Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-19
All Pet Projects Endorsed.

Notwithstanding the eHuhClilOii VI tiicSC
high principles. the congress at Liverpool
proceeded to pass something over 200 reso-
lutions instructing It's parliamentary COM
mittee and the fifty representatives of labor
In the house of commons to secure the en-
actment of laws which the more intelligent
element among the working classes would
never vote for Every thare presented its
own pet project. and the congress Endorsed
them all without elaboration or hesitation
so that organized labor becomes response
BILE for some of the most fantastic PROPOSE
lions that have ever been advanced. and
must therefore lose the sympathy and con-
fidence of many prudent people. Some of
these propositions were not even discussed,
but We're read and voted upon with sub
lime indifference TO the difficulties and in
consstencies involved, and those who had
the courage to oppose them were bitterly
denounced traitors to honest labor and
enemies in the camp.
For example the congress almost unani-
mously demanded the purchase and nation
alization of all railways. canals mines.
tramways and other transportation lines in
England, all electric cars and electric light
plants. water works and other public util-
tiles. and instructed the parliamentary COM
mittee to prepare bill to be introduced at
the coming session without reference to any
means by which the purchase money is to
be raised. The proposer actually apollo
gized for not including the naturalization
of land. but promised that that should be
taken care of in the near future
Another resolution proposed that the gov
eminent should take over all of the aban-
doned canals and waterways of England,
bring them up to date. provide them with
tugs, barges and motor boats and operate
them in competition with the railways
which 1t is to purchase and operate also
without considering for a moment the
enormous cost of such stupendous under
taking.
Tendency Toward Paternalism.
All of the resolutions of the congress
nalsm and government ownership. The
British labor leaders and socialists are
very strong on that point. and Mr. Bryan's
zeal in that direction was undoubtedly slim
ulated by his association with them during
his recent visit in London. Ambassador
Reid attempted to bring Mr.. Bryan into
contact with the statesmen of England. to
have him meet the leaders of thought and
affairs eminent soldiers, scientists, Schol-
ars merchants and manufacturers. but he
preferred the society of John Burns. keir
Hardie and other socialists and labor lead
ers who were naturally more congenial, for
his own views run parallel to theirs. He
Is likely to introduce into the coming cam
paign other features of their policy even
more radical than the government owner
ship proposition which he advanced in his
New York speech.
They propose. for example. an old age
pension OF shilings week for every
man and woman who attains the age of Co.
to be paid from the public treasury in
monthly installments until death. In order
To remove the faint OF charity, the million
alre is to receive this bounty as well as lie
broken-down laborer and the poor seam
stress; the drunken loafer as well as the in
dustrious and temperate mechanic. No one
except inmates OF prisons and charitable
institutions Is TO be exempt. But they have
not yet proposed any method by which the
money TO make the payments shall be
raised. and. indeed within an hour after the
adoption of this resolution the congress
passed another demanding that wage earn
ers should be relieved from all forms of
taxation.
Some Radical Propositions.
still more radical proposition was In
troduccd by the representatives of the gas
makers union. which proposes:
l. State maintenance of all school chill
dren from five TO fourteen years inclusive,
feeding, clothing and educating them.
2 Free schools for all in the Kingdom
from the kindergarten to the university.
g. Free technical and professional educa-
ton at the expense of the government for
all who wish to enter any trade or profess
sion so as to give the sons of the working
classes a chance in both; with the govern
ment maintenance for all students whose