Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-12
OLD WORLD NEWS.
SALISBURY AND BALFOuR ON THE
ElGHV-hOUR DAY.
An Attempt to Take Advantage of Glad
stones Mistake with Reference to
Labor-Generai Notes.

tBy Anglo-American cable to The Dispatch.l
LONDON. May lin accordance with the
arrangement made by the Conservatives
after Mr.. Gladstone had declined to re-
ceive labor deputation to discuss tho
eight-hour question, Lord Salisbury agreed
TO receive a deputation from the London
Trades Council, and to-day he was waited
upon by a number of representatives from
that body. The consent Of Lord Salisbury
to receive the deputation was understood to
be political move TO Offset the tactical
mistake which even the Liberals conceded
their leader made in declining 10 receive
the deputation that was deslrous or wait
ing upon him. No one believed that Lord
Salisbury would in any way pledge himself
to support the views of the deputation,
aud this belief has been justified 10y the
words of the Primo Minister To the mem,
bers of the Trades Council who waited
upon him to-day.
THE LABOR DEMAND.
The spokesman Of the deputation urged
upon Lord Salisbury the necessity for the
legal establishment of an eight hour day,
in order TO eguaize the conditions between
those who are compelled TO work for an
excessive number of hours and those who
are without work az all.
In replying TO the deputation Lord Sails
bury said they must not assume because
he had consented 10 receive them that he
had been converted 10 their views a. 70
the necessity or expedlency OF establish
ing by law a legal limit TO the hours
a man should work. He deprecated
their desire for legislation to attain
their ends, and declared that il would be
better far to depend upon the slower but
surer aud irrevocable action OF public
opinion in favor of shorter hours where
economic circumstances rendered reduc-
ton practicable He could not, he said,
conceive the same wages being paid for
eight hours work az for longer time.
AGAINST HANDIcAPPISG MANUFACTURERS.
Lord Salisbury also declared that If
manufacturers were fatally handicapped
by restrictive legislation they would leave
the country. He syinpathlzed with the
demand OF tue wOrkIngmen for more lei
sure. but he asked them TO carefully con-
slider the matter.
Mr. Balfour, the government leader IN
the House OF Commons. had also been in
duced to receive the deputation. The
same arguments that had been employed
with Lord Salisbury were used by the de-
putation in presenting their case 10 Mr..
Balfour. The latter In reply stated that
he agreed with Lord Salisbury that the
parliamentary machine was Ill adapted TO
their purpose.
THE LABOR ARGUMENT.
One of the arguments used by the dopu-
tation was that while strikes to bring
about the establishment of an eight-hour
day were dangerous and difficult, legisla-
tion to effect that object was easy and
safe.
To this Lord Salisbury replied that If an
eight hour bill were passed the employers
would resist it to the utmost and NIL
nority of tho workingmen would sustain
their action. This would probably pro-
duce far different results from what were
intended. If the cost of production was
increased owing to shorter hours the sell
ing price must also be increased, which
would cause decrease IN the demand
and thus lead to fewer instead Of more
men being employed.
Lord Salisbury said he feared the pass
age Of such bill would end IN the manu-
tacturers going to the United States to OBJ
tain the freedom of acton that would be
denied them here, while the English
markets would still be open to them as
now.