The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-17
COUNTESS AT LABOR CONGRESS
Feature or q Session That Reached little
Direct Result,

w "NSNAN
LONDON. Sent. s.-The Trades Union
Congress of 1905 has just closed. II has
been watched with rather more interest
the previous ones by politicians Of
all parties. The reason is, Of course, the
enormously increased political Importance
that was gained by labor at the last election.
One notable distinction Of his gathering
was the presence Of women in great num-
beers. Al previous congresses there were
only a handful in an official capacity, while
now half the number Of persons on the
platform were Of the feminine sex.
The most picturesque feature was the
presence and speech Of the Countess OF
Warwick. Her costumes were infinitely
described in the newspapers and Of course
contrasted with the appearance OF the
majority Of the delegates. Her speech on
Tuesday predicting that the storm is ready
to burst and assuring her hearers that she
would be more useful then than on the
platform was well received.
Most persons seem to look upon her So
~cialistic championship as a sort Of fad.
But it appears that she is sincere enough
and is certainly willing to do more than
talk for her comrades, as shown by pecuniary
assistance, lending Of motor cars, &c.
Another deserter from the opposite camp
is the oldest son Of Lord Ribblesdale.
The president. D. c. Cummings, a boiler
maker by trade, proved to be an excellent
selection for the chair and got through
will matters in a businesslike fashion.
Two Americans, Foster of the typo
graphical society and Wilson OF the pattern
makers, we're well received, but confined
4 I... NaIK aEl,vN vuhaN
workmen should do without going into
par icula ~ OF ways and means. They and
their womsnfolk eceived plenty Of souve-
rirs of their visit.
Resolutions were plentiful, of course,
and Of the familiar kind-eight o u day
old age pensions, minimumAwage in Govern
ment works, complete immunity Of the
funds of unions, revision Of land laws, &c.
Among the novel ones were an appeal
for financial assistance for the Russian
workers and a proposition to send a depvta-
ton TO RussiaSo OFFER sympathy with the
Duma. This was carried. Peace upon
earth and down with all sorts Of military
training, even shooting practice appealed
to delegates, except when it m to
arbit ration of u rial disputes. There
is where they want to fight.
What IL the result of the conferences
One ia tempted to say nil. A congress
OF this sort in this country handles no
concrete subjects, 20 there can be no
immediate results. II merely suggests
this or that, makes recommendations and
drinks a great deal of tee and has a fairly
good time all around.
The resolutions are all, or nearly all
Utopian in character and time alone can
solve them. The conference does not say,
for instance: The bricklayers are = not
paid enough. On the January 1 they
shall receive a higher rate Of wages and lay
less bricks per hour; IL not they will go on
strike" But: The conference is Of the
opinion that there are plenty Of old destitute
bricklayers. The parliamentary group is
| instructed to do all they can to get them a
pension"
Perhaps this last resolution may bear
fruit in time-constant hammaring at a thing
will work wonders, and the English are
nothing il not persistent. Whether the
workmen's persistency is taking them in
the right direction this time ia another
question. One can sympathiBe with their
motives. All the things they advocate are
aimed to improve the condition Of the work
ers. But-and this ia cruX OF the story
with all these schemes carried through
can Great Britain hold her own in the in
dustrial world with competitors who are
slower in hedging in production with laws
and regulations7 n this Ia a more serious
question still: Can the people OF a country
| be fOurishinR, or ever content, II the State
falls behind in the international raoe1