New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-12
LABOR QUESTIONS ABROAD.
PRUSSIA.
THE LABOR QUEsTIoN-A woRKNGMANs fAHIi
. --STHIKES t..
,vpou ORR owS CORRESPONDENCE

BERLIN. January 14.-In Prussia where there IL no
landed aristocracy and concentration Oh wealth III
the hands Of few capitalists the advanced nDera
sentiments of the ruling classes are represented ia
the Chamber by men of learning aud ability, but, as
. General thing not in aiiluent circumstances; they
hove distinguished themselves by their consistent
and uncompromising advocacy of progressive prin-
ciples As a consequence many of the industrial
classes in their struggle for equal power, consider
themselves obliged to unite upon principles OF their
own far in advance of those which find favor among
men occupying more independent social POSITION
and the contest has taken the form OF radicaliSm
against progressive doctrines it is one OF IaDoilhg
men as such against the progressive party hitherto
the deputies belonging to the latter party nave
claimed to represent the laborng men, and not
without reason for under the peculiar election laws
of Prussia the deputies chosen by electors ana
much larger number of voters of that class is re-
ouired to choose an eector than of any other mus
numerical strength does not count for much among
them and they have not succeeded i'll electng SIN
ole deputy from among their own ranks. In the
North German Diet, Oh the contrary, where uhiNei-
sal suffrage prevails and the members are CHOSEN
directly by the voters without electors they nave
already six or eight representatives. AS the tihc
approaches for the new elections both parties nave
beco,pe more active IN their efforts to influence
with the great mass of laboring men. The progress
slye party demands of the Government dlsarha-.
ment and the consequent decrease OF the expenses
of the military establishment and decrease
of taxation. The radicals go much further. Last
Sunday in this city, at general meeting Oh INC
German Workngmen's Union, composed OF % dele-
Gates renresenting over 10000 contributing MEM
bers most efficiently organized, aud total consul
tnencv of about 100000 the leading doctrines which
a "
sion was confined to three subjects-the military
establishment; the new law OF North Germany
securing Freedom of industrial pursuits; and landed
property As regards the first Of these the assembly
declared the standing army to be the chlef support
of the present reactionary governments, and al the
same time the means of plunderng society; demo-
cratic principles everywhere demand general arma-
ment of the people instead of the standing army;
The law regulating industrial pursuits was uecIa!eu
to be progressive step in the deyelOpmcntGl ihuuS-
trial freedom, but in the unequal conflict DetWeell
labor and capital II only promotes thG Sliehg'u VI
the latter; the more the power OF caplt increases,
so much greater will be the difference III class
between proprietoIS and those without property ana
so much nearer will be the solution OF the social
question for that reason increase III soca,lou lnuI
trial freedom is to be greeted with JOY rs icgdiuS
the third subject. that of landed properly me us
cusSions and the resolution adopted were calculated
TO startle those ndisposed to push their search Tor
truth to whatever extent they may leIo' OIo
speaker said that the sole capital possessed o. every
one is the capacity To work, and the SOIL Is te means
for giving to that capital its proper Vaue therefore,
tlre earth is the property of humanity anu u Is inc
viii of the Creator that the existing Inequality ne
set aside and the landed property OF humanity De le
conquered for humanity. The peasant, however,
should not be told that the land Is not MS properly;
but on the principle of productive ASSOCIATION ana
with the assistance OF the Deputies from among the
labOrers in the Legislature the properly shouid DC re-
acquired by legal means for the entire nation AS
The labOrers 81 per cent ana the prOpfleto!s -
per cent of the population. the laborers are the real
of he With the
productive association, and with the assistance OF
the State the work of DISCRIMINATION begins Inc
sneaker proposed that the General Assembly declare
il to be selfevident that, IN the socal-de,
mocratic condition of society 10 be sought for all
means of production, including the soil as the piinc-
pal productive source, should be common properly.
The remaining speakers used pretty mucn the same
language, and the resolution was una IMAM
adopted. Throughout the discussion tnoio was "
W6GG3 o csd2n2ey Tie Impression that the pro-
pressiye party has lost all influence the work
ingmen proof of the contrary has very recently
come to light. Waldenburg is the center of coal
region in Lower Silesa where up to about the LIST OF
December 1000 miners found employment, III p
mines, for wages very low even for GeImany-a cut
ter the best workman. receiving - cents per day;
and carrier receiving % cents per day In 1865. the
right of combination against employers was
conceded by law to all wOrkingmen IN North
Germany, and III short time trade unions
sprung up in every part of the country. the miners
Of Wadenbmg forming a union among themselves.
Supported. probably urged, by Herr Schulze-Dc-
ltzSch aud other leaders OF the progressive party
with promises of support from other unions through
out the country. these miners demanded higher
wages and being refused, struck IN the early part OF
last month, and nearly G,0OO wOrkmen were thrown
out of employment. The prOpTictOrs combined
among themselves, and refused to hear any PROPOSE
tons until the man making II should Withdraw from
the union, or to employ workman belonging 10 the
union Thus the employers attempted to compel the
workmen to rcnonnce rlght winch thcy themselves
exercised in attempting to bring about tins renunca-
IN way which might prevent its leading 10
any beneficial influence III the futnre so
fan as the laborer is concerned. At the
end of the month the funds OF the union
were completely exhausted. the strikers lost
100000 in wages and $4,000 had to be expended 10
supply their wants. About 800 all married men with
families seeing themselves threatened with extreme
poverty, acceded to the terms OF the employers and
returned to work, and about 300 railroad bands, who
knew little or nothing about mining. were secured
with tins small working force IT IS now attempted 10
supply the temporary wants OF the many gas and
railroad companies that depended upon those mines
The remaining wOrkmen, mostly unmarried men,
still hold ont the members of tie progressive party
regard their that OF Industrial free
DOM and exert themselves 10 the utmost IN
their behalf raising contributions and pro-
curing employment for them elsewhere. BY
their eXertiOns employment has been OBJ
tanned for over thousand III Vest halia Thus far
although the wOTkmen have suffered very much,
they have conducted themselves in very peaceful
and exemplary manner, and 1T is very probable that
in the end the disadvantage will be on the side OF
the employers; for even If they have workmcn now,
and should succeed in obtaining a full complement
of workmen not belonging 10 aunion what security
themselves! Herr Schulze-DetZsch has written
lettern which he lays down the princpes-fIst. that
the concession of full liberty in industry. well aS
complete political equality. is the most effective
means which the State adopt for tho solution OF
the social question; and secondly, that only on the
basis of this perfect freedom and equality for all
classes of society can the SOcalistic demands OF
material subventiOn from the State DC cflectually
opposed.
COOPERATION IN SPAIN.
POPULAR DISCUSSIONS UNKNOWN-A SPANISH
COOPERATIVE SCHOOL.
R,pCrtoNA Dec 15-Tha movement of the