LABOR NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 9835, 25 October 1895, Page 4

LABOR NOTES.

TRADES UNION CONGRESS AT CARDIFF.

ANIMATED PROCEEDINGS,

[From Oue Special Correspondent.]

London, September 7,

It Wis fully anticipated the proceedings at this year's Trades Union Congress would be exceptionally lively, and so far they have in no way belied that promise. The meeting is at* Cardiff, and opened as usual with the president's address. Mr John Jenkins fills this honorable office. He belongs to the working classes, but is a justice of the peace at Cardiff, and much respected. A member of the Town Council, it was not surprising (remarks the 'Daily News's' correspondent) that lie spoke with confidence and ease, to say nothing of accuracy and even elegance. After some natural indulgence of pride in his town, and remark that Labor had been led to expeot much from the new Government, he reproaohed working men with permitting the defeat of nob a few friends at the General Eleotion. They had much to learn, he pointed out, from publioans, landowners, and piraons, who had all combined to fight for their particular interests. It had been left to workpeople to rejoioo in the betrayal of their own advooates. Up to this point the address had bsen heard in silenoe, but now conflicting cries arose—not, however, strongly. They grew stormy when the president made a vigorous attaok on the Independent Labor party as responsible for injury to working clasa interests. Not one of that party's candidates was returned. Was it possible to conceive a greater exhibition of impotence, or smaller justification of the claim to act in the name of Labor ? The Independent Labor movement was really an anti-hbor, anti-trade union movement—a statement which the ossembly so loudly cheered that the protests could scarcely be heard. But when the president showed curiosity as to the source of the Independent Labor party's funds, which they had no difficulty in finding, his opponents, led by Alderman Ben Tillett, became vehement With shouts of "Yes, they did," and "Question." Mr David Holmes made an appeal for patience, but the moment he sat down a delegate in the body of the hall jumped up to exclaim that the president's remarks were a direct insult, whereupon that gentleman raised hearty laugh against his critic by calmly remarking: " They say that the wicked flee when no mau pursueth." Having challenged the Independent Labor parly to publish a detailed balance-sheet, he dealt with a large number of other subjects, speaking of the rapid advance of trade unionism since 1871, of the excellent taken by the late Government in adopting the eight-hours system, and of the necessity of insisting on employers' liability without contracting out. When it came to thanking the president for his address, the friends of the Independent Labor party tried to return the blow given them by "Honest John," whose straightforwardness on this occasion had done much to justify that title. It was proposed as an amendment by Mr Pete (sic) Curran, of London, Independent Labor candidate for Barrow at the last election, that the president's strictures on the Independent Labor party should not be published by the Press, an artless demand which the Congress, with thirty journalists at work amongst them, greeted with merriment. They decided that, instead of moving an amendment, the Socialists must be content with holding up their hands against the vote of thanks. This point settled, less than a dozen hands were displayed as hostile to the vote, while about 300 were on the other side. Now was the time according to agreement for raising the vexed question of the radical reform made in the constitution of the Congress by the Parliamentary Committee. There was a full attendance of delegates, and during the hour and a-half passed since the opening of the sitting the public seats had been nearly filled. In that part of the hall were three or four hundred ladies and gentlemen, including Mr Burnett and Mr Llewellyn Smith, of the Board of Trade Labor Department; Mr Spicer, M.P. ; Mr Byles, of Bradford; Lady Dilke, Mr Sidney Webb, a representative of the Belgian Government, and two gentlemen from the American Federation of Labor —namely, Mr S. Crampertz and Mr P. J. Maguire. At the instance of Mr John Burns, M.P., prompted probably by recollections of hospitality in the United States, the Congress rose and gave three hearty cheers for the two last named. They and the others named were invited to come ■ to the platform, but preferred to remain in the balcony. In the same quarter were several representatives of the excluded Trade Councils. Mr Havelock Wilson, M. P., then came forward with the resolution which he postponed to avoid spoiling the trip down the Bristol Channel. It was to

the effect that the Parliamentary Committee had exceeded their instructions in putting the new standing orders into force without having submitted them to the Congress. Of tho merits of the new rules—the increased stringency of qualification for membership of the Congress, the exclusion of trade councils, and the redistribution of voting power—the motion, it will 4>e seen, said nothing. Moreover, Mr Wilson protested that his concern was all for constitutional procedure in other words, it had nothing to do with the interests of the Independent Labor party, a declaration received with approval. A peculiar line was taken by Mr G. N. Barnes, as a delegate of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers. He was instructed to vote against anything hostile to the new rules, but he spent his ten minutes in protesting against that obligation. It did nol occur to him that he could have avoided the obligation by staying at home. There was a Btartling interruption when Mr P. W. Pai-nel', of the London | Cabinetmakers, said that Mr Mawdsley, a member of the Parliamentary Committee, had admitted that his colleagues and he knew they were acting illegally. " That's a lie," exclaimed the Rupert of tne Committee. There were cries of "Order,"only provoking Mr Mawdsley to repeat hi* strong language. By way of explanation, speaking afterwards in defence of the Parliamentary Committee, he was listened to with much favor, Mr John Burns showing particular approval of his remarks. " Order, order !" said Mr R. Fail-bairn sternly. "I am one of them," retorted the Battereea representative, "and I have a right to say «hear, hear.'" Mr Fairbairn's reply, though delivered with great energy, was not easy to understand. It had reference to the rejection of his credentials at the last Congress, a grievance which he mentions in season and out, of season, although fully recognised in the present Congress as a delegate of the Thames Watermen and Lightermen. It may be necessary to explain that although Mr Burns is one whom the new Standing Orders (which he approves) would exclude from the Congress, ho is present as a member of the Committee responsible for them. A speech by Mr Hudson (Darlington) excited such .conflicting feelings among the Parliamentary Committee that the President specially called them to order, adding, amid loud laughter: "They are making so much noise on the platform." As a member of the Committee, Mr E. Cowey was looked to with interest when he rose. The diift of his speech was that previous to the much-criticised reorganisation the Congress was leaving trade union for political lines, a change so bad that it would be better for each party to go its own way. A second address from Mr Pete Curran drew upon him the wrath of Mr Hodge, of Manchester. This gentleman was reminded of Satan rebuking sin when Mr Curran praised Mr Broadhur3t, whom ho formerly traduced. The much-abused and equally bepraised chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, Mr David Holmes, practically confirmed the view that their action was aimed against politicians, a word which in tho Congress means the Independent Labor party. He held that the gathering ought not to be turned into a political pandeironium as it had been of late. Many of his hearers heartily approved this proposition. He scored most heavily, however, when he declared that on the 16th October tho Committee unanimously resolved not only to set a sub-committee to revise the Standing Orders, but to apply the reformation to the present Congress, and that among those who joined in the act were Alderman Tillctt, Mr Will Thome, Mr Broadhurst, M.P., and MrHavelock Wilson, M.P., now in .favor of the motion under consideration. A question of privilege was raised by Mr Sexton immediately after lunch. A gentleman in the "Strangers' Gallery," he said, was distributing an outrageous libel upon Mr Havelock Wilson. He was goiDg further, when the president interposed with the statement that Mr Wilson was aware of the fact and said " Let them go on distributing." The Congress gave a cheer in recognition of Mr Wilson s manly sett-restraint, and the question of privilege was not pressed. Recognising as practical men that two hours and a-half were enough for the general discussion, they agreed that the speakers henceforth should be members of tho Parmentary Committee only. Then Mr Ben Tillett came forward, and in a voice which might have been heard half a mile away had the meeting been in the open air, and which threatened to cause more than one headache, maintained that when his friends and he, as a member of the Parliamentary Committee, instructed a sub-commiUee to revise the Standing Orders, and decided that the result should apply to this Congress, they did not suspect that the revision would outstep the powers of tho Committee. After developing this point he went upon the warpath. John Burns was a hero and a martyr, and, like most heroes and martyrs, he made a, tremendous noise when sacrificed. If he left tho Congress he would no doubt take all the brains with him. Mr Holmes had laid that his business was to uphold the status quo, but when it served his purpose he said: "Away with the status quo and damn any principle of democracy." This was too much for a gentleman in the body of the hall. He rose to a point of order couched in these terms: " All the gas that Ben Tillett is saying on the platform has nothing to do with the resolution." The president did not see any light and leading in this interruption, and Mr Inskip, of Leicester, then spoke in a sense contrary to Mr Tillett's, winning, it was impossible to avoid seeing, far more applause. The former organisation of the Congress, he urged, was not in the interest of Labor. It was in the interest of men whose chief wish was to advertise themselves men not content to climb the ladder step by step in their own unions. Criticising the opposition, he remarked that "if it suited Ben Tillett, it was right enough now, but as it did not suit him he was against it." "A lie!" interjected Mr Tillett, whereupon the president once more appealed to the members of the Committee to restrain themselves. Mr Broadhurst, M.P., supporting Mr Wilson's proposal, did much by his tact and good humor to soothe the excited feelings. When Mr Bums, M.P., rose the large audience in the gallery joined with the delegates in cheering, whereat the President remarked that it was the second time they had so offended, and begged them not to do it again. Mr Burns, with all his well-known vigor, supported the new Standing Orders as just, democratic, and consistent, though they would ultimately compel him to walk out of that Congress. Worried at one part of his speech by interruptions, he exclaimed: '' Half a moment. One dog one bone is the democratic maxim, and I am going to have my share to-day." His hearers were much tickled by this revised version of a familiar political watchword. As soon as he ceased there were loud cries for a division, but the important question arose: Was the voting to be by show of hands, according to the old system, or by ca r d, under the new? The difference is vital, for the latter plau gives voting power in proportion to the numbers represented. The President ruled in its favor, and for the next ten minutes the Congress was a scene of hopeless confusion. An announcement by the Chairman of the Standing Orders Committee that that body were in favor of the president's ruling was listened to in comparative quiet, but when Mr Harvey finished speaking, the hubbub broke out afresh. There were such cries as " Shame," " I shall leave the Congress," "This is a bit of trickery." In the meantime the president rang the bell with heroic persistence, disregarding several gentlemen who, with almost equal perseverance, shouted "I move that you leave the chair." "Sit down," said he to one particularly noisy delegate. " Sit down yourself," was the reply. Tellers having been sent round, a couple of them came back with the information that some members refused to vote, while others did not know what the question was. The resolution was therefore read again, causing renewed uproar. The delegates, however, gradually cooled down as the tellers went on with their work, and finally the president was able to announce the rejection of the motion, the representatives of 357,000 unionists having voted for it, and tho delegates of 604,000 against it. Thus the revolution effected by the Parliamentary Committee is confirmed. Having devoted nearly all day to the subject, the Congress adjourned. There is much rejoicing among the old unionists at their victory over the Social-

«... ir* mm >?T m - . • ■■ . * ists, forthe division was taken on the issue least favorsbb to the former, as overybodyi knows.tbat neither Mr Broadbtittf nor Mr Hayetook Wilson belongs to the Independent Labor party, and they were far from beiDg alone in objecting! rather to the enforcement of the new constitution before it had been discussed by the Congress, than to the constitution itself. Were the latter; debated on its merits, an unlikely event, the majority in its favor would be much larger than that which has rejected Mr Havelook Wilson's proposal. To-day's proceedings were watched from the gallery by Mr Tom Mann, whom the new rules have excluded from the Congress. Mr Hammill, who is in the same position, is in Cardiff. Mr Burns, M.P., and Mr Broadhurst, M.P., will cease to be members of the Congress when the Parliamentary Committee for next year is appointed. ___^_________