New-York tribune., 1907-09-08
THE TRADES CONGRESS-
TREND OF WORK DONE.
Old Age Pensions at Sirty De
n7anded-PoEticaL Situation.
Especial by French Cable to tn. Tribune,I
foopynght, 1907. by The Tribune Association ]


London, Sept. The trend of the Trade
x-nion Congress. winding up the week of its
session to-day. has been toward the concentra-
ZION of labor forces rather than socialism, crude
or complex A concordat has been tacitly es-
tsblished among the factions by which issues
.-e pooled and a working party is created for
roYItical campaigning on large scale Ire
Labor members Of Parliament have shown re-
rnarkable ability in managing this large assem-
blv Of oltspoken delegates and in securing har-
rnonious action on all important policies
The government has been condemned at every
Turn Of TIE debate. and John Burns denounced
as renegade leader, All groups have united in
creating the impression that the workers Of the
kingdom must depend upon their own represen-
,stives in Parliament IL the House of Lords Is
- be swept away. a universal scheme or
pensions adopted. strikes conducted without in
reference fror, the military forces or the con
6itions Of labor materially improved
The most significant action has been the re-
lection OF the projects Of compulsory aroitra-
Tlor or conciliation on the ground that sfT'Kes
sc the most serviceable weapon in the armorE
of Labor and a unanimous demand for weekly
rensior Of five shillings for every worker over
sixty the limit being rer years in advance of
that established bv Germany. where regular
contributions are required from the artisans
x
thrift
The PROCEEDINGS Of this well organized body
~ renresentative vorknlen point 10 the conclu-
sio- that trade ,Inionisrn Is forming powerful
-,ar-v bent upon absorbing the progressive eie-
rnents Of liberalism and governing the kingdom
- the interest Of the working classes after the
inertia Of conservatism has been overcome
The leaders Of the Nationalist party are evil
ser-;v frightened by the increasing activity oI
- Young ireland aEttators- VINO interrupt
sr=z-z~s like Nr Redmond and even break MP
77-ae tags IN Dublin and elsewhere They are
-o,y--zt-e4 % admit that the machine. which
-.s .,aep working with economy. precision
80 irresistible force for long time. is in dan
z.- ~ f-ez1zir7s down. They are not likely to
,css co-t-c! of the situation. but they vii ne
feed u take more aggressive stand on al
Irish questions. and 70 he more trreoonclhanls
-rsr e-er The resistance offered hy the Sim
Fein agi-ators is more remarkable since the
objects aimed a. are outside of the range ot
rreet:cel politics They are aiming - release
re island from British control by stopping irish
enlistment for the army, by cutting of oontrlou-
1ions to the exchequer. through the abolition Of
drink and by suenly Withdrawing The National
fst delegates from Westminster and forming
> provisional legislative committee A. Dublin
Meanwhile. the main political parties show
10 sign Of alarm over the menace from either
labor or Nationalist party on the lines Of Fenian-
ism. Each is conducted IS q partisan organ
.zztion under the old functionaries, and few
r-oadninded men coming 10 the front Lord
Croner's health has steadily improved since he
left Egypt. and he now feels IN need OF occu-
ration It is reported that he intends 10 take
active part IN politics and that he wil make
several speeches during the autumn As he
Is an outspoken free trader he is expected 70
fsH in lire with the government. but this is
not Vet announced There are ruHlor mongers
who assign him the Foreign Office. when Sir
Edward Grey succeeds the Prime Minister. hut
there is q wary sportsman in Perthshire whose
retirement nav be deferred indefinitely. Lord
Clrzon's return 70 active service in Parliament
also talked about but apparently without
authority His relations with Mr.. Belfour
not friendly and his views on the tariff ques-
ton are uncertain. with probable bias in favor
~ <raa trade I y F