in an interview
with a representative OF the associated
press, previous to the meeting today,
said:
1--WE have not more than 800 delegates
this year, owing to the new standing
orders and our congress is much more
worka BILE. Under the old constitution,
there would have been over 700 dele
gates. The delegates this year are
only bona fde workers at their trade,
and legal members of their trades So
cieties. No member can be a delegate
unless he is actually working at his
trade at that time, at the time Of his
appointment or is a permanent, paid
working official of his trade union.
This was definitely settled at Cardiff
last year.
1--WE are likely, however, to have a
little rub or two over an attempt to
revert to the old way Of voting, where
each union or body represented had
one vote. Under the new standing Or
ders, each delegate has one vote for
every thousand workers whom he rep
resents. This is direct representation,
and ! do not think it will be over
thrown.
1--WE have about thirty more trades
unions represented this year than last
which have never been represented be-
fore. There are two American dele
gates-Messrs. Strasser and Sullivan"
The work of the present congress is
exceedingly ambitious, when the time
available is considered. The parlia-
mentary committee, of which Edward
Convey, of the Yorkshire miners, is a
representative, has made a report
composed of eleven resolutions, and the
trades unions have sent up no fewer
than eighty-one resolutions for discus
sion. In these notice of over twenty
amendments have been given. The two
sets of resolutions cover the widest
field for discussion and effort. prac-
ticable and otherwise.
The temper of the congress towards
the impracticable can perhaps be
gagged by a resolution of the paper
mill workers that no representative of
the press shall be allowed to report the
proceedings unless he can prove that
the journal he represents is printed
by trade union labor and on paper
manufactured in the United Kingdom -
A further intimation of the trend of
this congress is contained in a resolu-
ton proposed by the power-loom over
lockers, to rescind the famous collec-
twist resolution adopted at the Nor
WITCH congress of 1894, on the initiative
of Kier Hardie, and in it's place to sub
stitute the following:
That in the opinion of this congress.
1t is essential to the maintainence 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 au-
thorities and that the parliamentary
committee be instructed to promote
and support legislation with the above
object"
Councillor w. Thorne. of the gas
workers, will ask the congress to de-
clare that the time has arrived when
the hours of labor shall be limited &c
eight hours per day In all trades and
occupations in the United kingdom"
E. Hartford, of the railway men, will
bring up the question of employer
liability, by a resolution calling upon
the government to amend the existing
act that among other things the re-
sponsibility may rest upon the en-
ployer for the acts of his employees, OF
of those of any sub-contractor, and
that irrespective of the acquiescence
or knowledge of any defect or danger
on the part of the person killed or in
5ured; that its provisions may apply tC
the workers in all industries on land
or sea, in private, state or municipal
employment and that contracting
be made Illegal
Factory legislation payment OF
members of parliament, taxation OF
land values and ground rents, it Is
demanded, be made "a test question al
the next general election" Employ
ment of children in factories and
their consequent exploitation by the
capitalist, which is injurious to tn.
children, unjust to their parents, and a
crime against the human race" nnu-
nicipaliZation of docks, wharves and
warehouses; the release of all political
prisoners; grievances of civilian must
clans; hours of domestic servants
which are not to be more than seven
ty per week, including one and one
half hours for meals per day." fair
wages, compensation for injuries: the
hours of shop assistants; government
contracts; old age PENSIONS education
and public money and many other
matters all have places on the pro-
gramme.
The plate glass jewellers will offer
this important resolution:
THAT the recent decisions Of the
Judges of the high court of justice, in
cases arising out of trade disputes
have made it abundantly clear that
trade union acts of 1871 and 1876 afford
no effectual protection against civil ac-
dons brought against officials of trades
unions and others who are merely ex.
ercising the rights of combination sup
posed to be secured by those acts. and
1t is therefore most essential to the
continued and effective existence OF
trade unions that the parliamentary
committee of the trades union congress
should endeavor to obtain such ar
amendment of the conspiracy and pro-
lection of property act of 1875 as will