The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-28

would do MS pest u OIlHS aDout
good understanding and possibly ap-
~plicatiOn.
The result of the discussion, which
took uD two hours, was that Samuel
Gompers was given a seat as a guest
in the convention. with a rlSnt 70
speak. His proposition for the 1or-
nation OF an international Fedora
tion Of Labor" to which delegates
night be regularly elected, was the
proposition provided, referred to the
various countries as a matter TO pc
studied. taken up for discussion ana
placed on the programme for actlon
by the next Conference.
A second subject which brought u
an exhibition of the attitude and man
ned Of those in the Conference who
believe that theirs must perIOrce DC
the worlds labor movement was tne
recommendation Of the Chr1stlanla
Conference as to the interchange OF
trade union cards. Section CD reaoS:
LAS to the right to benefits and any
other advantages Of the union, the
total amount Of subscriptions (dues)
paid and of the time of membership
in the late organization will be count
ed; in no case can a longer time or
membership be put down to a mem
ber's ccoun than he has been in his
late organization.' Mr.. Hueber made
a long speech criticising the English
dele"ates for non-actiOn on this rec
ommendation. He did not ask for
| their good WILL but proof Of solid
arity. Had they no report to make
| WHY nothing practical had been done
in the matter? Mr.. Appleton ex-
planned that the English trade
unions had high subscriptions
(dues) and important benefit funds,
while some Of the continental unions
had small subscriptions and no benefit
funds. AS a great many more CONT
mental workmen went to England than
the number Of Englishmen going to
the Continent. their unions might be
bankrupted if they admitted their for
eign comrades on the basis recon-
mended in the Christiania resolution.
1t was a subject that the English local
unions must fully discuss; no secre-
tary could impose his will on a union
in Great Britain. Some Of the English
un1Ons-the lacemakers. for example
had treaties with continental unions
with regard to the scale of prices and
interchange OF cards. The situation in
these regar0S was gradually becoming
more satisfactory. TO this explanation,
Mr.. Hueber said that if the English
wished, they could do better than they
were doing; the resolutions Of the Con-
ference should have been better re-
celved and conferred. England was
sending blacklegs to the Continent. MI.
fHuyslnans sale it set his teeth on
edge to hear the English and Ameri-
>SAA Ailt 'hAl III
principle Of democracy in order not to
apply resolutions which had been
passed. Democracy consisted in the
application OF decisions arrived at in
common. The English reminded the
rest OF their large numbers; the Ger
mans might, if they wished, do the
same. This discussion was next day
referred to by the london Daily
News as acrimonious" as between
the Germans and the English dele
orc faS hIrf flo ofto~ 1fo~~o oo-~;o4
ed entirely in making, without heat or
personalities, a plain statement of fact.
A little while later a third incident
occurred to reveol the spirit of intol-
erance actuetng the party whose
member believe its virtues entitle it
to rule. 1T came just after the Confer
ence had considered n accepted
without vote as a communication, the
following suggestion from the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor: That the
international Conference recommends
to h trade union centres Of all coun-
tries the discussion Of the proposition
Of establishing an International Fed
Grafton Of Labor, the autonomy of the
trade union movement Of each country
being ordained and guaranteed, the
purpose Of the federation being for the
protection and advancement of the
rights, interests, and justice of the
W~ageWorkerS Of ali countries and the
establishment of international frater-
nifty and SOlida rfty.' The French dele
gates introduced a proposition for the
transformation of the Conference Of
Secretaries into an International Trade
Union Congress. with delegates regu-
larly elected. "instead Of function
aries and which should discuss meas
ures already passed upon by Che
unions interested. Before the pro-
posers had submitted one word OF
argument in support OF their plan. Mr..
Hueber rose and read a joint declara-
ton giving the reasons of the ten
slSners why the proposition should be
rejected. 1t was signed by the dele
gates present from a majority of the
countries taking part in the Confer
ence. Mr.. Huysnlans had written the
paper and circulated it among the DEL