Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1910-09-15
(From our Correspondent
london. August SOth, 1910.

the policy of an International
strike of sailors during October,
the object being to compel ship
owners in this country and else
where to agree to the formation
Of Cancellation board authorized
to discuss various grievances
which sailors suffer from. The
strike is to be international in
character and the object aimed at
is to bring about a more or less
complete suspension of shipping
operations in the leading ports Of
Europe until the masters agree to
the men s demands.
The membership of the English
union is about $4,000. Support has
been promised from Germany and
generally speaking it is the young
men who are the backbone Of the
movement Details of funds in
hand are NOT available but there
seems nj doubt that d large pro-
portion Of the English union mem
bership could be maintained for
at least the threatened fortnight
with the aid Of some outside sup
port.
Legislation has done something
to better the lot Of the British sea-
men in recent years but conditions
are still bad. The fact that every
British vessel is now compelled to-
carry an exuerienced cook shows
how very bad things were. The
twenty-dollar per month rate OF
wages is one big trouble and the
minimum wage of thirty dollars
is what is being asked for. The
International Congress of Carry
ing Trade Employees has formulat-.
ed a list of minor demands which
include the abolition of the i'm
prisonment of seamen for desert
ing their vessel when in safe har-
Dor; and at least Is per cent OF
the deck crew (offcers not conut-
ing) are to be able seamen know
ing sufficient Of the language to
understand the orders OF the Off
GERS.
The exclusion Of the Municipal
Employees Trade Union from the.
meetings Of the forthcoming
Trace Unions Congress puts into
practical effect for the first time
a resolution adopted at the Con
gress in 1906. 1t was then decid-
ed that any method Of organiza-
ton which seeks to divide work
men employed by public authori-
ties from their fellows in the same
occupations employed by private
firms is detrimental to the inter-
ests Of trade unionism. The Joint
Board dlayed taking action in or
der to give the members Of the
organization affected an oppor-
tunity to join national unions rep
resentative Of their particular
trades, but 1910 was fixed as the
time limit. After that date no
recognition was to be given to any
sectional union. The Municipal
Employees Union comes under
that prohibition, and as a conse-
quence it has been excluded from
representation at the Congress in
spite of an appeal for rehearing
Of the case.
Perhaps the question Of ques-
tions that will come up for consld-
Grafton before this approaching
British Trade Union convention
will be that concerned with the
Osborne Judgment. It is now old
news that the Osborne case
Fought by the Amalgamated So
ciety Of Railway Servants from
the lowest court to the last court
of appeal the House Of Lords
and lost) orders that no union
funds must be used in support OF
political action and it is easy to
see that along with political ac-
ton go many things that unions
for years have considered that
they were right in spending their
money upon.
As a matter of fact, the real
reason for the Osborne case being
brought at all against the union
was the gradual growth Of the
power Of the Labor party IA Par
| lament commencing with the year
1906, when the party was first
formed there. Prior to that the
earlir and qualify infamous Taft
Vale decision had made all trade
unions liable in money for the ac-
lions of their members. As con
sequence five years before, the
Amalgamated Society Of Railway