The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-09-07
A Gigantic Strike Of all the
Shipping Interests in the
World.
That Is What Is Talked of as the
Result of a New Labor
Federation.
Plans Being Perfected as Rapidly
as Possible Its Origin
in England.

LONDON, Sept.7.-It is reported among
the delegates who are bOund for the
trades union congress, which opens at
Edinburgh on Monday next, that all
the plans for a gigantic strike of the
dock laborers of the world at large have
been perfected in everything but the
minute details, and that the most I'M
portant labor movement ever conceived
may be commenced this autumn. The
trades union men who do the work OF
the ports of the United Kingdom have
been working on this scheme for a long
time past, and it is looked upon as likely
to be the signal for new era, not only
in the history of trade unionism, but In
the history of all labor organizations or
secret societies. Since the year 1889,
every strike for better wages or shorter
hours at any port of the United King
dom has practically come to nothing,
because when the men went out at any
particular port the trade of that place
has been transferred for the time being
TO some other British or continental
port, and the strikers have been COM
PEELED to surrender.
Designed to Prevent Fiasco.
The present plan is designed to pre-
vent any such fiasco by uniting all
classes of laborers employed i'll or about
the docks, ships, wharves and ware
houses in the United Kingdom, the
United States, Canada, Germany,
France, Holland, Belgium and Aus.
tralia, as we'll as other countries, in
one great, new federation. Its men,
bers are to wear a specific badge and
the cardinal principle of membership
will be to stand firmly united and to
implicitly obey the instructions of the
governing council in spite Of anything
and everybody.
Throughout the world, members of
this federation will be pledged to up
hold strikes of any section of the feder.
alton, by striking in sympathy and re-
naming out until notified to return to
work. The scheme is SO gigantic in
scope, and may have such far reaching
consequences, that it is attracting ut.
tention on all sides and is seriously con.
sidered by the lawmakers of Great
Britain, who see in it great danger,
which may have to be met by radical
measures. The strike is to be princi-
pally against the piece work system.
One Of the Leaders Talks.
Tom Mann, one Of the leaders Of
the movement, was interviewed by o
representative Of the Associated Press.
He said
THE organization which is control.
ing this new movement is called the
International Federation of Ship, Dock
and Rivers, an organization that di-
rectly appeals to over 10000 men.
When we have completed the organiza.
ton Of these men, and SO far we are
sure of q fourth Of the number men.
toned, and the number is growing
every hour, it will be the biggest event
that has happened in the labor move
ment.
In the United Kingdom, the men are
responding as freely as we could wish.
We have already made great steps in
organizing in the United States, Bel
gium and Holland, and the work il
going ON in number of other coun-
tries. In the United States our rep
resentations have met with cordial
reception from Mr.. Gompers, who has
thoroughly distributed our literature in
the proper quarters. The replies al.
ready received in the United States are
eery encouraging, and SO soon as we
have made further progress here, we
shall complete the work in the United
States and Canada, by sending dele.
gates there and all the little details
of completing the organization
of the new federation will be
that a strike will at once be
inaugurated here, the dock laborers and
the other members of the federation in
America, will, quit work at the same
hour, and our continental brethren will
also lay down their tasks. We do not
wish for a strike, nor do our members
desire it if our demands can be granted
by quiet discussion with the employers
In any case, if we wait until we have
100000 men enrolled there will be nc
need for strike, as the employers will
yield in the face of the threat Of a gen.
eral paralysis Of the shipping business
of the whole world.
Yes. it is true that it has been pro.
posed that the general strike should
commence ON Sept. 2sth next, but
hope this will not be the case. o.
course there will be two factions in the
new federation those who are smart
ing under prolonged injustice, and ar.
therefore eager for strike, and thost
whose affairs are in better condition
and who therefore are somewhat luke
warm and undesirous of precipitatin,
the great strike being planned.
Smith Lost on Foul.
AcrovY. Or Cert 7-aMvSfo,.;or.s