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    March 6, 1852,] T H E LE AD El. 221

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    Progress Of Association. Meeting"At Bkig...

    fhat the ' mechanics would be defeated , as wa ? the case with all strikes . ( Cries of " Oh , no , " and laughter . ) A fall of wages would most certainly be the result of this strike . " They would bo told to the last that they were going on flourishingly , that they were carrying all before them , that their masters must submit ; and some fine morning they * i ™ ild find the bubble burst , their funds wasted , their leaders compelled"to emigrate , and thp game over .. . ( Cries of ' No . ' )"

    The only plan for a workman to elevate his condition was by individual self-reliance and economy . And when they had got an investment in some bank , and not in the funds of some society over which they had no control , they would be independent of masters . ( Hisses and interruption . ) Mr . Coningham said , "I must entreat you to hear Mr . Laing . It is very important that we should hear the views of an employer . " Mr . Laing concluded by begging the workmen not to be led away by hopes of insuring great comforts to every one by the labour of a few hours every day . " I give you , " said he , " this advice , because I am your sincere friend , and don't like to see you here listening to bad advice . ( Laughter . ) I don't expect you to believe me now . ( ' I should think not . *) But I have

    discharged my , duty , and when the matter ends , as I know it will end , you will think of what I have said . " Mr . Kewton said there were few trades unions in America , because the necessity of them did not exist ; and France was in a bad state , because their trades unions , not being legalized , were secret societies ; Ireland owed her wretchedness , not so much to trades unions as the aristocractic combinations in Orange lodges . As for seven men dictating to the employers , that was not true . They only carried into effect the orders of 12 , 000 . Mr . Laing was wrong in saying that the charge for pickets was in the recent report . None had been paid during the last three or four years . Mr . Laing said that strikes were always unsuccessful , and that this would be unsuccessful also . He hoped

    so ; for this was a strike of the employers against the men . ( Laughter . ) ¦; . ¦ The Chairman said that no" great measure had ^ ever been effected without combination . How was Catholic Emancipation carried ? By combination . O'Connell was the Newton of the CathohV Amalgamation Society . " How was Free-trade carried ? By a combination of the very employers who now denounced combination in their men . ( Hear , hear . ) He believed that combination was a most important means of social and political emancipation . The motion was then passed into a resolution by the unanimous vote of the meeting . Thanks to Mr . Coningham closed the proceedings .

    An important step was taken on Thursday . The Amalgamated Society invited the delegates of the metropolitan trades to meet them in St . Martin ' s Hall , and they responded to the invitation with great heartiness . The Hall was literally overflowing . Mr . Vansittart Neale presided . Mr . William Newton made a more than usually clear and comprehensive statement of the facts of the case as between themselves and their employers , and he asked the assistance of the trades in the formation of a large fund to be applied to co-operative purposes . He pointed out how there were millions in the savings' banks and in trades '

    societies , and asked why the working classes did not invest that capital in the employment of labour P " It might bo said that thoy could not safoly ombark in such an undertaking under tho existing law of partnership , and that they should wait until tho law was altered . Ho would onl y say , that if thoy waited till a legislative enactment pointed out tho way , thoy might wait for over ; but if thoy showod they wore in earnest in doing tho thing tor themselves , ho boliovod tho Government would fool it to bb their duty to legalize what Lord Oranworth had said would exist , whether legalized or not . What they propoaod , then , was , that a joint-stock company should bo tormod to onablo tho workman to establish thomsolvos pormano ntly in associated workshops ; that thoy should Place Homo gontloman , similar to tho chairman , at tho oi

    noau tho company ; that thoy should incorporate that company by act of parliament , and make it a logal instrument for investing tho savings of tho working classos , wno would bo askod to fcako shares in it to tho oxlonl ; of inoir moans , and that advanlago should bo taken of tho maohmory of tho building societies so far aa to allow tho monoy so invested to bo roturnod , nay , upon a month ' s nonce . What tho Amalgamated Society wanted to know wiih , it tho different trades of tho country would assist »» om m carrying out such a schemeP" ( Apptauso . ) I ho following resolutions , ' moved and seconded by M y CI . W . Prideaux , cabinet-maker ; Mr . J . Fottio , painter ; , Mr . T . C . Olloronshaw , hatter ; Mr . Edward Morgan , tailor ; Mr . Brink , cigar maker ; Mr . Lono , printer ; wore unanimously carried : —¦

    1 hat , having hoard tho filatomonlu which havo boon mailo on behalf of tho Amalgamated Society , this mooting Jiorohy oxproHHoa itn oonourronco withthoir ' ontiro proceedings , and plod goH ilaelf to support tho society in its ronistanco o mo un just measures of the employers of operative engineers j—TUftfc this meeting , believing that the independence

    of the operatives of this country is threatened by the proceedings of the employers of operative engineers , pledges itself to take such measures for the effectual organization of tho trades as M'ill insure sufficient funds to conduct the present contest , and enable the workmen to establish themselves permanently in associative workshops ; and , That a conference of the metropolitan trades be convened as early as . possible to carry out the objects of the meeting , and that be appointed to take the necessary steps for convening the same . " The spirit of the meeting was most admirable , and the result encouraging .

    SAMUEL FIELDEN ON THE MASTERS * STRIKE . Me . Samuel Fielden , " well-known , " as the Times acknowledges , " for his connexion with industrial operations , and for his consistent advocacy of the principles of humanity , " addressed a letter to the " leading journal , " which appeared on Tuesday , and which gives a plain statement of the controversy between the engineers and the masters who are " out on strike , " brings the question at issue to a tangible point , and earnestly suggests an equitable arrangement by concessions . We have extracted some of the most important passages from his letter to the Times . After remarking on the injurious effects of the struggle on society in general ,-Mr . Fielden says : —

    " To bring about a satisfactory settlement of differences between persons whose interests are deeply affected , and whose passions and prejudices have been excited against each other , it is necessary , clearly and determinedly , to state and maintain the truth between them . This , I think , has not been done ; and although I by no means charge all the partisans of the masters with dishonesty of purpose , I cannot help thinking that we have seen them exhibit more instances of truth suppressed , and error suggested , than is to be found in party discussions of a more general character .

    " What , then , are the leading facts in this case ? On the 10 th day of January last , some hundred masters expelled from then * works the whole of the hands employed in them . These amounted to 20 , 000 men ; and , if we suppose that two-thirds of them were married , and that , on the average , each marr ied man had a wife and two children depending on him , here were 60 , 000 persons suddenly cast upon the world in a state of utter destitution . To talk of provocation in such alfase is to insult our understanding . No provocation canjustify such an act . To maintain such a position is to contend against every

    principle of social and religious duty . No ; either there was an absolute necessity fox this , or the deed is one of almost unexampled barbarity . " The first question , then , is , was there such necessity ? And this does not depend upon whether the views of the journeymen were right or wrong , tip to the 10 th of January the men were at work—the business of the country was being done—the trade was not unprosperous—and society was undisturbed . In such a state of things there is nothing to indicate that an impossibility existed of arranging existing differences , whoever might be in tho wrong . Let us , then , examine what was the state of facts prior to the masters' turn-out . "

    Mr . Fielden explains the distinction between mechanics and unskilled workmen ; and shows that the benefit and trade societies do not differ from the various societies of " lawyers , doctors , traders , and publicans , " whose object is to watch over , protect , and promote tho interest of the class or profession . " Among the mechanics there is a society called ' Tho Amalgamated Societ y of Engineers , & c ., ' numbering about 12 , 000 members . This society naturally exercises groat influence irt the trade , though the number of its members is but a fraction of tho whole body of ' mechanics in England and Scotland . With tho proceedings of this society , some of thorn , perhaps , not wise , ( and if none were unwise , tho society would bo more than human , ) the whole inquiry before us will bo more or less connected . "

    The dispute was entirely between the " turn-out masters" and their mechanics ; tho labourers , although turned out , havo nothing to do with it . And it began thus : — " For tho last two years tho men in tho employ of Messrs . Hibbort , Platt , and Sons , of Oldluun , appear to havo passed through a succession of contests , arrangoments , and ro-arrangomontB with their masters , in tho course of which they are said to havo received advico and anBietanco from tho Amalgamated Society . Thoro wore throe grounds of disputo—1 . The machines ; 2 . Piecework , as practised ; J ) . Systematic overtime . A portion of tho work formerly dono by mechanics ia now dono by machines , and to work the machines , labourers , or unskilled mechanics , avo employed . Tho men insisted that ' mechanics , ' and not labourers / should bo employed to work those machines . "

    Mr . Fieklon explains tho oxtortion and cruelty of " piecework , an practised , " and of . Bystomutic overtime . In the spring of lust year , Mr , John Platt , tho active partner in tho firm , signed an agreement , promising tlint on condition of tho ¦ mechanics going on working ( with some concessions ) in tho manner to which thoy had objected , until the Christmas of 1851 , that then a now Hystom should bo commenced , conceding , at least , Homo further part of thoir demands . " Did Mr . Platt intend to fulfil that promiso ? If I look only to tho papers bearing his own signature , and to hia avowed conduct , I find it difficult to dotermino that ho did . Tho accusation against him is , that it wae made only to

    get important work on hand finished , and to obtain the time necessary to form that co . mbira . tion of masters who , on the 10 th day of January , passed an indiscriminate sentence of starvation on 60 , 000 people , because a ^ portion of them would not cease to ask for mercy and justice . " On the 9 th of December , the confederate masters commenced their operations ; and , all that they at first declared was that if any " turn-out" took place at Hibbert and Platt ' s ; or any other of the . confederate masters ? shops , that they would all close their establishments . But in proportion as the prospect of a " turn-out" by the men diminished , so the determination of the masters to have a turn-out increased .

    " The comparative moderation of the masters at this time , however , may be ascribed to a feeling of internal weakness ; for , by the second resolution , it is provided that each confederate shall deposit in a bank a sum , at the rate of 10 s . a-head on the number of his workmen , as a guarantee for the good faith of each member . But on the 17 th of December , the confederates go a little furtherthey drop the name of Hibbert , Platt , and Sons , and ac * cuse the Amalgamated Society of making demands , which they do not state , on firms which the y do not name , and accuse them of giving a notice to one firm , also not named . Still , however , the men are to turn out first , and upon the specific ground of non-compliance with the unknown demands . "

    Qn the 24 th of December , the Amalgamated Society published then" circular , ( or "Manifesto" ) recommending that piecework and systematic overtime should be discontinued—the machines being not mentioned at all . On the same day , a meeting of the confederate masters was held in London , when a communication from the Manchester confederates was read , ' stating , that the Amalgamated Society had made demands on firms in that district , including the unconditional discharge of

    all unskilled labourers employed on machines . At the same meeting , the circular ( or " Manifesto" ) of the Amalgamated Society , which made no mention of the machine question , and referring solely to overtime and piecework , was taken into consideration . And it was resolved at this meeting that , " in the event of the hands of any establishment going out on strike , or otherwise enforcing the ^ demands of the Amalgamated Society , " that they would all close their establishments on the 10 th of January , 1852 .

    On the 3 rd of January the Central Association of Employers advertised in the newspapers that their establishments would be closed on the 10 th of January . On this step Mr . Fielden gives the following opinion : — " Pending the dispute with Mr . Platt , and for a long time before , the trade generally had complained of the oppression they suffered by the systematic overtime and piecework , as practised , and the means of removing the evil was a subject of constant deliberation among them . The question of the machines was also considered ; but the great body of mechanics were , as they had always been , opposed to any interference on this subject . As the result of these deliberations , the Amalgamated Society , on tho

    24 th of December , put forth the circular ( or " Manifesto" ) before mentioned , containing the propositions of the mechanics on these subjects of dispute , and they wore simply that piecework and systematic overtime should bo abolished . There was no threat or suggestion of a strike by the men to obtain these objects ; it Avas merely a resolution that they would propose that to their masters , to which they thought justice and humanity entitled them . The masters answered them ; and how P By denying tho facts ? By denying the iniustico ? By reasoning tho matter P None

    of these . They answered by a determination , as tho toregoing resolutions show , to tho effect that unless tho proposition were unconditionally withdrawn they would dismiss from their shops tho whole of their hands—not thoso who made tho proposition only , but all tho hands in thoir employ . On the 10 th of January the mechanics , not having brought themselves down to this insulting test of hopeless submission , tho masters carried their determination into effect—the most signal instance of ruthless vengeance that has yot characterized tho wars of capital against humanity . "

    It was quite clear that tho question of tho machines formed no part of tho disputo : the Amalgamated Society officially published ita demands , nml the machines wero not mentioned . An to tho question of piecework , " tho men , " says Mr . Fielden , " I know , have expressed their willingness to continue to work by tho piece , provided tho oppressive practices described do not exist in future . Tho men ' s proposition as to overtime is only that tho Bystemtitic part of it shall bo abolished ; and this thoy do not give up , and I hope they never will . " Ho then gives tho whole list of conditions on which tho miiHtor ' s havo agreed to take tho men back , and tho declaration required to bo signed by cjjch workman ; " I give tho whole list , for I feol that no description can do justice to its audacity . " ¦

    " Tho position of tho parties , then , is , that tho num . havo yielded to a groat oxtonji , while tho masters havo not only not -yielded anything , but havo tendered a string of conditions most insulting and humiliating ( o the men . " The question i « now narrowed to this—oug ht tho men to yield to tho masters on tho question of si / ntomatio overtime , and submit to tho foregoing conditions , or ought thoy to yield on oithor point P I havo no hesitation in doclaring my opinion that they ought not to yield on oilhor point , iind that tho majors ought to yield on both . On tho question of tho systematic overtime it ia useless to say

    March 6, 1852,] T H E Le Ad El. 221

    March 6 , 1852 , ] T H E LE AD El . 221

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06031852/page/9/