Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-09-10

Edinburg, Sept. 8.-The twenty
ninth annual trades union congress OF
Great Britain opened at noon Monday
with about 300 delegates in attendance
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 con-
stitutiOn adopted then directed the i'm
proved formation of the congresses of
1896. Men like John Burns, Keir Har-
die and Henry Broadhurst are not pres
ent. In their places are real workmen,
such as the Northum berland and Dur
ham miners union and the bOilermak-
ers' union, who latterly have taken TO
part in the annual congress.
Samuel Woods, secretary of the par
liamentary committee, said before the
meeting opened: I'VE have no more
than $50 delegates this year owing to
the new standing orders, and our
congress is much more workable I'm
der the cid constitution there would
have been over 100 delegates. The del
e8ates this year are only bona fila
workers at their trade and legal mem
bers Of trade societies. No person can
be delegate unless he is actually
working at his trade at that time"
The parliamentary committee, of
which Edward Convey of the Yorkshire
miners is chairman and also president
of the congress, has prepared a pro-
JNnI tod ITO
the trades unions have sent up no few
er than eighty-one resolutions for dis
cusSiOn. TO these notice of over wen
ty amendments has been given. Two
sets of resolutions cover the wild 4st
field for discussion and effort practic-
able and 9th, Twise.
The temper of the congress towards
the Impractical BILE eau 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 chat
the journal he represents is printed by
trade union labor and on paper manu-
featured 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 collectiv-
list resolution adopted at the Norwich
congress of 1894, on the initiative of
Ken Hardie, and IN its place to substi-
tute the following:
That, in the opinion of this con-
gress, it is essential to the maintenance
of British industries to nationalize the
land, mines, minerals, royalty, rents
and railways and municipaIize all wa
ter, artificial light and tramWayS un-
dertakings within their several author
tiles, and that the parliamentary COM
mittee be instructed to promote and
support legislation with the above OBJ
ject.''
Councillor w. Thorne of the gas
workers will ask the congress to de-
clare that the time has arrived when
the hours of labor should be Unite to
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 employ 9rs' IL
ability by a resolution callir,; upon the
government to SO amend the existing
act that among other things, the re-
sponsibility may rest upon The emil 10y
er for the acts of his employees CT of
those of any subcontractOr, and that
irrespective of the acquiescence in or
knowledge of any defect or danger en-
the part of the person killed or injured;
that it's provisions may apply to the
workers in all industries on land or
sea, in private, state, or municipal en-
ployment, and that cOntracting-out be
made illegal"
Other matters that have places on
the program are: Employment Of
children in factories and their conse-
quent exploitation by the capitalist,
which is injurious to the children, an
just to their parents, and a crime
against the human race; municipaliza-
ton of docks, wharVes and warehouses;
the release Of all political grievances Of
civilian musicians; hours of domestic
servants. which are not TO be more
than seventy per week, including one
and a half hosur for meals per day
fair wages, compensation for injuries;
the hours of shop assistants; govern
ment contracts, old age pensions, edu-
cation, and many public money and
other matters all have places on the
program.
The tailors' society will attempt a
sweeping reform in the alteration Of
the law libel so that it may become
lawful for any person or persons acting
II the interests of the community, who
ere doing SO without malice, 10 expose
in public meetings or in the public
press any firm or firms wko are known
to be acting or working contrary to the
interests or i'll any way injurious to the
workers and the public
CITED SODiEDC