The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-03-01 00:00:00

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BRIERLEY HILL.

DRUNKENNESS.—At the Police Court on Mon-
day, before 11. J. W. H. Foley and G. King
Harrison, Esqrs., Jane Green was summoned for
being drunk in Moor Street, Brierley Hill. P.O
NlacDermott proved the c ise and said he saw the
defendant who was very drunk and cursing at the
officer. Previous convictions were proved against
defendant and she was fined 5s and costs; in de-
fault 7 days.—William Sutton was charged with
oeing druuk in Level Street. Brierley Hill, on the
17th ult. P.C. Hicklin proved the case. Defend-
ant was fined 58 and costs; in default 7 days
John Lewis was charged with being drunk and
disorderly on the 18th ult. P.C. Hicklin proved
the case. Fined 28 6d and costs; in default 7 days
—Josiah Slater was summoned for being drunk
and disorderly at Brierley Hill, on the 19th ult
P.C. MacDermott proved the case. Fined 5s and
costs ;in default 7 days.—John Dukes was fined
5s and costs for being drunk and disorderly on the
19th ult.—Squire Green was summoned for being
drunk and disorderly at Brierley Hill. on the 19th
ult.—P.C. Johnson proved the case. Fined 2s 6d
and costs; in default 7 days.—Josiah Dimmock
was charged with being drunk and disorderly on
the 19th ult. P.C. Hicklin proved the case. Two
previous convictions were also proved against him
and he was fined lOs and costs; in default 14 days.
COAL STEALERS.—SamueI Thompson, William
Hedges and Mary Ann Thompson were summoned
for stealing coal, an property of the Earl of Dudley
Alditional-constable ruler proved the case and
se,id,he saw the three prisoners picking coal from
tie pit bank of the Earl of Dudley. They were
each fined 5s ; hi d fault days.

SCHOOL BO&RD PROSECIITIONS.—A number of
p2rsons were summored fur not sending their
children to school. Mr. Hewitt, school board
officer, proved the CH3O, and they were fined in sums
from is to 2s Gel.

THE CARPET WEAVERS' STRIKE AT
KIDD ER MINSTER.
111 MR. DIXON'S ADDRESS TO HIS MEN.
—Mr. Henry Dix n, senior partmr of the Long
Nleedow firm of carpet manufacturers, Kidder-
minster, invited his men to meet him in the show
rooms at the works on Tuesday afternoon, and ad-
dressed to theta some valedictory remarks. He
s iid it was probable that was the last occasion on
which they should ever meet again in the relation-
hip they had hithetto held. He was anxious that
in parting they should do so as good . friends, re-
specting one anther as they had hitherto done,
and that all unkindness and ill-feeling, if such had
ever existed between them, should cease from thet
moment. If he had ever said aoything that had
been thought harsh and unkind, he hoped they
would think no more of it. He was sorry that
such an expression had ever come from him, and
he asked their forgiveness, and he freely forgave
anything that had been said of him by his work-
people. The parting was entirely of their own
seeking. The firm had in no way interfered with.
the men. They had not made a sirgle yard of
carpet less because of this new manufacture, and
if those looms had not been employed on the new
fele.ic the ordinary weavers would have no more
work to do: They had not interfered with either
Vie privileges or rights of the men. They main-
tained they had a right to introduce a manufacture
which was entirely new, and which the weavers on
t e firm had nothing to do with. They (the
weavers) had no part or parcel in the introduction
of it. They maintained their rights, as Englishmen,
to have perfect freedom to do they liked with their
own. He was sorry that before they (the weavers)
passed that resolution at their meeting with trio
committee last week, that they did not in a kindly
feeling come before the employers and talk the
matter lover with them, instead of attending a
meeting the result of which was a foregone con-
clusion. They had told him only a week or two
ago that the sensible and more thinking men did
not attend the body meetings. They had told him
also that if any man got up at one of the body
meetings and spoke contrary to the prevailing
opinion he was:shouted down and called a "master's
ma n; 'and that such meetings were always one-
sidied affairs; and that if a man expressed an
op. nion contrary to the one side he was not listened
toa He (Mr. Dixon) was away on Saturday, and
o d hoped to have a few days' rest from the trouble
and turmoil of the last few weeks, but he had to
come back, and immediately after he arrived heard
of that meeting. According to what he had heard
it was one of the most disgraceful meetings ever
held in Kidderminster, If any man dared to get
up and speak he was shouted down, and the
conduct of thcs; present was abominable. Ile
wi-hed to say to more about that. As those
present had made up their minds the firm accepted
their deter.ninatim. Their wages would be ready
for them, and be should wish them " God-speed"
in the kindliest feeling, with every desire for their
we;fare, especially towards the older men on the
firm, whom they respected, and who had worked
for them nearly all their lives. He hoped they
would have every prosperity in the world to come.
With those expressions be hoped they should meet
again with all kindness and good feeling towards
one another, although not in the relation of em-
ur should
should
notolsi
dnote
everythingrbeeployer and employed, As they had to part let
i
pa,ainthemdgttheir
tuhbple d
eai
do so
;is?wgood o
. ggiit
es.
Theyfriends.nk wouldu
o,Bhlwhdperhaps,
eoy hd e who wishedr
ioft hno
ro
themathem.na
with-
in their power to keep their looms going and to in-
crease the, prosperity of the firm, and to keep it
going. rite men would be all paid as they left
their work. The firm had received a notice which
was an illegal one, but that they should pass over.
He hoped that as the men left their looms they
would clean them and leave them in decent order.
Tne men, who had listened to the whole of Mr.
Dixon's remarks without giving the slightest
token of asseut or dissent, then turned and left the
be l
e interfere with
there wto stay
long
in
room without making any remark.