The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-09
TINE NEW YORK PRESS.
EDITORIAL oPmIoSs on THE LEADING JOURNALS
upoS CURRENT TOPiCs-CoMPfLED EVERY
pAY YoR rHR EVENING TELEGRAPH.


,rbo take the trouble to think, that the en-
,ctment OF an eigbt-hours labor law would
mo, prove to be the ultimatum of the class of
STorlmen that form the leaders in all such
movements.
Those who ask for legal protection against
tbe hard necessities Of a toiling life, are of the
came classes as those that usually prefer
striking for higher wages, to winning advance
,nept and commanding respect by thorough
application and prudent habits. Illinois, the
first State, we believe TO give the law trial, Is
nov enioying the cheerful experience OF test
A. its workings On Thursday last some
Thousands of Workmen and boys undertook TO
enforce the eight-hOur law IN chicago, Dy
taking possession Of the machipe-shops, plan
ing mills, lumber-yards, oar-shops, railroao
da1ots and other points where honest, steady
workmen were to be found at their daily tasks.
The authorities of the city appear to have
dome their best 20 check the progress OF the
disturbance; but a spirit Of lawlessness, un-
known i'm previous strikes, has clearly been
fostered by the worse than needless interie-
renee of the LegislatuF between the employed
and their EN- ployers.
The same condition Of affairs, but accompa
MED with less of physical force demonstra-
ton, prevails in other parts OF Illinois. AT
Springfield the eight-hour strikers already
number nearly thousand. The Wabash and
Western and the Chicago and Alton Railroad
Companies refuse to recognize the elght-hOur
system, and at several points on both roads the
employees have struck.
In st. Louis, where there is State law
similar to that of Illinois, mechanics OF various
crafts have agreed to strike not alone upon
the eight-hour question, but on a demand for
more wages as well Labor in st. Louis com
1nands higher price than in almost any other
city of the United States in spite OF the com
narrative dullness and the embarrassments from
which business of almost all kinds has sut-
fered. But what is that to those who stand
Hpon the high ground that the Legislature is
bound to secure to them short hours OF toll,
abundant employment liberal wages, and
generally improved state of existence
To attempt to show suchmen that ten hours
faithful daily service will produce twenty per
cent. worth more of manufactured stutfs than
eight hours service, would be words thrown
away. 1t would be vain even to try com
mon illustration on them. In a factory where,
under the old system, ten thousand dollars
worth is sent out every week, the years loss
ndder the new system of reduced hours would
simply amount to $4,000 That sum, at a
reduced rate of wages, corresponding to the
shortening of the working day, would not
involve, perhaps, great loss to the proprie-
tor. But it would represent, first, special
1oss to each individual workman, and would
be so much deducted from the industrial
wealth of the country. Are these points ever
canvassed at all at the meetings of Working
mems Unions
The short-hour strike has extended even as
far to the northwest as the thriving CONNER
Cal capital of Wisconsin. And there is every
reason to expect that the stimulus given to
strikers of every degree by the interference of
State Legislatures, will cause the movement to
spread, until hard experience brings the de-
auded workmen to their senses, and to some
proper understanding of economic laws.
Prussia and France Preparing for War.
From The Tribune.
The Peace Conference of the representa-
lives of Prussia France, England, AUSTRIA
Russia, Italy, Holland, and Belgium, which
will attempt to disperse the war cloud i'm
pending over Europe by pacific solution of
the Luxembourg question, assembled in Lon
don on Tuesday. Very little is known about
the real dispositions of France and Prussia.
Count Bismark few days ago officially de-
Clared that Prussia would accept the neutrali-
zation of Luxembourg, and Count MOuster on
the same day assured the foreign dipomatists
an Paris that basis had been agreed upon
which would secure the peace of Europe. Other
reports are less assuring. Thus, Earl Derby
stated in the British Parliament that he
hoped that peace would be restored, but that
70 his knowledge no basis had yet been def
nitely adopted. Whether the report that
France had consented to the abandonment of
her claims to Luxembourg, and that the Con-
Terence may oppose any enlargement of the
French frontier, has any official foundation is
doubtful.
In the meanwhile, both countries are ra-
ported to continue their ornaments, A few
days ago, the French 4Honitelr officially an
nounced that France had put a stop to all
military preparations; but the reports that
both powers are arming is repeated. The
charge Is lkely enough to be true. The
recent war between Prussia, Italy, and Aus
tria is warning as to the Indispensable necas
sity of not being too tardy in completing all
the necessary preparations, which neither
France nor Prussia can afford to overlook
Then both parties were secretly arming seve-
raj armies before the outbreak of hostilities.
both denied the charge; but when the openinp
of the war occurred, Prussia alone was fnUS
prepared, and Austria had to pay dearly fo,
her usual tardiness Instead of assuming tn,
offensive and carrying the war from the star
antO Saxony and Slesia, and thus closing tn
important mountain passes south of Saxon
and Silesia, she had to await and meet tn
hostile forces after they invaded Bohemia.
similar mistake on the part of Prussia o
france might cost the negligent power anothe
bohemian campaign.
The necessity of speedy and thorough prt
Parations lor war is all the greater, as, soone
or later, great, decisive war between the tw
countries Is inevitable. The consolidation
all the GERMAN States would build nm a natio
much superior to France in population an
power inns the French Government and