The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-27

Federation dealt with 63S disputes in
volving 54,962 persons. The treasury
now contains $4,000.
Among the men prominent in the
Federation and we'll known in the
United States are Pete Curran (the
chairman), Allan Gee. Thomas H. Will
kins, James O'Grady, Alexander Will
kie, T. Mallalieu, T. Z. Richards. Ben
Tillet. John Ward, William MulIin.
Ben Cooper. James Wignall, James
Setxon, viii Thorne, Arthur Hen
derson, .Baillie" Jack. William
Moses, w. Arrandale, Tom Ashton,
David j. Shackleton. and w. A. Apple
ton. Eight of these men are members
of Parliament.
The ~"agenda' or programme of the
meeting, comprised little more than
matters of routine Importance. Elk
cept for the democratic idea of having
every affiliated union satisfying its
members by being represented. an
auditor and executive committee might
perhaps nave attended to all the essen
tial business that was done. Some
significance. however, lay in the
speeches. The chairman spoke Of there
having been not one suspension of
work (strike) in the previous year
that was caused by the demand of a
union. All the disputes originated in
offensive tactics and orders by en-
plOyc IS 1OI Iouuct1OliS III wages or
through similar aggreSSiOnS on labor.
This statement brought up in my mind
a line of inquiry which / intend pur-
suing fully before reaching some of
the conclusions which it suggests. Why
SHOULD not the workers, particularly
the organized workers in trade unions,
ask for more, especially when wages
are 50 low as they are in Great Brit
ain? Surely, the workers will not be
come larger sharers in the product of
their toll unless they make some eff
fcrt towards its attainment.
Neither Of the two questions before
the Ongre which caused any con-
siderable discussion had any bearing
on union topics as we understand
them in the United States. One of
them, relating to the acceptance in
trade unions. of soldiers trained to
trades while in the service, ought to
induce the Federation to memorabilia
the War office, the prime minister, and
the president of the Board Of Trade.
This proposition, however, was mega
tived. The other question, which was
Of a much more important character,
will come up for serious consideration
at the Trades Union at
Ipswich in September. 1t relates to
national Insurance against unemplOy-
ment, the administration Of which will
necessitate considerable expenditure,
and will create, as some have facte-
iously stated, many new o~hice-hOlders.
The outcome Of the debates at the
meeting is stated in these words by
the Manchester Guardian:
It may be taken that the Labor
members of Parliament will con-
tinue to look with sympathy on
the governments intentions while
at the same time .reserving to
themselves the right Of criticism
in detail.
And the same newspaper adds: More
especially would it be urged that the
trade unions should supply a definite
proportion of the representatives to be
appointed" The opponents Of the
scheme in the Federation advanced
the argument that certain of its sup
porters were attracted to 1t because
of the possible benefit to themselves
as such a~ppointees. It was also point
ed out that union members would I'M
der the bill that has been prepared
suffer under the disadvantage of pay
ing weekly dues both to the union fOf
out-of-work benefit paid by the union
and to the administrators of the Gov
ernment's insurance against unem-
ployment. In such case, the union
dues might cease to the injury Of the
unions. Further, the fate OF the union
insured wOrkmen out Of work because
of a strike or a lockout would present
a difficult prOblem; and their refusal
" app ~ WOih Win va
might render it difficult for them to
procure any benefit at all.
Blackool, as the seaside resort of
the factory population Of Lancashire,
Yorkshire and WarWickshire, presents
interesting features. The place, which
has a permanent population Of $4,000,
is visited by 10000 0 holiday seekers
annually, chiefly from June to Sep
TENDER. All it's constructive work is
substantial. The houses are of brick;
the streets are paved with asphalt; the
.esplanade, which varies from 100 to
200 feet in width, runs 4 IL miles
along the shore on a bluff thirty to
fifty feet higher than the peach.
P~romenaders, often in great crowds,
are to be seen on it at all hours until
after midnight. In the evening the
scenes are brilliant with electric light.
A steel "Eiffel Tower 500 feet high;
half 2 dozen theatres: a winter gar