The Trade-Union Congress was opened on Monday at Leeds under
the presidency of Mr. R. Bell, M.P., four hundred and fifty-one delegates being present, representing a member- ship of over a million and a half. Mr. Bell in his presidential address on Tuesday criticised the Government severely for their Chinese labour policy in South Africa, and their Welsh Coercion and Licensing Bills at home. They had made no attempt at Labour legislation, though there were many urgent questions, such as the reform of the Workmen's Compensation Act and some amendment of the law of trade disputes, which deserved attention. The only suggested remedy for the obvious ills of the country was Mr. Chamberlain's scheme, and this was merely a capitalists' move which would not deceive a single working man. The present Government must go, and to effect this Trade-Unionists must co-operate with all who had the good of the people at heart and were sworn to defend the principle of Free-trade. We are glad to see Mr. Bell taking so clear-sighted and statesmanlike a view. Protection is, indeed, the gravest existing menace to the prospects of English Labour, and it can only be defeated by all sections of Free-traders standing shoulder to shoulder. On other points in his speech we have commented elsewhere.
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