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THE FIGHT FOR EXISTENCE 199
strike had been put down upon the agenda
for discussion.
In the report of the Jura section it was declared :
"If the workers affiliated with the Association could fix
a certain day for the general strike, not only to obtain a
reduction of hours and a diminution * of wages, but also
to find the means of living in the cooperative workshops,
by groups and by colonies, we could not decline to lend
them our assistance, and we would make appeal to the
members of all nations to lend them both moral and
had lit-
material aid." (8) Unfortunately, the congress
tle time to discuss this part of its program. In the
Compte-Rendu OfRciel there is no report of whatever
discussion took place. But Guillaume, in his Documents
et Souvenirs, gives us a brief account of what occurred.
After two resolutions had been put on the subject they
were withdrawn because of opposition, and finally Guillaume
introduced the following:
"Whereas partial strikes can only procure for the
workers momentary and illusory relief, and whereas, by
their very nature, wages will always be limited to the
strictly necessary means of subsistence in order to keep
the worker from dying of hunger,
"The Congress, without believing in the possibility of
completely renouncing partial strikes, recommends the
workers to devote their efforts to achieving an international
organization of trade bodies, which will enable
them to undertake some day a general strike, the only
really efficacious strike to realize the complete emancipation
of labor." (9) All the delegates approved the
resolution, excepting Hales, who voted against it, and
Van den Abeele, who abstained from voting because the
matter would be later discussed in Holland.
* Probably intended for "increase of wages," but this is as it
reads in the official report.