The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-04
Socialists vs.. Anarchists.

| low. and the Iowa Democrats are evidently
resolved to play him for the first place.
Socialists vs.. Anarchists.
The fact that Europe enjoyed on May
Day an almost complete immunity from
| dynamite outrages may not mean much In
view OF the extraordinary precautions
taken by the various Governments and
municipal authorities for the maintenance
OF order. For their own sokcs the enemies
OF society would naturally defer thor
demonstrations to more convenient sea-
son. What was significant was the distinct
Reputation Of the Anarchists by the great
mass OF the Soclalistic party. We do not
| now refer to the vehement denunciation Of
the criminal use OF dynamite by Mr.. JOHN
BURNS and other conspicuous promoters Of
socialism In London. for anarchic methods
have always been peculiarly repugnant to
| the English workingmen. What we have in
mind is the equally severe reprobaton Of
RAvAcHoL and his accomplices expressed
by leading Socialists in Paris. and their
proclaimed determination to effect the full
iilment OF their programme by constitu-
tional means; that Is to say, by returning
their candidates at the Parliamentary and
| municipal elections. AS pledge Of good
faith they put forth programme which
they will invite French worklngmen to sup
port with the hope Of embodying 1t in legis-
lation. 1t will be found that the features OF
this programme are, for the most part.
identical with tho scheme of reforms pro-
posed by the last German Congress OF So
cialists ut Erfurt 1t will also be noted that
some Of the concessions demanded consti-
tute an approximation to state OF things
already existing in the city OF New York.
The French Socialists do not. in their
present programme. go so far as to insist
on the legal enactment OF an eight-hour
day for all trades. They are alive. appar-
emily. to the fact that since German work.
ingmen have not as yet succeeded In re-
ducing their labor day to ten hours. French
workingmen could not compete with them
were their own working hours cut down
Unfortunately to eight. All they now
ask. therefore. is that In all contracts for
public works. where. OF course. the ques-
ton OF competing with foreigners need not
be considered. there ehall be inserted
clauses limiting days labor to eight hours
and guaranteeing q minimum OF wages,
this minimum to be determined by the
authorities acting In harmony with the
trades unions. It will be remembered that
q statute similar to this here proposed. so
far as concerns the reduction Of the labor
day to eight hours In the case Of Govern
ment works. was passed by our own Federal
Congress-, although for various reasons 1t
has not been obeyed. As regards the num-
Der Of working hours In the case Of men
working for private employers. this Is left
for the present by the Paris Socialists to an
agreement between the parties interested.
This and any other question In dispute is
to be settled by arbitration; but 1t is
averred that workingm6n acting as
arbiters should be paid for their services.
to insure their absolute independence to-
ward their employers. Another institution
advocated In the interest OF labor Is the
establishment OF labor exchanges admin |
istered by workingmen's societies. and it |
is pronounced the duty Of such exchanges
and Of tho municipalities to find work for
the unemployed.
We come now to the fiscal reforms recon- |
mended by the Paris workingmen. First is |
the abolition Of the octroi. or municipal tax |
levied on all products entering Paris from |
the surrounding country. We need not |
point out that this tax. which greatly In |
creases the cost Of living for urban work. |
ingmen, would not DO for moment toll
Grated In the city OF New York. The So |
ciallsts also demand exemption from per- |
sonal taxes for all citizens paying small |
rents for their lodgings. The class of
citizens contemplated pay no personal
taxes in the city OF New York. 1t is true
that the Paris municipality now roles
largely on the octroi for the payment Of In
terest on its municipal debt. Tho Socialists
propose to meet tho deficit in the municipal |
receipts resulting from the abolition OF the
octroi by permitting the municipal authorl-
ties to lay heavy taxes on those who pay
high rents and to tax lands not built upon In |
to their selling value. The spe-
cies OF discrimination against tho rich here
advocated is actually carried out In the
provisions Of the income tax In Prussia.
Other interesting details In the pro-
granme OF tho Paris worklngmen have
regard to tho welfare Of school children.
The Paris reformers demand tho establish
ment OF school canteens. at which children
may obtain. either gratuitously or at re-
duccd cost. a meat lunch between the morn
ing and afternoon classes; and they also
insist that twice year. namely, at the
beginning OF winter and OF summer. shoes
and clothing Shall be distributed among |
the children who. by attending school. are
cut OIL from the means OF earning money for |
the purchase OF such nccessaries. 1t Is also |
proposed that sanitarums shall be created |
for the children of workIngmen. and that
such establishments shall be maintained at |
the expense OF the municipality or COM
mune. Beside these asylums for sick
children. the workingmen want maternity
hospitals and places OF refuge for aged
persons or wOrkingmen who are either
invalids or temporarily out OF work and |
without n fixed place Of abode.
Free pullir hut he c,,,h no wa ho,o f.,