The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-12
THE EUROPEAN wORKINGMAN.


Herr Bsbel. one Of the representative
leaders Of the German Socialists, explains
the widespread discomfort of the German
workingmen by a statement Of the low
rate of wages and the relatively high cost
of living. The average weekly wages of
the German workingman are less than
fifteen marks, or, say $3.50. In some trades
the earnings are much less. Thus, weav-
ers are glad to get $3.50. In Saxony,
where a large proportion OF the inhabi-
tants are engaged In manufacturing. less
than $3.50 year 10 earned by 20 per cent.
of the working people.
The cost of living 10 considerably higher
than 1t was i've years ago. The German
workingman earned rather more five years
ago than he can today. The present wages
of an adult male. $3.50 week. are quite
inadequate to the maintenance Of afamily,
and I'm order to exc out q bare subsistence
his wife and children have to work. A
woman. by the way, 10 pronounced lucky
ii she earns $3.50 Q week. The German
artisan has no hope Of q reduction Of the
labor day to eight hours; . ten-hour day
is all he asks for, and no Is not likely to
get that.
Despite the wretchsd condition Of the
German and French workingmsn COM
pared with that Of American operatives.
the Socialist party In Europe utterly repu-
dates all fellowship or sympathy with the
Anarchist party. In London John Burns,
the leader of the socialist labor move
ment. denounced the criminal use of
dynamite. The leading socialists Of Paris
severely denounoe Ravachol and his
nccomplices, and announce their deter
mnation TO effect their purposes Of polti-
cal reform. "a is done in Germany, by con-
stitutional methods through parliamentary
and municipal elections.
Tho French socialist leaders ask the
workingmen to support a programme that
20 an American seems to cmbody exceed
ingly moderate demands. They do not
ask for an eight-hour day, because they
know that as long as the German working
men have not yet reduced the labor day to
even ten hours the French workingmen
could not compete with them were their
own working hours cut down to eight.
The French workingmen ask only that In
all contracts for public works there shsil
be inserted clauses limiting days labor
TO eight hours and guaranteeing mini
mum of wages, this minimum To be de-
termined by the authorities acting in har-
mony with the trades unions.
Our own federal congress has by law re-
duced the labor day TO eight hours in the
case Of government works. As regards
the number of working hours in the case
of luen working for private employers,
this Is left for the present by the Paris
socialists ~ an agreement between the
parties interested. This aud any other
question IN dispute is to bs settled by ar.
bitration.
The Paris workingmen ask the abolition
al the ottroi, or municipal tax levied on ali
products entering Paris from the sur.
rounding country. a TAX which greatly in.
creases the cost If living Tor city working
lnea. and demand exemption from
personal taxes Tor all citizens paying small
rents Tor the'r lodgings. The class of
citizens contemplated pay no personal
taxes i'm the city % New Iork.
The socialist leaders OF the Paris work
inxmen demand the establishment NJ
school canteeas. a. which children NAV
obtain. either gratultously or al reduced
cost, a meat iunch between the morninr
and afternoon classes; ani ask that twice
= year shoes and clothing shall lie dis
.rlbuted among rhe children who. hy At
tending school, are cut OF from the mean.
of earning money for the purchase Of such
necesSaFies.
The workingnien Of Paris also wish es
tAblished and maintained At she cost Of
The municipality or eommune, saal,ari-
ums for their children, maternity hospitals
aad places Of refuge for aged persons or
workingmeu who are either invslids o.
temporarily cut of work and withou. a
fixed place Of abode.
Amone other demands are free public
baths, public lavstofies for washing the
face aad hands, and grstuitoas medical
service aud pharmacies where prescrip
tloas may be made up at reduced prices.
A point in which the Paris werkingmea
so beyond anything existing on this side
a. tae Atlantic is the proposal that legal
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