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Leader (1850-1860), 17th January 1852, Edition Town of 1, Page 49, Untitled Article

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      mouuly passed in support of the principles and objects of the Association . . . , . , iV ?« Consious of having done their best to deserve the confidence of their constituents , and resolved to persevere with the same activity in the performance of their duties * the Council earnestly solioitthe pecuniary support of all true Reformers , in the hope that a newJBeform Bill may pass into , law during the session of 1862 : and ; that such a measure , by embodying the principles of the Association , will satisfy the coontry at large . " The Manchester branch of the Parliamentary Reform Association have summoned a meeting of its membersfor the purpose of holding a conference , oh

      , the 19 th instant ; and they " solicit the presence and advice of those members of Parliament who are known friends of the people and favpurably disposed to a real reform of the House of Commons . '' The liberals of Leeds met in the Reform Registration-rooms , on Friday-week . Every shade of opinion ¦ was represented . It was agreed to call a public meeting * at which the Manchester resolutions should be proposed , with the distinct understanding that no amendment should be moved , but also that every one should be perfectly at liberty to state either that he went beyond the resolutions or that he did not go

      Sir Joshua Walmsley and Mr . George Thompson were received by the people of "Worcester as a deputation from the National Parliamentary Reform Association , oh Monday . Resolutions , based on the well-known principles of the association , were agreed to unanimously .

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      PROGRESS OF ASSOCIATION . THE " BMPIOYEBS' STBIKE . " On Saturday night a meeting of the Executive Council was held at Little Alie-street » when a document , of which the following are the material paragraphs , was agreed upon for the approval of the branches : — . " 1 . That £ 10 , 000 of the funds of the Amalgamated Society shall be paid over to such number of trustees , not less than six , as are selected by the executive , on trust , to advance the same from time to time to managers appointed by the executive , whose appointments will be afterwards confirmed by the Society , for the purpose of carrying on the business of engineers , machinists , &c . ' .. ' ' 2 . These advances , as well as those which the trustees inay obtain from other sources , shall be secured by a mortgage of all the plant and stock in trade employed in such business to the said trustees , who shall have a power to give preference security to any other advances over sums advanced out of the funds of the Amalgamated Society . * ¦ . * " 3 . The conditions of work under which such business is carried on , shall be such as are approved of by the executive of the Amalgamated Society , from time to time , with the view of giving employment to the greatest possible number of members of the trade out of employment for the time . being , consistently with the stability of the business , and the welfare of the Workmen employed . . ' This is such a contest as has never before occurred between the employers and the employed . The independence and welfare of the labourer is threatened . The

      right of a 'working man to dispose of himself is jeopardised , and in its place a power is sought to be established , enabling the employer to command the services of his workpeople night and day without intermission . Was ever slavery so bad as this r If a man claims liberty from his master after he haB done his work , he is stigmatised as being dictatorial and mischievous . The old feudal times have passed away , when the baron had a property in the person of his retainer ; but their spirit is inherited b y our employers of to-day , and they seek to own and dispose of our persons at will , and to enslave and degrade our minds by destroying all our opportunities for mental improvement . " There is but one way in which this can be met ,

      Workmen must work for themselves , the labour of the country must be done . In every town let an organization be commenced at once . Let every man find some employment . Gather together all the tools you possess . Instead of paying the funds of the society to men kept in compulsory idleness , receive your money as the reward of industry . In the manufacturing districts there is much work to be had , which must be done . In London , Easton and Amos ' s men have already formed their cooperative association , subscribed theix own money to the amount of £ 6 each , and appointed their manager . They are also negotiating for a workshop ; and have got work to do . Wherever you can , do likewise . Interest the public in your behalf by being moderate and well behaved . The man who assaults another , whatever he may do , or Whatever he may Bay . is a traitor to the oause of nroareRB .

      IT your employers cast you upon the world , make up your minds to do without them , and with a self-reliance worthy of Englishmen , ^ with » devotion worthy of the cause oflabour , strive to meet the crisis by earnest efforts in behalf of your order . 'VNon ^ oelety men must be protected ; be that our duty . We will appeal to the country in behalf of the lSi ° ^ !! and ^ ; ^ ty men - Those who are at first called independent workmen , and th « n sacrificed for their ? rrftiPn r tl 0 n ' P be CMed *** * Y *•!* ° *» order . lHS ° « n ? A memb , erfl ftre ^ own out of employment , Ihl ^ im 8000 must devote part of their means to support £ f ™^ employment is found . If 6000 are thrown out SL ^ ? ment » A the 0 * hBrfl - lf necesanry , must divide viufortw - rr Anen ^ ettvoulr ?»* b « wade to punish you for that . The employers will , perhatm s&v that vou SJOPP ™** t

      talue rational liberty above all things , and do it the more earnestly because you are doing it for a permanent benefits You will have the satisfaction of knowing that your subscriptions are not wasted upon idle men ; but are , in part , bestowed on the establishment of the means of /' Subscriptions from the public can be obtained in every district , and our members who remain in employment will be called upon to support those who are out , with liberal hand . " On Monday the following communication , in answer to the letter of Lord Ingestre , which we quoted last week was forwarded to him by Mr . Allen , secretary , on behalf of the Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers , &c . : — " General Office , 25 , Little Alie-street , "WMteeliapel .

      " M / srLoiUD , —I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8 th inst ., in which you stale ' that having been applied to for your consent to become a trustee of a fund to enable the workmen to set up in business for themselves—that you have recommended a settlement of the dispute by arbitration , See .., * ' , the Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society desire me to express their thanks for the interest you have taken in the dispute ' between them and the employers of operative engineers , and to state that they have made a public declaration of their willingness to entrust their case to arbitration , and have written directly to the Masters Association , to the

      effect that if they are desirous of seeing a deputation , one from the Council of the Amalgamated Society would Wait upon them . The first of these they have noticed - ^ -thelast they have refused . We therefore , believing thai there is nothing left for us but self-employment , have determined upon adopting that course , and this , I hope , will be a sufficient apology to your lordship for any gentlemen who , on our account , may have solicited your name as trustee . ** Be assured , my Lord , that we appreciate your kindness , and hope that you will yet be enabled to afford us good service . —I have the honour to be , my Lord , your Lordship ' s obedient servant , W , Allen , Secretary . "To Viscount Ingestre . "

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      The workmen held a meeting on Monday at St . Martin ' s-hall , ** to consider their present-position , and to devise means for the future / ' Lord Gtoderich and other gentlemen who approve of Association as a remedy for-the grievances of the working classes , were on the platform . Mr . J . Cromack occupied the chair . The first resolution was moved by Mrs Usher , as follows : — " That many of the employers of London and Lancashire having closed their workshops , this meeting is of opinion that their conduct , is unjust , and particularly oppressive to non-members and labourers , and pledges itself to use every exertion in obtaining subscriptions in behalf of all who are thrown out of employment . " He stimulated working men to have faith in one another , and spoke very hopefully of the future . Mr . Potts seconded the resolution .

      Mr . W . Newton spoke to the resolution , vehemently and bitterly attacking Sidney Smith of the Weekly Dispatch , and secretary of the masters , and replying to an article in the Times of Monday . The latter he performed in a masterly manner , taking up the fallacies of the leading journal one by one , and exposing them in firm , decided , but moderate language . He then oontinued : — ¦ " The position taken by the employers towards the workmen would force the labour classes to reconstruct the relations between them and the employers . The steps already taken were not to be relaxed , but were rather to be advanced , and they should follow the

      example of their brethren over the water , and subscribe their money and tools , to concentrate them in some place where they could carry out a proper subdivision of labour , and not for the benefit of others , but for the advantage of themselves . They were willing to submit their work to the principles of supply and demand , but they were not to give seven days' work for six days' wages . They had never demanded an increase of wages , but a decrease of the number of those out of employment . But the employers had refused to come in contact with them , and they had discharged the men of deputations who had gone up to them . Individual remonstrance was individual suicide , and the worst thing

      in the conduct of the employers was their tracking a man from one situation to another till they had driven him from the trade or out of the country . He could give them instances of what he alluded to—there was a kind of conspiracy which pursued a man from town to town , and employer to employer . The men had not sought a strike , nor had they struck even now ; but they would resist tyranny wherever it appeared , and , when they had no other redress , they had determined to right themselves . The moral aspect of their position was just ; they had now no more to do with their , employers , but dvery one would rply on his own honest exertions . They were prepared to appeal to the public for those who did not belong to the threebut

      society , and to support them , not for two or , for twelve months and longer , if necessary—( cheers)—till such time as they had established their own means of employment . Among tlio 12 , 000 workmen on the society were the best and most skilled and industrious men in tho trade . How could their plaoes be filled up by unekilled labourers ? The masters must have them—the labour of the country could not proceed without them . If only on ^ e workshop was successful , it would Bhow the the practical oharacter of the scheme , and there woula be a Buifloient inducement for them to raise a large amount of capital by their united contributions . Workingm , en would no longer make overtures and concessions unless they felt them to be right , for they had fleW-respect and

      dignity as well as their masters . The society had £ 25 , 000 , a part of which should be at once devoted to their objects ; and they had been offered a large establishment , with machinery complete , for a part of the purchase-nioney down and the rest to be left as a charge on the building . The . number out of employment was much less than the society had , expected . In Manchester they were only 650—( cheers)— -in Preston but 20—( hear , hear)—and in London there was not only a number of men still in employment , but several employers had conceded the demands of the men , and he believed there was great regret among many of those who had joined the body of employers , for they knew they would be compelled to the

      withdraw from this combination and to settle dispute by concession . ( Hear , hear . ) ThcBristol men had just done what the council of the society wished—they said they would go on . Mr . Slaughter was a good employer , and they would have no piecework or overtime till the contest was settled . The council wanted every district but London and Manchester to do the same . Let them leave the matter in their hands . Not more than 2000 men of the society were out of work , and there must be 10 , 000 in work ; and less than one day ' s wages would be able to provide for those out of work . The utmost moderation must characterize all their proceedings ; the employers did not want to immolate them all , but they would and make them

      dearly like to lay hold on some few , responsible for the rest . There must be no ' picketting . ' Let the masters picket their clubs if they liked ; they had commenced already , and the clubs had been picketted with policemen ; but they were quite welcome to enter , and listen to what they pleased , while the masters held their meetings with closed doors ; no policemen were there , and even the press was not admitted , —so that they could not hear one word of the bickerings , disputes , and dissensions that prevailed there . The speaker concluded , amid loud cheers , by reiterating his advice to the men to be peaceable and moderate . " Mr . Braddon proposed , and Mr . Reid seconded the next resolution , which was adopted .

      ' As a means of removing the evils which beset the condition of working men in relation to the unjust conduct of employers * we recommend the principle of selfemployment on a cooperative basis ; and this meeting Is of opinion that workshops should be immediately commenced by the workmen themselves , in orderthat the business of the country may be proceeded with . " Oh the same day a meeting was held in Southwark and at Stepney , for the purpose of carrying out some cooperative scheme of employment for those thrown in South

      out by the strike of the masters . The men - wark spoke confidently of their prospects in establishing Borne association , and they carried a resolution declaring that it would be expedient to amalgamate the whole of the cooperative societies in the district . Mr . Cromack spoke most decidedly as to the advantages of cooperative associations . He had himself joined a cooperative bakery , and within the last two years they had paid seventy-five per cent , unon the money invested . At the same time they

      had paid their men proper wages . Ihey had closed their bakery on Saturday evening and opened it again on Monday morning . They had not overworked their men , and had sold their bread at a halfpenny per loaf cheaper than competing bakers . He was also connected with a society established within the last three months at Greenwich in connection with their own trade , and he was happy to say that it was going on most satisfactorily . ( Cheers . ) At the meeting of the central club , Stepney , £ 10 , 000 were , on the motion of Mr . Newton , granted from the funds of the society , to be invested in trustees for the establishment of cooperative workshops . Mr . Newton announced , what has , indeed , been current for some time , that many gentlemen of property had volunteered their assistance , and it was expected that a

      nobleman belonging to one of the wealthiest iamiliea in the country , would in a few days publicly avow his intention of becoming one of the trustees . The number of men thrown out of employment by the aggressive policy of the masters , is above ten thousand in and near Manchester alone . A paragraph appeared in the Times of Wednesday purporting to be from its Manchester Correspondent , which describes very accurately the humane working of competition and economical laws as understood by employers . " Having heard it stated that a large mill-fitter at Leeds , wTinoinallv emoloved in makina flax-spinning machinery .

      had turned out all his society hands , because they had dictated to him the proportion of apprentices he should employ to his journeymen , and had replaced them by men taken from the streets , whom he had trained to supply their plaoes in three months , wo asked the possibility of this , where so much skill is supposed to be required . Thoj ; entlema , n in question , we were told , nau been to the United States , where he found none ot tho trade restrictions of tho mother country . Boys were taken into the workshops to learn a trade without in * - dentures , of apprenticeship , and were paid according to their value from tho first , and liable to discharge , or at oiuer

      liberty to seek a new employer at pleasure , like tbo workmen . This gentleman had returned with a determination not to suffer dictation any longer , and had not only completely broken through the restrictions Bought to be placed upon employers by trades' unions of workmen , as respected piecework and overtime , but , instead of ono apprentice to four men , had nearly four apprentices to one man . A great portion of his work was done by maohlnes , which persons oan soon be trained to manage ; and , driven to extremities by the arbitrary conduct of his workpeople , he had not only emancipated himself from dwation , but

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      Jah . 17 , 1852 J ' : \' . W "' WtjiVti * . ¦ ¦ ' *»

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 17, 1852, page 49, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1918/page/5/