The Washington times., 1902-10-05
ROYAL INTERVENTION
IN LABOR TROUBLES.

A notable addition to the long list OF
remarkable analogies that exist between
Emperor William and President Roose-
welt has been furnished by the latter
appearance on Friday last in the role
of a mediator between capital and labor
in connection with the coal strike.
1t may be remembered that the Kaiser.
before he had been very long on the
throne, attempted to do something OF
the same kind prompted thereto not
so much by strikers as by the rapid
spread OF socialistic doctrines among
the working classes, and the endeavor
of old Prince Bismarck. then chancellor
of the empire, to grapple with the dif-
ficulty by means of arbitrary measures,
analogous to martial law, or to coercion
in Ireland, involving in all instances
where socialism was concerned sus-
pension of the rights and prerogatiyes
OF a German citizen in the courts OF
law.
Emperor William was opposed to these
arbitrary and unconstitutional measures,
felt convinced that socialism could DS
scotched by bringing about an under
standing between capital and labor, and,
despite the objections of Prince BIS
march set to work to organize an In
ternational labor congress, which met at
Berlin to all intents and purposes under
his presidency.
1t failed. unfortunately, to accomplish
anything beyond winning for the En-
peror the reputation for being gener-
ous-hearted. broad-minded man. who,
after all, had fulfilled his duty as
ruler in resorting to every possible
means to bring about proper UNDER
standing and friendly feeling between
capital and labor.
II is interesting to note what follow
ed. The first was Prince Bismarck )
dismissal. the Emperor having convinced
himself that the old chancellor had
practically foredoomed the international
labor congress to failure by ridicullns
II as the Utopian scheme of young
and inexperienced monarch, and by CIV
ing the impression both in Germany anu
to foreign governments that while ne
tolerated the affair he did not attach
anv importance thereto, and did not look
upon it seriously.
Another outcome of the congress was
the withdrawal of the kaiser's sympathy
from labor ana it's transfer to capitai.
Labor and socialism had been led TO
exnect too much from the congress,
and holding him responsible for the
failure to obtain what they wanted.
they renewed their warfare on capltal
with greater bitterness than ever, ex-
tending to him the i'll will which they
had formerly restricted to the employers
of labor and to the Bismarckian gov
ernment.
Emperor William on the other hand,
came to sthe conclusion that the de-
mands of labor, especially as voiced oy
the Socialist party in Germany. were
unreasonable and danger alike to state
and to dynasty. and from then on ne
became even more antagonistlc to the
Socialists than the old chancellor had
ever been. never losing an occasion of
reminding his troops that they must De
ready to use their arms, not only against
the enemies from without, but also
against the foes within the borders OF
the German Empire. Moreover, he went
ont of his way to manifest his favor
and friendship for the great employers
of labor in Germany, such as Baron
stumm. Count Douglas. the krupps' etc.
as if to clearly demonstrate on whlch
side his sympathies lay.
Emperor Napoleon III was another
old World monarch who honestly and
enthusiastically sought to bring ABOUT
a proper understanding between capi-
tal and labor. But he. too, met Win
failure, capital denouncing MIN as
crowned Socialist while labor held him
I'm to popular execration as san
culinary despot. 1t may be recalieu
that tho great strike of the ironworkers
n, creusot in 1870 contributed IN no
small measure to the downfall of the
empire. Napoleon failing to give salts
faction either to the Schneiders-'hat
is to saw. the iron masters-or to the
strikers.
There are plenty of other sovereighs
who have shown sympathy for lapor
oven for socialism-without, however
going so far as TO attempt to intervene
nersonally between the two, as Ell
neror William, Emperor Napoleon anu
president Roosevelt have done. Ihus
King Victor Emmanuel has, since he
came to the throne, instituted an order
of knighthood. bearing the name of nc
the Merit of Labor" and which is con
ferred upon those who have rendered
services in the way of improving the
condition of the laboring classes and the
relations of the latter toward capitai.
King Victor Emmanuel made a par
ticular study of the labor question and
of socialism before he assembled the
throne and since becoming King he has
given his sanction to many acts of legis-
lation submitted to him by the admins
tration but originated, it is said, by
him that are destined to help the work
ing classes
Moreover, il is to these studies OF MS
that may be ascribed the policy when
be has pursued of abstaining from any
t,, fpfl lrAG y