The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-27
LABOR DAY" IN EUROPE.
a DEMONSTRATION ON May l BY
OLD WORLD wORKINGMEN.

The Men W no VIII A4hESnal bno
Hosts-socialist Influences May Mar
the Day on the Contiuent-The De-
plorable Condition Of European
Labor Many Strikes in England.
The Eight-Eour Battle Cannot be
Fought Yet.
CCopwiglt)
LONDON, April 1s.-As May 1 ap-
breaches the preparations for the great
labor demonstration by the workingmen of
Great Britain, France Belgium, Germany
and some parts Of Southern Europe on that
day are assuming definite shape. Although
the original proposition was that it should
be simply an international labor holiday IN
three countries at least-England, France
and GermanY-it viii really be a demon
stration for the eight-hour workday as well.
In London alone nearly $500 men will
take part in the demonstration at Hyde
park, almost every trade being represented,
skilled and unskilled workmen uniting for
the occasion. 1t is expected that fully
100000 will be in the parade. In Liverpool,
Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Dundee, Dub
lin, Nottln CHAM, Shields and several other
large manufacturing and mining cities, the
day will be observed by parades and meet
lngs. The police authorities have been
quite as busy as the unions preparing for
the event; but no serious disturbances are
anticipated.
On the continent the prospect is equally
good for very general observance OF the
day. There will be big demonstrations at
Paris, Marseilles, Lyons, and it Is believed
that unless the parade at Berlin Is prohib-
tied, it viii be very nearly as large as that
in London. Austria has already forbidden
any demonstration on May l. The workers
of Italy, Belgium, and Spain will march IN
some few cities, but their numbers Will be
comparatively small
There is hardly doubt that the English
demonstration will be peaceful one. After
the parade, the men will . assemble and
listen to speeches by such well known labor
orators as William Crawford Of the miners
association and great authority on the
coal trade. He represents one of the largest
trades unions in the world. Henry Broad
hurst. the working stone-rnason who was
appointed to office by Gladstone while
the latter was premier; Charles
Fenwick, the coal-heaver, who went
straight from the pit TO parlia.
ment; Tom Burt, the printer, who also
went from the workshop to perform the
duties of a representative, and William
Abrams, the Welsh poet and singer from
ment by the cotton spinning interest, will
all be prominent in the demonstration.
John Burns, who led the great dock strike
some time ago, and whose health has COIL
PEELED him to seek rest and seclusion in Corn
wall for several months past, is expected to
be able TO attend and make a speech.
Should he be present at the Hyde park
meeting he will probably take the lead, and
there is still little danger of the proceed
ings becoming of such a character as would
warrant police interference. One of the
most picturesque figures will tie that of
Abrams, the Welsh poet, whose gigantic
frame and powerful voice are well known
and loudly hailed in labor assemblages.
Although there is very general talk in
business circles about the revival of trade
and so excellent an authority as Sir John
Lubbock recently claimed before the Lon
don Chamber of Commerce that while toe
dock strike had materially decreased the
tonnage entered at this port during the last
six months-yet trade was everywhere inn
proving, the condition of labor continues to
be serious. The first quarter of 1890 has
been prolific of strikes. In the brick
making districts, a four-weeks' lockout
has been disastrous alike for the manu-
facturers and workmen causing widespread
distress among the latter and giving the
trade a blow from which IL will hardly
recover in q whole year. The great dock
strike in this city has been followed by a
strike among the Plymouth lockers, which
has resulted in a concession for three
months by the master dockers In
the north Of England strikes are now going
on in the potters', masons', and ioiners'
trades and among the laborers: the Durham
miners, representing thirty collieries aud
$1,000 men, threaten to go out for better
wages, improved sanitary Accommodations,
and the el2ht-hour day. There are still a
number of strikes raging in the Lancashire
cotton trade, and the public 'soup-kitch-
ems, the inevitable concomitant of strikes
In Britain, are open all through the spin
ming district. The barge-builders, too, are
threatening TO go out for better hours aud
treatment; there are II 900 men on strike
IN London alone in the shoe trade against
the sweater" and unsanitary work
shops; the engineering trade has united in
demand for higher wages; the oilmen at
number of large mills are out and have
plcketed the mills TO prevent newcomers
from going to work in their places. These
are but few of the surface indications
WHICH go to show the real condition of the
workingmen of England at the present
time, and are wholly independent of the
mining troubles, which constitute a for
midable problem by themselves.
OF course, this condition of affairs, breed
ing very general distress, has kept the
busy, and has even attracted the attention
of the distinguished legislators in parliament
and of the London county council. The pres
emit county council, which was elected by the
people, with the true British instinct, has set
about relieving the situation by raising the
taxes, measure which will be promptly
followed by the landlords raising thu rents.
The solitary notice taken by parliament of
the labor troubles was suggestion to the
government to put gas workers in the same
category as sailors and postmen, in order
that the government might be able to limit
their power of striking. This the govern
ment repudiated, declaring that it would
not interfere between employer and en-
ployed. II was a sop to the labor mem
bers of the House, and was duly appreciated
as such.
The eight-hour work day is yet dream
OF the far future with the English work
man. While eight hours will probably be
the theme of some of the speakers at the
coming demonstration, there will be at this
time no special agitation with that object
IN view. The working hours of the differ
emit trades are now about as follows:
HOURS. HOURS
..~Sl llettJerSs. L
SaolneJHnakefs -... Il Bollermakers go. 10I@
Masons ana plaster Miners in shifts 10 to y
ers..-.. ...-.....,...1 II Gasftters and plumb
iron workers. s-......11l ers.........,,.I 10
dypeseltefs. ......... III MulespinnnerS. 10I%
oil nj In =