The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-28
Labor Congress Opens With
Bitter Battle.
The Anarchists Tried to Get
Control of the Body.
Confusion and Violence Had a Free
Rein for Long Time.

London, July Zo.-Ine lOurtn interna-
tional Socialist Labor and Trades Union
congress opened yesterday in ST. Mar
tins town hall. with Chairman Convey.
a miner OF Northumberland, presiding.
After his speech Of welcome. the dele
gates sang the "Marseillaisc," which
started much cheering and considerable
opposition. The uproar thus begun was
continued throughout the session, and
much bitterness was awakened, and will
not subside even after the congress adj
journs.
Among those who took part In the
violent scene were Herren Bebel and
Llebneccht. the Socialists leaders in the
German reichstag; DR.. Victor Adler, the
Austrian socialist; NJ. Milleraud, La
Fargue, Jules Guesde and Jean JeureZs.
Socialist members of the French chamber
OF deputies; Mr.. l.. J. Mcguire, of the
American Federation of Labor; Prince
Krapotkaine, the Russian nihilist;
Enrico Malatesta and Irpiani,, the It
allan anarchists; Elisee Eclus and
Sebastian Faure the French anarchists;
Tom Mann, Ben Tillett. the dock strike
settler; Bernard Shaw, the socialist
writer; Edward Aveling, the English
anarchist; Il. W. Wilson, James *.
Hardie and Louise Michel.
In all there were over 700 delegates,
of which number Germany sent So,
France IL and the United States four.
The trouble was over the question
whether anarchists should OF should not
be admitted to the hall, and this issue
was not decided when the session ad
journed.
The noisy demonstrations of the an
archists aroused the most angry feel
rgs among the socialists, who very
generally resolved, at a meeting OF the
British section, to shut the door In the
face OF the anarchists, and to employ
the police freely to eject them from the
premises, II necessary.
The scene during the session was al
most indescribable. There was great
confusion and much noise and disorder,
intermingled with violence. Several at
tacks were made upon the platform, but
the would-bc orators were violently
hurled off. Attempts made to eject
riotous anarchists failed. owing to the
vigorous defenses of the latter. The
delegates behaved like madmen, stand
ing on the tables, waving their arms,
and yelling at the top of their voices in
half dozen different languages. Dur
ing one of the attempts TO seize the
platform the women reporters were SO
terror-stricken that they fled from the
hall.
Chairman Convey was inaudible, and
swung a huge railway bell with both
hands In his attempts to restore order
But this only added to the din, without
Quieting the assembly.
Benjamin Pickard, president of the
Miners Federation of Great Britain, and
member OF parliament, another OF the
delegates gaZed at the scene of disorder
with his face rejecting comical despair
Finally, he said: And these are the
people who want to govern the world"
The noise increased, and the interior
OF the building soon resembled beer
garden. and further repeated attempts
were made to capture the platform.
This was resisted by those who had pos
session of 1t, and some lively free fight
ing followed. Kier Hardie and other
British independent laborists" sided
with the anarchists in the attempts
which the latter made to swarm upon
the platform.
that the proprietor Of the hall threat
ened to clear the building unless the dele
gateslwere more orderly, the uprQar SUBJ
sided But ii was only for a time. The
uproar recommended. and Convey, dur
ing a moments lull in the wordy storm,
shouted: "Tll send for IA body OF police
TO clear the meeting If this scandal is
continued" But in spite OF the firm at
titude Of the chairman, the fray con-
tinued until Mr.. Convey shouted: II de-
clare this meeting closed" Then the
delegates, still wrangling and shouting.
streamed into the streets.