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    4 . W fhe mechanics would be defeated , as was the case S all strikes . ( Cries of « Oh , no , " and laughter . ) A fall of wagd 3 would most certainly be the . . result of this strike . " They would be told to the last that they wore going on flourishing that they were carrying all before them , that Arir masters must submit ; . and- some- fine morning they Vvuld find the bubble , burst * their 1 funds ,, wasted , their , leaders compelled to emigrate , and the game over . ( Cries of < No . ' ) V . The only pla * 1 f ° a workman to elevate his condition was by individual self-reliance and economy . Arid 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 ine 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 . Newton 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 Catholic ' 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 bo applied to co-operative purposes . Ho pointed out how there •\ ycro 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 ? " It might bo said that they could not snfoly ombark in

    such an undertaking under tlio existing law of partnership , and that they should wait until tho law was altered . Ho would only say , that if they waited till a legislative enactment pointed out tho way , they might wait for ever ; but if they showed they were in earnest in doing tho thing tor thomaelvog , ho holiovod tho Government would fool it to bo thoir duty to legalize what Lord Cranworth had said would oxiHt , whether legalized or not . What they propoHocl , then , was , that a joint-stock company should bo lonnod to onablo tho workmen to establish themselves pomianontl y in associated workshops ; that they should place

    Homo gontloman , similar to tho chairman , at tho Jioacl ol tho company ; ( hat ( hoy should incorporate that company by ftct of purliamont , juul make it a legal instrument for invosting tho savings of tho working classes , wjio would be asked to talco shares in it to tho extent of '' U » ir moans , and that advantage should bo taken of the muoiunory of tho building societios bo far as to allow tho money no invested to be returned , say , upon a month's notice Wh . ftfc tho Amalgamated Society wanted to know > viih , ii ( , ] l 0 ' dill ' ercnli trades of tho country would assist "win m carrying out such it s ' ohomoP" ( Appl . ift . so . )

    . rhev following resolutions , movod and Bocondod by Mv (> . W . P / idoaux , eubinot-makor ; Mr . . 1 . Pottio , pamtor } Mr . T . C . Olloron . slmw , liuttor ; Mr . Edward Morgan , tailor ; Mr . Brisk , cigar maker ; Mr . Lono , prmtor ; wore unanimously carried ;—" That , having hoard tho statements wliich liavo boon made on behalf of tho Amalgamated Society , this mooting iioroby expresses its aonourronco withtluiirontiroprocoocU j"gH , and pledges itself to support ( ho aocioty in i ( s resistance w ) the unjust moasuroa of tho omployorso " f oporo ^ tivo ongiuoovBj _ ilxtt ( i thia mooting-, bolioying that tho indopondonco

    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 the trades as will insure sufficient funds to conduct tho present contest , and enable the workmen to establish themse lves 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 a committee ( comprising certainworkmen who were named ) 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 . Mb . SahtjeIj Fiei , i > en-, " 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 ave " 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 . -

    " Whatj then , are the leading facts in this case ? On the 10 th day of January last , some hundred masters expelled from their works the whole of the hands employed in them . These amounted to 20 , 000 men ; and , if we sup- ? pose that two-thirds of them were married , and that , on the average ,, jeach married man had a wife and two " " children depending on him , here were 60 , 000 persons suddenly cast upon the world in a . stafe ^ of utter destitution . To-talk of provocation in such a case is-to insult our understanding . No provocation can justify 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 for this , or the deed is one of almost unexampled barbarity .

    " The first question , then , is , was there such necessity P And this does not depend upon whether the views of the journeymen were right or wrong . Up to tho 10 th of January the men were at work—the business of tho 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 the wrong . Lot 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 the interest of the class or profession .

    " Among tho mechanics thoro is a Society called ' Tho Amalgamated Society of Engineers , &c ., ' numbering about 12 , 000 members . This society naturally exercises great induenco in the trade , though thp number of its members is but a fraction of tho wholo body of mechanics in England and Scotland . With tho proceedings of this society , somo of thorn , perhaps , not wise , ( and if none were unwise , tho sociefy would bo more than human , ) tho wholo inquiry boforo us will bo moro or loss connected . " Tho dispute was entirely between tho " turn-out masters" and their mechanics ; tho labourers , although turned out , have nothing to do with it . And it began thus :-

    —" For tho last two years tho men in tho employ of Messrs , Ilibbort , Platt , and Sons , of Oldhain , appear to havo passed through a succession of contests , arrangements , and ro-arrangomonts with thoir masters , in tho course of which they are said to havo received advice and assistance from tho Amalgamated Society . Thoro woro throe grounds of dispute—1 . Tho machines ; 2 . Piccowork , '\ is pmotisfld ; 3 . Systematic overtime A portion of the work ibrmorly ( lono by mechanics is now done by machines , and to work the machines , labourers , or unskilled mechanics , aro employed . The mon insisted that ' mechanics , ' and not 'labourers , ' should bo employed to work those machines . "

    ... Mi " . Fioldon explains'tho oxtortion and cruelty pi " puicowoiilc , ) as practised ? ' and of Hystonmtio ovcrtimo . In tlui Hjn-ing of hint year , Mr . John Platt , tho active partner in tho firm , signed . an agreement , promising that on condition of tho mechanic *) going on working ( with Homo concessions ) in tho manner to which they had objected , until tho Christmas of 1851 , that then n now nysteui tthould bo commenced , conceding , at least , Hutno l ' urtlior part of their domandH . " Did Mr . Platt intend to fulfil that promiso P If I look only to tho papers bearing his own signature , and to his avowqd conduct , I find it diflicult to determine that ho did . Tho accusation against him w , that it was made only to

    get important work on hand finished , and to obtain th time necessary to form that combination of masters who , on the 10 th day of January , passed an -indiscriminate-sen- , tence 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 Plata ' s , or any other of the confederate masters ' shops , that they would all close their establishments . But in proportion asthe 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 foi" 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 they 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 . "

    On the 24 th of December , the Amalgamated Society published their circular , ( or "Manifesto" ) recommending that piecework and systematic overtime should be discontinued—the . machines being not mentioned at all . On the same clay , 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 thatrtheir establislnnents 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 , ns they had always been , opposed to any interference on this subject . As the result of these deliberations , tho Amalgamated Society , on the

    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 were simply that piecework and systematic overtime should be abolished . There was no threat or suggestion of a strike by the men to obtain theso objects ; it was merely a resolution that they would propose that to thoir masters , to which they thought justice and humanity entitled them . Tho masters answered them ; and how ? By denying the facts ? By denying the iniustico ? By reasoning the matter P Nono

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

    It was quito clear that tho question formed no part of the dispute : tho Amalgamated Society officially published its' demands , and tho machines were not mentioned . As to tho question of piecework , " tho men , " says Mr . Fiolden , " I know , havo 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 < mly * luit tho systematic part of it hIhiII bo abolished ; and this they do not give up , and I hope they never will . " Ho then gives tho wholo list of conditions on winch tho master'b have agreed to tako the uion buck , and tho declaration required to . bo Hignod by ouch workman ; " 1 give tho wholo lint , for I fool Unit no description can do justice to its audacity . "

    " Tho position of tho partion , then , is , that tho men havo yielded toll groat extent , whilo J ; ho musters havo not only not yielded anything , but havo tendered a string of conditions most insulting and humiliating to tho mon . " Tho quotation in now narrowed to this—ought tho nion to yield to the masters on tho question of systomatio ovor » tinio , and submit to tho foregoing conditions , or ought thoy to yiold on either point P I havo no hesitation in doolaring my opinion that ( hoy ought not ( o yield on either point , and tlmt tho mastors ought to yiold on both . On tho question of . the systematic overtime it i » useless to wiy

    Untitled Article

    March 6 , 1852 . ] THE EEABEB . 221

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 221, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1925/page/9/