The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-09
GERMANYS SOCIALISTS.
THE EMPERORs REsORIPr HELP
ING THEIR CANVASS.

Steau OF hntruStlng IL TO Ineir Nat
ural Enemies-A General European
Conference Not Probable.
copyrighted 1890, BY the Nelo York associated
PresSl
BERLIN. Feb. S.-Opinions incline to the
view that the emperor's socialistic PROPOSE
tion will never lead to any practical result,
and the more closely the rescripts are ex-
amined, the more the skepticism grows 1t
Is already recognized as altogether improba-
bic that the European powers, il ever in
vited, will consent to take part in such an
international conference as that upon
which the emperor addressed Prince Bis
marck in his first rescript. England,
France, Belgium, and Switzerland are
named by the emperor as involved
in his scheme, but this use
of the names Of these states has been made
without any understanding with any one of
them. His majesty, in fact, only says that
he desires that the ambassadors of those
nations be sounded on Une subject but he
does not even direct the opening of negotia-
tlons, and, in fact, none have been opened
Not single stop has been taken toward
learning whether those powers approve of
such a conference.
SWITZERLAND OPPOSED.
1t has been published that Switzerland
accepts the project, but this is appare tly
an inference ba ed upon the fact that
Switzerland herself formerly endea vored to
initiate such proceeding. The report is
not based upon the existence Of any Official
document. 1t may also be msuuderstand-
ing, the Swiss convention to bo actually
held being confused witn the conference of
Emperor Williams scheme. On the con-
~
summary refusal OF the powers
to join in the scheme, If even they
are ever invited. The Marquis Of Salisbury
declined the Swiss invitation to a labor con-
ference. 1t does not follow that he would
refuse an invitation from the Emperor of
Germany because he refused one from the
Helvetian republic. but it indicates, at least,
tnat in Downing street just now they do
not take kindly to political moonshine. The
French PRESS as a whole, treats the mere idea
of confsre CO as an insult. The Swiss even do
not seem to like the notion THAT the move
may interfere with their conve tion to be
held in May. and are exclaiming against
such Interference.
TALK OF RESTRICTIONS.
The obvious futility of the general propo-
sitions touched In the rescripts has led TO a
report that the conference will ignore tho
subject of minimum wages and limit itself
to the consideration of indus rial employ
ment of women and children, the economic
and other aspects of the Sunday
labor and the eight hours
for a day movement. There is no
authority for this report, which impies;that
the project of the rescripts has got to the
point where regular programme has been
drawn up. That is not fact But even
if the scheme should get this far, and
be restricted as thus suggested, it
is considered that no practicable end could
be reached The sefni-official press admits
that this agreement upon the agenda of the
conference, upon the true basis of negotia-
tion and limitation of the inquiry, will, In
consequence of the differences in the sys-
TENS in the various countries be really a
difficult point but private opinion in all
official circles is that no conference will
ever meet.
A POSSIBLE RESULT.
II any important fact Is to flow from
these DEGREES it will be from that part OF
them which proposes internal changes, new
labor legislation, and reform of the rela-
tions existing between employers aud work
ers The first fact wilt be a special COM
mission which will be convened here to
prepare bills for the next Re chstag. This
is TO be composed in equal parts Of work
ingmen aud employers. Herr Stumm,
who next to Herr Krupp, is
the largest employer of labor
in the Rhineland. is likely to preside
over this commission. It's projects will be
examined by the council OF state before
they are submitted to the Reichstag. The
council of state is not body that possesses
in any great degree the confidence and good
will Of the populace, and workingmen
murmur at the notion that it is the first to
sit in Judgment upon the laws that are to
initiate their new Utopia. 1t Is said, there
fore, that the emperor will reorganize this
body. 1t is now composed of eighty
members, fifty of whom are
officials or generals, and there are only
eight men in it, of whom Herr Miguel is
one, who have any knowledge Of Industrial
subjects. The emperor proposes to appoint
on this body a certain number of working
men to assist in these deliberations For
this he has good precedent in the Prus.ian
economic council or Volks Wirtschafureitb,
fifteen members Of which are workingmen.
EFFECT ON THE CAMPAIGN.
The effect Of the DEGREES upon the elec-
toral canvass Is that they actually tend to
help the socialist party. This is surprise.
because at the first moment it did not look
that way. Indeed, the theory that the de-
crees were played as great stroke in the
game for votes seemed to be confirmed by
the staggering effect they had at the first
moment upon the socialist propaganda,
for they seemed to make socialism
itself unnecessary. But sober
second thought Is to the effect that the
DEGREES are an imperial recognition that
socialism is right and wise, and that what
it proposes is necessary for the country, and
thereupon the people say: "If this is what
we need, it Is better to have this gre t
reform carried out by its friends:
and why should we now abandon
them to put the good cause into the hands
Of those who hitherto have always been its
enemies" Hence the socialists accept the
emperor's DEGREES as a monument of their
victory over the chancellor, whose re-
peated denunciations of their ideas as
purely chimerical are now forcibly quoted
against him.
THE SOCIALISTS BUSY.
Herr Vollmar, speaking at Munich, said
the party hailed with rejoicing the pros
pect of Improvement and progress revealed
by the emperor's attitude, but insisted upon
the necessity that the socialists must closs
up their ranks in order to make sure reali-
zatton Of the empsror's promises
Herren Bebel, Singer and Liebknecht held
consultation before permitting an author
lied criticism that appeared in the BerLtner
VOtcsbtdtt. They agreed upon an article in
the anne vein as Herr Vollmar's speech. and
advised workingmen to accept with vel
come approaches from the throne that
approved and justified their own theories.
but to accept all this with an ultimate reli-
ance upon their own strength; 10 trust the
emperor, but TO keep the party together