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Show Two Views. In discussing the results of the International Inter-national Miners' congress in Belgium, the London Times has the following: On the question of how the eight hour day was to be obtained there was considerable consider-able difference of opinion, though the preponderant vote was ultimately given in favor of legislation for the purpose. Nine Englisn delegates, including Mr. Young, of the Northumberland Miners' association,' and Mr. Johnson, of the National Na-tional Miners' union, supported an amendment against the eight hour act, urging that workingmen could best settle set-tle their own affairs, that they Bhould not sell their birthright to parliaments, and that a recognition of the right of the state to regulate the hours of labor implied im-plied a "corresponding right to deal with the rate of wages. . ''By free voluntary combination among miners," said Mr. Johnson, "short hours, good wages and improved sanitation had been obtained in England. It was a confession of weakness to send up their cause to the state." That may be, replied the German delegates in effect, but our experience is different. We are only here by a stratagem, and we are liable to be fined or sent to prison for coming. If we can induce the state to help us we shall get what we want. If we attempt to help ourselves we shall expose ourselves to the risk of being shot down for striking or sent to prison for illegal combination. |