Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-05-08

The last echoes of the international
, May-day demonstration of Thursday las
are dying away, and we are better able
) to estimate the real strength of the
movement and its influence upon social
development. In this country the May
day demonstration, wherever made, was
confined solely to the eight-hour pro-
gramme. In the practical movement of
American workingmen for reduction
of the hours of labor there is nothing in
common with the Socialistic manifesto
tions on the Continent of Europe. While
in France and other portions of Europe
the workingmen devoted the occasion TO
appeals to governmental agencies in be-
half of labor, the self-rliant American
workingmen invoked no power but their
own.
In some of our larger cities employers
in the building trades have voluntarily
conceded the demand of an eight-hour
day. In others the result of the contest
has not yet been determined; but the
! prospect 10 bCtiltuIN III laNOi VI tllc
workingmen. Although the carpenters
were selected to open the campaign for
eight hours, the movement among them
is far from general. Many of them have
refused to engage III strike, on the
ground that they could accomplish their
purpose more speedily in another way.
1t may be conceded, however, that the
movement has been attended with a
large degree of success, although the
programme of its promoters has not been
realized. Such a revolution as this, in
volving as it does the most important in
dustrial operations, cannot be accom-
plished in Mayday or in year.
But what has been most gratifying in
this movement of American workingmen
is the fact that it has not been attended
by serious disturbance of public order in
any quarter. Nor has the first advance
in the eight-hour campaign justified the
gloomy predictions of an industrial
the beginning the existence of a strong
and growing public sentiment in favor of
areduction of the hours of labor wherever
this could be accomplished without en-
dangering industrial operations upon
which worklngmen, rs well as capital,
must depend for employment. This SEN
timent has greatly encouraged the work
ingmen in their peaceful campaign, and
1t will doubtless accompany them in each
successive march of the labor army un-
til victory shall have crowned the move
ment.
In portions of France and Spain the
May-day festivities were interrupted by
riots and disorders, which the troops re
pressed without difficulty. But gener
ally throughout Europe the day wa
marked by joyous parades and picnic
of the working people, and by increased
vigilance on the part of the authorities
which for the most part seems to hav
u tude and alarm among the wealth
classes. The dreaded phantom of Socia
ism refused to matcrialize, in spite c
- many provocations. In Germany tn
Socialistic leaders were too wary
y provoke conflict in which they an
'' their cause would not only have bee
put in the wrong but crushed by superic
~ power. Hence they counseled their fo
~ lowers to refrain from every demonstr;
, tion that might have afforded pretez
70 or an opportunity for the intervention {
force. AT the same time the Govern
ment wisely took the unofficial advice c
20 Bismarck and refrained from any intel
- ference with the popular celebrations.
Yet, while the May day demonstratio
Z of 1890 has passed off without seriou
= disturbances in Europe, it would be ras
= to conclude that the dangers whic
" threaten its social and political institr
" tions have also disappeared. There is n
I doubt that the Berlin Labor Conferenc
y and its promises have inspired the Euro
. pean workingmen with hope, and thr
. checked in some degree the sinister il
= fluences of Socialism. But should thes
y hopes be completely baked by deni;
u of the reasonable demands of labor, til
= next May-day demonstration in EuroT
i might wear quite different aspect frol
. the peaceful demonstrations of 1890.