New-York tribune., 1890-08-31
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
AN EPIDEMIC OF STRIKES AND LABOR
TROUBLES.

TATo BLIGHT-wELsH FARMERS AND
HUSSARS-SIR CHARLES DILKE'S
PROJECTS-THEATRIOAL NOTES.
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.J
Copyright: 1890 By TheNew York Tribune.
London, Aug. 30.-Immensc interest is being
.al1en by the British workingman in the labor
strikes which appear to have broken out in the
form of an epidemic throughout the civilized
world. Although the Knights of Labor have
never succeeded in establishing kindred organi-
cation in Great Britain, considerable interest
has been felt in the New-YorI Central and the
Chicago difficulties because at the present moment
the British workman has similar disputes on
hand. There is serious difficulty at southampton,
which may not only affect the railways entering
that port, but also the leading shipping COM
panics The employers are not unwilling to give
substantial concessions, but decline absolutely TO
deal with unions The Tilbury dockers, who
failed to terrorize the company there into dis
charging two or three blacklegs, have now seri-
Gus dispute with their own chiefs. The leaders
Of the Dockers' Union have refused TO grant
strike pay to the doclers at Tilbury because
they went out without sufficient reason or au-
thority. The men are vowing vengeance against
the leaders, and threatening TO start rival union
Another subject of wide interest at the present
moment arises out of the proposal of the Dockers
Council TO close their books against the admission
Of any more members, and to constitute the union
into q cooperative guild which shall undertake
the work of discharging cargoes in its corporate
capacity. If the scheme is adopted, it will leave
a large residuum of poor. unskilled half-starved
laborcrs excluded from work by the dockers'
rules who will either become source Of danger
to society pauperized and thrown upon the
public rates. The result TO the union would be
the shortening of labor 10 eight hours If this
proves insufficient 10 give employment to all
members the hours would be shortened 10 seven
and perhaps even to six But there would be no
corresponding diminution of payment. 1t is not
likely that the employers will readily agree to
accept this latest nostrum of Mr.. John Burnss
The proposed combination of shipowners grows
apace and meetings are being held at Glasgow,
Newcastle and other places, supporting the
general idea that shipowncrs should combine for
defensive purposes. Next week will witness an
important gathering in London to decide how far
the combination shall go. and what clements shall
be embodied in the scheme.
Transcending in importance all these trade
questions within the British Isles is the
state of things which prevails in Aus
tralia. Every day has brought of
the agsravation of the crisis The calling out of
the military as well the vast area over which
the disputes extend, testify to the severity of
the struggle. The British DoclleTs Union dis
plays a sense Of deep gratitude for the help il
received from Australia twelve months ago, and
is keenly anxious TO give Australia good return
in exchange for that liberaity. II is only today,
however, that the dockers leaders obtained trust
worthy news as To what was required Of them.
In addition 10 the proposal to boycott all ships
arriving from Australia which the Colonial unions
bo, rla into be is
made TO remit funds Straightway all the pro-
vincial branches throughout Great Britain were
instructed to make daily levy, and to invite
local unions of other trades to contribute.
meeting of delegates is to be held at once TO
organize national subscription, manifestoes are
to be issued in East London inviting assistance.
and proposal is to be made at the Trades Union
Congress at Liverpool to recommend the move
ment to every trade society throughout the King
dom The struggle in Australia is evidently going
to be matter of life and death between labor
and capital. Every day telegrams show that
the conflict is extending to trade societies which
are far removed in the first instance from the
original disputants This is easily understood
when we remember how compactly trade unionisn
is federated in the Antipodcs. The employers,
too. are evidently standing shoulder u shoulder,
and the struggle which most of the visitors u
Australia have long anticipated is now raging.
II is expected that the English contributions 10
lie Australian workingmen will probably approach
100000.
Very little importance is attached in official cir
cles TO Emperor Williams recent visit TO the Gar
Much lecway had to be made up even TO ap-
proXimate confidence in each other before the
two rulers could possibly arrange confidential re-
lations develop anything like new policy.
In Russia Emperor William is regarded Eighty
and erratic. and as an obstinate young man whose
quarrels with his mother and Prince Bismarck.
and whose coquetting with Socialism have
excited distrust and disgust on every side.
Excepting that the visit has improved the rcla-
tions between two courts, stimulated the pro
fessions of anxiety for peace, and possibly paved
the way for revision of the Russo-tierInan tariff
il is not believed that the recent interview has
produced any definite results. Observers noticed
with what punctilious ceremony the two Emper-
ors treated each other and how Emperor William
seemed 10 chafe under the coldncss which per-
vaded every function. Some accounts assert that
he left Russia in no pleasant frame of mind, and
that he was anxious 10 remove the eStrangement
which Prince Bismarck's policy had created, but
that he found Emperor Alexander lacking i'll
anything like responsive spirit The English
Foreign Office is undoubtedly possessed with a
notion that Emperor Williams visit has pro-
duced no political fruits. and has merely improved
and that slightly. the personal relations between
the two Emperors.
learn from the same source that no importance
is attached to the Portuguese objection TO the
recent agreement between England and Portugal
The diatribes Of the Lisbon press are only found in
the Opposition journals whose chief object is t.,
secure a change Of Government The Lisbon
Cabinet has given Lord Salisbury such complete
assurances of its anxious desire frankly to accept
the new arrangement that the British Foreign
Office seems perfectly satisfied that the arranLe-
ment will bc faithfully recognized.
Not only is Ireland suffering from the potato
blight, but also from a failure in many of the
crops. owing 10 q want Of fine weather. Cn-
fortunately it is just the poorest part of tic