Mr Gladstone on the Future of Labor.

Evening Star, Issue 8405, 5 January 1891, Page 4

Mr Gladstone on the Future of Labor.

In his speech to his Mid-Lothian constituents at West Calder recently, Mr Gladstone devoted an hour anda-half to the labor question. A great deal had, he pointed out, been done by the Liberal party during the last fifty years to improve the condition of the working man. Taxes had been removed from knowledge ; freetrade had been established ; the right of free combination had beeu seoured for the working man. When the opportunity presented itself there were other tasks the Liberal party would undertake on his behalf. They would increase his influence by amending the registration law and by introducing the principle of one man one vote. In a few sentences, delivered with increased animation, he also foreshadowed the amendment of the Septennial Act, and th>3 prevention of the possibility in time to cone of a sham majority at Westminster passing laws and approving Acts totally opposed to the views and convictions of the people. The time was approaching when Lord Salisbury's phrase about the working man being our master would be literally true. They would increase in power till they became stronger than the capitalist, the peerage, the landed gentry, and the great mercantile class. That done there would remain still one more aohievment—they must continue to be just. Mr Gladstone had no apprehension of evil resulting from the predominance he foresaw. On the whole, he believed that the masses were more prone to coma to just conclusions than the classes. They had certainly done so at the time of the war in America, wheD, though its commencement and continuance deprived them of daily bread, they would not, as some of the classes did, declare themselves on the side of the slaveholders. Turning to the question of the length of the labor day, Mr Gladstone made haste to discard altogether any possible proposal that an Eight Hours Bill could apply to all classes of labor. In spite of what had taken place at Liverpool, he did not believe any man could frame such a Bill. Till he saw the Bill he would not regard the matter as worthy of consideration. But an Eight Hours Bill limited to mining labor is a very different thing. He had seen something of work in mines, and he declared, amidst an approving cheer, that eight hours out of every twenty-four are quite enough for labor in the pit. But even on this subject he thought it right to preserve an open mind. Whilst there was unanimity of view in particular mining districts, there was no unanimity among miners throughout the country. He was inclined to recommend cooperation and combination among the men themselves in preference to the compulsion of an Act of Parliament. In all labor questions it was infinitely better for the men to do their own work by themselves among themselves, and not to hamper themselves by Act of Parliament. This homely advice, couched in Bimpleßt hnguage and set forth with friendliest mien, was listened to by the audience with profound attention. Whether it exactly chimed in with their views, or whether it partially crossed them, was not indicated by any sign. Only when Mr Gladstone resumed his Beat they rose to their feet and cheered.