The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-03

$500 CT.
Later in the afternoon l visited the
headquarters of the Parliamentary
Committee of the British Trade Union
Congress (this committee is about on
a par with the Executive Council Of
the American Federation of Labor.
The subjects of strikes, lockouts. boy
colts, We're discussed and the nevi-
table question asked me, what would
be the outcome of the decision and
sentence imposed upon Frank Morri-
son, John Mitchell and me by Judge
Wright of the Court of the District Of
Columbia. 1t is quite evident that the
feeling of Indignation at that decision
and sentence was as keenly felt on this
side of the Atlantic as it was upon
our own. It takes quite some of my
time to try and explain the grounds or
rather the ~phantasy upon which Judge
Wright based his conclusions, decision
and sentence.
The most interesting spot in Lon
don just at present to a touring Ameri-
can Trade Unionist is the HOUSE of
Commons. / made several visits to it,
dinners being given me in its reStau-
rant halls by the Labor party mem
bers of the House and on another eve
ming by the Parliamentary Committee
of the Trade Union Congress. On the
first of these occasions, thirty odd NJ.
P-S were present. All these members
IN oOuDI udd SutStil Ocu - III lHl-
mediate Labor programme, out the di-
versity of their views and sentiments
regarding present activities as we'll as
the future ideal commonwealth was
not concealed. I was given the oppor-
tunity to describe our American Fed
Grafton of Labor, and to tell why it is
and what it is. The men before me
were not of a character to wish me to
mince my words, what the fact of the
matter required me to Sey may not
have been to the liking of some OF
them, but they were all prepared to
take my words in good part In fact.
the dinner proved to be, not a mere
cornwall function, but the means OF
bringing about on the part of my hosts
a better und outstanding of the spirit
and methods of the Trade Unionists
of the United States and Canada, who
are doing their own way the best
possible work for their own members
and their own countries. / am not
prepared at this stage to set down def
mite opinions as to the British Union
Trade Politics: I wish to pursue my
inquiry further but / have positive
views regarding the necessity OF the
agreed policies Of American Trade
Unionism, and it will require some
thing more than what I have yet seen
or earned to warrant a change Of
front. It seems to me that the mo-
ment was at hand at that dinner to
state clearly, Iu1ly ana u6I1IllIclE anu
as concisely as possible, the history.
struggles ard policy Of the American
Trade Union movement.
At the Parliamentary Trade Union
Congress dinner, two evenings after
ward, all but five men present had
been fraternal delegates at American
Labor Conventions; naturally the
event was largely social in character.
The enthusiasm over America of those
who had attended our conventions ex-
hibited itself in hearty words Of greet
ing, many expressions of goodwill for
the delegates they had met in various
cities in our country.
One incident of the evening seemed
to be an echo called forth from the
meeting Of the dinner two lights be-
fore. It was the speech which the
Chairman of the Parliamentary Com
mittee, David J.. ~Shackleton delivered,
he brought up one Illustration after
another of those extremists among So
cia1 refOrmerS, both in and outside Of
the ranks Of the wage earning masses
who continually call for legislation as
a substitute for Trade Union action.
For example, the previous week had
seen an attempt by the coal mine
owners in South Wales to take every
advantage of the eight hours act on it's
going into effect July 1; they aimed
that the law itself set aside all existing
agreements between the Unions and
themselves n therefore tried to en-
force. new rules preliminary to a re-
duction of wages. The men threatened
a strike and the claim was dropped.
AS the act says that the eight hours
per day may be extended" on not
more than sixty days in any calendar
year by not more than one hour a day
the employers decided that on one
day every week, the men should work
min hours instead of eight" This
clause, the men argued, was optional.
to both parties, and as they had a
strong Union, we'll prepared to sustain
the men in their claims both sides con-
GUIDED to leave the matter to the Court
of Cancellation for settlement. Next,
the Employers made a demand for a
shift of eight hours in every twenty
This, also the men opposed;
night work was an unnecessary bur