The morning times., 1896-11-29
ENGLISH LABOR MEN HERE.
President Madison and Secretary
Woods Reach New York.
DELEGATES TO THE CONGRESS-
They Discuss the Big Dock Strike
on the Other Side and Predict
Its Failure-Mr. Woods Declares
Himself Opposed to All Strikes
and Also to Arbitration.

New York, Nov. 2s. Samuel Woods, sec
retary of the Trades union Congress OF
Great Britain, and form er member OF
Parliament, accompanied by John Malli-
son. president Of the Trades Union Con
gress, which met last September III Scot
land. arrived here today on the C unarder
Campania
1hey Come as delegates from the trades
unions of Great Britain to the convention
Of tile American Federation OF Labor
which begins in Cincinnati OIL December
Ia. While in the East the Englishnen
Will stay at the home OF Mr.. Woods brother
III law. Alfred Smith. No. 191 Oxford
street, Providence, r. I.
THINKS THE DOCK KsTRIKEwILLF FAIL
'Mr Woods was asked this morning about
the great dock strike, which is now agi
tating the big seaboard cities of the world,
particularly in Germany. He said he
did not know much ab0it it, as he was
Oil the water when the strike began. He
admitted, however, that the proposition
of the strike had been agitated On the
other side for some tins before IL actually
took place, and declared:
Il don't think it will be successful"
He said, however that he spoke only
for himself. Coming nom lCactr in the
labor world, as Mr.. " oods is, This speech
would Indicate that the expectation OF
strike in this country of the Ioneshorcmcn
whom Edward McHugh organized would
not be realized.
Mr.. Woods said that he and Mr. Malls on
came here not as representatives OF any
section of trade, but of congress OF
trade. In England, lie said, there was no
politics in the labor party With them
IL was labor before politics, although in
the House OF Commons there were eleven
district labor leaders.
Fifty justices or pelice were made up
OF trade union leaders in Great Britain, and
forty county and district oouncilmen had
also been appointed or elected to office by
the direct influence OF labor leaders. No.
Il town uf IL, Geo inhabitants, he declared.
in all Great Britain was unreprcscntcd in
the town council by lat or advocates. No
one is allowed as a delegate 10 the con
gress unless he is tona fide wOrkinGman.
OF paid representative of a Certain trade.
STRENGTH OF UNIONS IN ENGLAND.
This provision, he said. was to keep out
adventurers. Members or Parliament can
not, therefore, be delegates to a trades con-
gress, because they are out OF business, and
are not bona fide workipgmen. These con =
gresses are governed by parliament ary
committee, consisting the twelve members.
The only member of this committee who
receives 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 a quarter
millions people. The miners are the strong
est in number, their membership being
over 100000
Next comes the textile workers, great
many of whom are women. They muster
$4,000. The enginernen and amalganaa ed
railroad servants, the former with TO-
900, and the latter with 10000 members,
are the next strongest
The trades unions in Great Britain, il
seems to me-" said Mr.. Woods, ''are a most
importa Mt factor in the regulation of wages.
hours and political influence. They are
stronger over there than they are here
Asked regarding his attitude on strikes,
Mr.. Woods said: II believe in strikes only
as a last resort. ArbitrationI am opposed
to, becaus. l don't believe that an outsider
by casting vote, can help out two bodies
that can't agree among themselves. Strikes
are good If everything else failed, but every
effort should be made by labor and capital
to come % a n understa nding before they are
resGrted to-