The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-26

tended to go. The bakers who wished 10 give
the signal for n strike, found themselves nh9o.
lutcly alone. and wore only able to give to their
ahor,iye attempt m appearance OF execution.
Never heess the spirit OF going ahead
by means Of strikes, and the ideas OF coalition
are still advancing and becoming m orc ccnoral-
lied. We IND them extending outside OF the
working classes. properly sreaking: for tho
class Of rgi,ators who havo now como upon
the scenc nro entirely distinct from tue work.
crs OF the mine AID tho factories. They have
no. tho same hard labor mr. tho same fatigue
which wears out u man before his time.
neithor have they the Same risks OF want o.
work or tho same dangers OF accidents ard
sickness. Even tho method " payment Is dif-
fercnt. since most Of those new strikers are
paid 10y the mouth oi,ener ttaa BY tho day.
At The bottom o! tho turbulent discomfort
which has been manifested for 4 few weeks
past, there is. therefore. the tendency to
follow an example. anu the desire which
some individuals display for making a great
noise while playing the part of leaders. A.I-
ta:ioas OF this kind arc never without pcri in
their consequences oven when they are some-
what artificial at tho beginning. We have just
seen how little i. takes to introduce profound
.ns tue e such @
striSo Of the bakers, Of which j have
few Establishments lett. without fires. u
few crowds and some pushing. However short
to get u glimpse at what Paris might become
il deprived Of the millions OF Kilograms OF
bread that /, needs every day to satisfs Its ~;
against the ueril OF such u fnmine tho Govern
ment has pu! the bakeries Of THO array and tie
have such resource ii we had TO deal with u
sudden storpa0s OF the meat supply the
closing OF . portion 81 the restaurants and
the numerous employees that under various
titles form the Indispensable auxiliary O. small
the two days confusion which was occasioned
by the siriks OF the omnibus drivers ana TIE
s son Dn thu e0! mp threat % sSe
tanned revelation OF theIr strength. They
to become masters OF I'll, situation aud to die.
tate their conditions BY suspendinE suddenly
Bringing about what they wished is too ssdue-
tive mol TO arouse the temptation to imi-
tn'e tho tactics that succeeded $, uuichly
omnibus companies. Considering tho ever
growing power Of svndicates and the passive
dividunis whom they commani. a muliiDlica;
ton o; 8 rikes in towns becomes more and
moro probaM!o The citizen EN-, my consider s
or folk, to support his share OF the incon-
venicnres and surprises thal arise from the SO;
ciai question. The struggle between capital
and labor tends to take on n new form: il be-
comes the struggle between those who in any
decree whichever give Their time and LABOR 70.
to deve.op in this sense. il will BRING Us tar.
Is 1t 20 sib Q or desirable that Governments
question! To what extent can they ATTEMPT 1t
with any chance OF reaching sound results !?
These questions have been ASKED ut ali times
IL
vi The ' trial Of the thing in Germany by Bis:
the initiative without results which the En-
reror William attempted TO take last year
nbHniantly shown the worihlessness and
,,SSenGh they kaow ali hat al s'i0ush
selves the care Of auding the best trsnsact action
sh TO Of s e nss ason
throw legislative action across tue path OF
Liberty N1 ouot they are afraid to anpear
oJevs the eonsiderations Of electoral popnnr-
such matters. For fear Of being accused OF
doing nothing. tho Government aad the depu-
A law regulating the work OF women and
children is all well enough. since, laws OF the
same kind exist in pretty nearly all countries: :
there cam t he movable rules applying in
discriminatory to Nil situations OF porsons and
other Inv Tor Distributing and Fix ing respon-
sibilitie n Gases OF accident. although that law
rsacEes the question IN n confused and very in
complete manner. leaving the doors open for
many objections. But whRt has been called
social legsla lon tries 10 20 very much further.
o! tho profits TO tho worknen employed In the
workshops In the State. There Is talk Of es-
S. linz No, 1py nats 81 sss ,F s.loys
no o'Ler rasnlt than to obi 20 ,hem to Gloss Gloss
III. Chamber OF pepnilos passed n law. hap
ply reiec cd by the Senate, which wont so far
a"ronrt Of Their motive each tim" ta III, they q"
discharged n man. A vast project hns Just
boon presented with view ct creating Tor tho
workmen q fund Tor retirement and Insurance.
subscr bed for .concurrently by small tax
upon their salaries: by an edual subsidy paid
by @mnloyers, and by corresponding amount
II mus, b admitted th3t the plan is very
ingeniously conceived AMI dove opel. 1t has
the double mer OF imposing no COMPULSORY
insurance. mud OF not making the trsHsury tho
sole administrator OF the workmen's savings.
ms ho pieases and 10 choose IN a certain meas
ure the pIncnE,nf hi. funds. 1t offers also
me Of the
treme old age md the possibility OF Leaving
something 20 their families. These arc cer-
tainly the good sides which make this project
do.st greatest honor to II: Ranvier The hin.
ister OF finance. and NJ. Constuns the Min
,oiyi,ly drawn ii up. However seductive
may DO, it i nevertheless omen TO Objections
on .p'iuclnie. viii ch would render its adoption
unde 7irnbe. II also presents nnancia dangers
which render lis adoption very .problemntic
On the one hand tho subsidy to DO furnished
by the State woul impose upon our budget
already SO painfully aud SO artiIirially Kept
balanced. charge estimatelat more than u
hundred millions u year. Tho Commission
charged with the duty of examining the pro.
posed combna, ion has e,timated that 4 no &C.
cumlilation OF tho sums for insurance would
reach in q certain time n capital OF twelve
closed TO all ejaculation and every kind OF
commerce md trade. and consequently yirtu-
allt retired from circulation
These two financial objections In themselves
tend IT, show where the best lntentioned med
ding OF tho Government mus: lead to when it
w!shcts 70 become tho active auxiliary OF social
Ism. Whoa It H. once upon that road, 1t cannot
knew whero il is going or when to stop. Cone
ceasinGy zach step that II takes ohliges II TO
take another. ALWAYS in advance. Each solu-
ton that II bcli"vas Il has found only nuts 1t In
presence ri new solutions To he sought for In
the end It accomnishes nothing Rnd satisfies
nobody. hecau-e, in the social question ext.
Of the other. The more one delves into the
ia. III