Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-03-22
LETTER FROM SWITZERLAND
The Labor Problem Not Likely TO be
Solved by the Berlin Conference.

The Labor Problem Not Likely TO be
Solved by the Berlin Conference.
BERNE, March 5th, 1899. Especial
Correspondence Of the DEsERET
NEws. THE eyes Of Europe are at
this moment resting upon Berlin.
On the fifteenth Of March a con-
ference will be held there which by
many is supposed to be the funda-
men. OF new era in politics and
political economy. To this con-
ference delegates from the various
powers Of Europe are invited, and
the object is TO discuss the labor
question, with n view of lettering
the conditions Of the laboring
classes rs far as practicable.
1t was a grand idea which lead to
the invitation TO this conference.
Cardinal Manning, the great oracle
of the English Romanists, says it is
the grandest idea ever conceived by
the German emperor, and | sup
pose the emperor is anxious to have
all the credit for the initiative. But
everybody knows that there is no
credit whatever due to him. The
initiative was taken not by the
German emperor, nor by any other
crowned head, but by the clear
headed, liberty-loving government
Of republican Switzerland. What
ever credit is due for the initiative
does, therefore, rightly belong to
Switzerland, not to Germany.
1t is no secret that the Swiss gov
eminent some time ago sent an in
yitatiOn to the various powers, in
Guiding Germany, asking them 10
send competent delegates to Bernc,
IN the month Of May, for
the purpose Of discussing the
labor problem. The German
rulers, grasping the idea, and
perhaps thinking il below their dig
nifty to send delegates TO Berne. at
once went TO work sending out in
vitatiOns to n conference in Berlin.
to be held in March, and to cover
the same ground, practically. as the
proposed Swiss conference. BY this
manpuvne the honor of the init |
alive and Of the conference itself
was transferred from Switzerland to 1
Germany. 1t will easily De per-
ceived that this way OF gaining
honOrs, although very questionable, |
is emphatically a German one.
For my own part, | 10 not believe 1
the conference will be of much 1
practical value, and with the excep-
ton OF those who always are at |
hand to blow the horn in front Of 1
the modern NimrOds, there are very 4
few who believe in the solution Of /
the labor problem at the conference 1
in Berlin.
In the first place, that problem is
one Of those which will have to Ice
solved in some way other than by
words. The troubles Of the laboring
classes have their roots too deep in
the present social conditions Of the
world. Trimming Off n little here
and \ little there will not cleanse
the field from the troublesome weeds
which smother the wheat. There
needs TO be thorough ploughing
over Of the whole field, and this
turning the whole ground upside
down no monarch will ever be
willing TO accede to, much
less propose. The Persian
despot who conceived the
grand idea Of bringing the waves
OF the ocean into submission by
whipping them, and the creatures {
which obeyed his orders with re-
gard TO that singular proceeding.
because he was n despOt, were moth 4.
ing but fools But it would probably
be just rs easy 10 scare the ocean
into obedience by n cat-O'-nine-taiIs
as 20 subdue the waves Of popular I
by any number Of words. :
In the second place, there is too /
much Jealousy among the powers to
admit OF any cordial, iona fde con-
about matters. Of inter.
national importance. England does
not hesitate ID say that she has
TO learn from Germany. c
France openly declares that Ger a
many has beaten her both in the i
POLITICAL and the industrial field. {
md that she now aims Gt beating her I
IN the battlefield Of political econo- 4
ny. "The year 1890, says xix. Sic a
te, will be the social Sedan of i
rance" The apparently friendly I
one Of Italy is more n matter OF Do :
iteness than real confidence in the 4
uccess. The social questions Of a
tally are not the same as those Of
Germany, and a conference about {
herman social difficulties is thought h
, be OF no practical value in Italy.
VOW, il may reasonably be asked. .
that practical results can be expected II
ON conference the delegates OF Is
.hich necessarily meet with so diff l.
rent or Indifferent, or even secret "
hostile feelings? None what a
yer. :;
Then, 1t is no mere pessimistic dis O:
OsitiOn to entertain the fear that II
he whole scene is only meant for a al
bod dramatic entertainment. OF
Reforms from above' have A. It
avs had more or less Of that char fl
ter. Wild beasts are "tamed'' by as
rst being starved and then petted a q,
Tile, and those reforms "from ~
,ove" have more or less of that mi
ming method in them. But there re
n great difference between wild We
asts and the laboring masses Of re
e nineteenth century. These last re
es have learnt that they are hu- tn
an beings, and as such are entitled vi
live and enjoy some degree of no
ppiness. They cannot any longer as.
tanned by the alternate starving IA
Il petting process. esi
The programme Of the Conference Of
The best justification Of the criti- fix
ms bestowed upon il. 1t pro- du
rs: /. To regulate the labor in the boz
riOus mines, and to discuss COZ
" far women and children sui
! be employed in work. .. To re- rul
late Sunday work: to say what the
l be done on a Sunday. aud what shs
/ not. s. To discuss how far :
ldIen can be employed in any in Der
trial labor. 4. To regulate the fol-
TX OF young persons and TO say S
at limitations there ought 10 be in " ,
t respect. 5. To regulate the or
TX Of women, and TO say how far age
rried women eau he employed in uDc
TX by day snd by night. dou
Vas there ever a more ridiculous S
,e than conference about what her,
programme promises TO he? Was foil
reever a more grim insult offered S
he laboring classes? eret
great number Of the working ass,
ses Of Europe toll from an early yea
7 in the morning till late NJ night neg