Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-03-06

last Wednesday in London, was rep
resentative OF 1896, 81 members, com
prised in 1876 trade unions (1,S5S ,OO1
members) two Socialist societies
(S1,2S7) the Woman's Labor League
| $4,000, and the Tunbridge Wells Co
operative Society (l073). Trades
Councils to the number OF 80 and 20
local Labor parties we're also repre-
scented. There were sos delegates.
These figures speak volumes of the
growth of the Labor Party. In the
membership was 1885, next year
it increased By about 100000, 'then4in
the third year there was an increase
of 100000 and the million was
touched in 1907. Last year the fig
ures were 1,539.092. The number Of
trade unions represented has decreas-
ed during the year from al to 1876,
due with one exception, to amalgama-
ton. Individual societies show aston
ishing increases. The Workers Union
has increased from 5000 to $4,000;
Dock, Wharf, Riverside and General
Workers union from $4,000 to $4,000;
Dock Laborers from 10000 to 10000;
Gas Workers from $4,000 to $4,000:
the National Amalgamated Union of
Laborers from $1,000 to $4,000, and
the Shop Assistants from $4,000 to
$4,000. In one Of the most important
questions with the Conference dealt
| it was decided to- withdraw the
whips from such members who in
parliament would not conform to the
party discipline. There are forty La
Dor M P.'s of whom thirteen are So
cialists. This accounts for it frequent
ly happening that members of this
small body act contrary to one anoth-
er, much to the discomfort OF the par
ty. The non-admission of the Social
list Lansbury, who resigned his seat
and fought and lost an election on the
woman's advertisement question,
was confirmed. The Capitalization OF
all election funds, the choice Of can
didates by a central body, and also
the question of founding a Labor
Party for Scotland were rejected.
With regard to enfranchisement 1t
was decided by two to one that the
party must vote against any bill which
does not include the :enfranchisement
of women. The miners, who number
d
the voting on this matter. A PROPOSE
ton that members should not accept
government offices was cast out. Inc
Conference decided to introduce
number of social bills, particularly IN
regard to State Unemployment lnsur-
ance for all workers without subscrlp-
ton on the part of the employee. For
the hard-pressed trade unionlsts IN
Bulgaria and Servie- one hundred
pounds were voted, and 1t was agreed
to issue an appeal on their behalf.
similar decision was come to Dy the
Trades Unions National Centre short
" before. The fact that the English
workers are beginning to show more
frequently their solidarity with the
workers of other lands in a practical
manner is the best proof OF the pro
gress of their movement. - The
strike of the taxi motor drivers con
tinues unchanged. The Union is in
negotiation for the purchase of 100
motor cars, which, perhaps, they will
be shortly able to put on the road
It is intended to increase the number
of cars to be run on cooperative
basis. - According to an official re-
port, 100 persons died OF hunger IN
England alone in 1912. = The Lon
don County Council has lately furn-
ished a training school for walters
and cooks. For the former there is a
one-year course and for the latter
three-years course. UP to the present
there has been great pressure for ad-
mission to the school: 1t. is curious
to note that it is recommended warm
" by the foreign hotel arrangements
and the very rich residents Of the vel
low" or Geneva union," though 1t is
only the outcome of the agitation
against foreign hands.