Evening journal., 1893-04-25
NEWSPAPER OPINION.
The Power Of Labor.

Philadelphia Telegraph.
There has been a great deal thought.
written, and said about the power of
the labor organizations in the United
States butit is evident that it is not to
be considered in co nparison with the
power of similar organizations In Europe.
In England, the London Spectator re
Gently declared, i'm leading article not
favorable TO the combinations of labor,
that they had within the last decade in.
creased he wage rate 20 per cent That
was a tremendous achievement, and one
over which everybody should rejoice, as
there can be no two opinions about
workmen being better paid than were
those of England ten years ago, or than
for the matter of that, better paid than
they now are. The power of the labor
element was recently shown by the fact
that the London Council voted
that hereafter in all work done by
the city of London none but union
men should be employed, and that
Union hours and Union wages should be
accepted as the rule in all work done,
whether the employees were employed
directly by the city OF by the city's con
| tractors Another evidence of their
power in England is to be perceived in
|
delegations that have visited both Mr.
Gladstone, the Liberal leader and Lord
/ Salisbury the Conservative leader The
greatest victory which organized labor
has ever won-and it is one upon which
il is most of all to be congratulated
was that Of securing the granting of the
popular demand by the Belgians of what
is practically universal suffrage The
workingmen Of Belgium have for years
contended for this privilege, and their
means Of securing it have been chiefly
used by their powerful labor Unions
They were unanimously for 1t, and when
It was denied them the other day,
actuated by common purpose
they struck work, aud not
only brought the country s industries to
stand, but they made revolution sc
likely or certain a thing as to oblige the
King TO intervene, and the right
demanded was conceded IL is true tha
the King has since declared that his In
terposition on behalf of the workin,
people was his own voluntary act.
This declaration Is scarcely supporte,
by the facts, as the King did not inter
pose to influence the Legislature TO pas
the Suffrage Act until the people weii
In open revolt in a dozen cities aud town
in Belgium. or until the stability of the
government, I'm which he was so largely
( personally interested, was most seriousll
threatened However violent or ri0tou
, the workmen were before their demand
was conceded, they retired quickly q
their homes leaving law and order to b
established, and went TO their work per
{ fectly satisfied The great Belgian strik
was purely political and not, as it has beel
! declared to be, S0cialistic If it hal
been the latter, the mob would hav
been like that of the Paris Commune d
1870, which destroyed life and property
: burned and looted the palaces aud to-
D homes Of the rich There was nothin
e of Socialistic character in the Belgian
4 strike The demand of the labor organ
izations which acted as one combine
force in support of a common purpos,
d was for nothing more than manhoo
D suffrage, which had been enioyed by tn
. aristocratic aud wealthy classes, an
, which was again and again denied {
o them. Having got what they wante,
though not in the precise form the
i wanted it, they accepted wha
was given them and resume
n work at no time did they wantonl
o kill. burn, and tear down. as the Par
Communists did IL is trt
that the latter used their power Of con
bination as force TO secure a poliuc
object; but having secured their obiec
4 they at once became peaceful, law abidir
IA citizens Their victory was a notab
u one aud 10 cannot fail to suggest to Il
u governments Of Europe that The time
nigh at hand when they can no long
ID with safety ignore the popular viii tn
ie personal government that in which q
o. people have no adequate representatio
Q is, or must soon be, a thing of the pas
,s II you wish to avoid the rush that v
To- usually have on Saturdays call I'm Ga
evening or 20 morrow, pick out wh
y suits you, wen have IT, laid aside (
'e YOU have it pressed, and if any alter
tions are needed Wen have it done,
Is ready for you 20 take away when y
ia want it, II makes it easier for you a.
~ us, too. Max Ephraim, New York Clot
ing House, 3lG Market street Rig
:. next coor to Sharp's dry goods store.
send Your Carpets 90 the Electric Carr
4o Cleaning and Upholstery Works ap OraI
ST. Telephone 8Gi Bader & Conway.
m l-ll-;--sa.