New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-15
THE NEW SOCIALISM.
lord sALISBURY'S VIEWS ON THE EIGHT
HOURS QUESTION.

London. NAV l4-Lord Salisbury, wise IN MS
generation, received on Wednesday depu'a'ion
from the Workmens Association OF the me'ioP
oils in behalf of legal eight-houB DAY vi i"ooi
The deputation consisted OF twenty men OF various
trades, with Mr.. ShiptOn, secretary OF VIC io"
don Trades Council, TO introduce Vhcih' WI
Shipton is an old hand at agitation oil many
kinds: smart plausible, and positive. ME- n. ~,
ton spoke, and a half-dozen others SPOKE '"''
all anneared ms advocates Of the new labor Cos
mel All deprecated strikes All urged tha'
le0islation should take the place Of conflicts DE-
tween EMPLOYERS and employed. Then. ana not
otherwise. is the millennium Of labor 10 arrive
r. is a clever move. Hitherto the workmeh nave
fought their own battles at their own eAPnSc
in part What they now propose Is that rafii'-
ment should fight for them at the eAPchso' 90
they believe of the community IN general W.
levinQ further that it is possible for then'SeiV'"
10 thrive while the community in general su"e'''
The new doctrine is the outcome OF 'he PefeeP
Hon the very slow perception, by labor Leaders
that they have the game in their hanus' IL '"e,
choose TO turn and can turn the full force Oh
,he;r vast union organization into politics. Ihey
ara not even vet agreed There is among the
union leaders a survival Of what may De caileu
conservative belief. There are men who sun
think strikes their best weapon men VINO dls'rusV
politics and even politicians; men VINO thiNh
labor now as before must fight for it's own haho
in its old manner But the prevailing opinion Is
the other way Hence the present eHort lot
statutory eight hours day, and this present deputa
ton to Lord Salisbury.
1t is the fashion, at least among his opponents
10 speak of Lord Salisbury as rash IL he nave
rashness it is nevertheless, apt to be consloereo
rashness. On this occasion he spoke IN a con-
ciliatory tone, with great coolness put WIN
force which impressed his hearers and mas I'M
pressed the public The workmen base their claim
for eight hours two objects-more leisure ior
self-culture and a supply OF work to the uhem-
ployed.
The first aim is admirable, said Lord oailsoulS'
everybody will sympathize with you IN tha'
desire As 10 the second object, Lord Sahsoury
showed himself altogether sceptical. How is an
eght-hours day to provide work for the unem-
Moved? The advocates insist that wages are not
to be reduced. They are 70 have the same pay
for eight hours that they now get for ten Some
Of them say that men will do as much work in
eight hours as in ten If that be so, nothing Will
be left over for the unemployed. All the work
will still be done by those now employed. II
il is not so. and if employers have 10 hire men
now idle that will increase the cost OF producton
Who is to nav the increased cost The foreigner
The foreigner already works longer and cheaper
than the Englishman and beats hin In many
market Where he does not beat him. protective
tariffs come 10 his help and shut out Engllsh
products.
II the cost of production is increased, English ex-
rorts will inevitably fall off and the home market
for labor so far it is dependent on the foreign
demand, will be restricted not increased. is
,be home demand to be relied on9 Bat in Eng
Gland, Lord Salisbury tells u.s. the mass of the
people are already living up to their incomes, and
IL they have TO pay more they will certainly con-
sumo less.
Thus do we come back to the same point
Tie employment of the unemployed means
higher prices; higher prices mean diminished con-
sumption. and diminished consumption means
reduction either of wages or OF the amour, OF
labor employed Therefore it is that an eight
hours day promises nothing but disaster TO those
who demand it, and to the community In general
"You are trying" said Lord Salisbury. a tire.
mendous experiment, one which has never been tricd
before You are risking the interests Of the whole
community" What is the answer of the deputa-
ton They shake their heads like Lord Bnrgh-
ley. Then. when Lord Salisbury had spoken and
Mr. Balfour had spoken, the positive Mr.. snip
ton said that they had carefully considered the
this oracular utterance he and his comrades dc'
parted.
A different sort Of answer comes from Edinburgh
and from the mouth Of Lord Roscbcry. lie seems
to have taken the word experiment ont OF lo1d
Sasbury's mouth, and filings il back to him. lie
docs not attempt 70 answer his argument. posi-
bly thinking it unanswerable. But he says DOLBY
that they must risk experiments; that much en-
detrimental legislation will have to be carried
through Why? Because the prosperity and wei
fare Of the community are likely To be promoted by
these experiments? Oh. Because the masses
have got the franchise. and IL the Liberals are
to regain power they must do what the MASSES
want The masses demand-this is Lord Rose
berys catalogue-"a more favorable share or Ihe
land, better and more sanitary homes, bct'er "ir
spaces shorter hours of labor. and. indeed. bet
ter share altogether Of the amuscments and the rec
reations Of life"
These demands. saws tsts young socialist of the
reerage must re recognized r a practical manner
by British Parliaments and British municipalities
That can only mean that they must be granted
What does the granting Of tlem mean? 1t means
that in future mans share in the good things OF
tits world is not 10 be determined by his own
industry or abilities or power OF earning wha'
lie wants. He i TO get o more favorable share
of the land" whatever that may signify better
houses and more a,DuscrneTEs, by less labor than
now and by the direct hepof British ParliaTnents
and British municipalities. Parliamcnts and
municipalities cannot CRATE property They can
iedistribute it. They perhaps take from those
who have and give to those who,bave not. Liberal
Psriamcnts-very Iiberal-and municipalities arr
10 brbc the masses TO vote hberilly these gifts
of other peoples land, houses and money. IL IS
q pleasing prospect.
Perhaps it is as well that tfese acts OF cgisa-
tive spoli,ion should be recognized as merely an
experiment Not for a moment is it 10 be supposed
that Lord Roscbcrry contempaaes spoliation or
any policy that is not. TO use his own words,
righteous and justifable / AIN only pursuing his
line Of thought. He. l am sure. would stop far
short of the logical consequences which Others
have forcsecn. But why Is it that in these civil
connections the Glasses should 50 often in the his