The New International Encyclopædia/Labor Congresses

LABOR CONGRESSES. Assemblages of the representatives of organized labor. They owe their origin to the association of laborers in trades unions. The congresses have been both international and national. The first International Labor Congress was called by the International Association of Laborers at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1866. About sixty delegates from England, France, Germany, and Switzerland were present, representing many kinds of labor. This congress urged the necessity for a firm alliance of laborers in order to maintain wages. Strikes, while a temporary necessity, were alleged to be due to transitory and abnormal conditions. The crux of the social question was declared to be the question of equal exchange. The congress favored the supplanting of interest by means of mutual credit organizations; condemned the industrial employment of women; and advocated technical education. The second International Labor Congress was held at Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1867, with delegates from the countries represented at Geneva, and from Italy and Belgium. Attention was called to the close connection existing between political liberty and social reform. Coöperative associations were opposed on the ground that they were selfish in character, while social reform could only be brought about by an agency acting upon the whole of society. In 1869 a third international labor congress was held at Basel, Switzerland. At this Russia, Austria, Germany, Spain, England, Italy, France, and Switzerland were represented. This congress by a vote of 54 to 4 declared: "Landed property should be abolished, the soil belongs to society, and is inalienable." It went further and demanded "the destruction of all States, national and territorial, and on their ruins the founding of the International State of Laborers." Other international labor congresses of less importance were held at Dresden (1871); The Hague (1872), the latter marked by a violent schism between the followers of Marx and those of Bakunin; Paris (1886); Berlin (1891); Zurich (1897).

The first international socialist labor congress was held at Paris in 1889, when it was decided that May 1, 1890, should be celebrated as a fête-day by socialistic laborers all over the world. A second avowedly socialistic labor congress met at Brussels in 1891. Nearly 400 delegates were present, representing America and every European country except Russia and Portugal. The topics discussed were: legislative protection of labor; the eight-hour day; the laws regulating strikes and boycotts; the duty of workmen with respect to militarism and universal suffrage. Eighteen countries were represented by 385 delegates at Zurich, Switzerland (1893). This congress refused to admit avowed anarchists. A fourth congress, attended by 800 delegates representing Australia and Argentina in addition to Europe and the United States, convened at London in 1896. Seats were again refused to the anarchist delegates. Resolutions were adopted opposing standing armies, favoring the abolition of the capitalistic class, and advocating the nationalization of the land and the socialization of industry.

Since 1890 international congresses of miners have been held annually in various European cities. Of late years the radical socialists have dominated these meetings, and have passed resolutions for the establishment of a fixed minimum wage and the nationalization of the mines.

National labor congresses have been held at irregular intervals in some countries, annually in others. In Great Britain there have been annual congresses since 1868, 34 delegates attending the first in Manchester. Those in attendance now are numbered by hundreds. These congresses, working through their Parliamentary committees, have secured considerable remedial legislation. Many of the national labor congresses have been anarchistic, as for example those at Lyons (1878), Havre (1880), Barcelona (1881), Chiasso (1883). In the congress at Wahren (1879) it was decided to organize the German Socialistic party. See Socialism; Trade Unions.