The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-28 00:00:00

THE NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENT.

Vith reference to the alleged " New Political
Alliance," the following report, printed awl circulated
amongst the peers and the representatives of the work-
ing classes privy to the proposed arrange:mut, and
which lam not been previously published, has been sent
to us (Irni;,u News):--

"Privets) and confidential.
•' PROPo.ED NEW A,NnCIATTON

A meeting of the Council of skilled Workmen was held
at 10. Bolt-court, on Thursday. Almost the lOth, to receive
the report of thy Prtsideht. Ir 00, t Ittolsell, on the result
of the negotiations with which he hat heen charged at the
meet ings of the commit held on the dab of Janoary and the
3rd of Fel,roary, at the "Albion" Hotel, liritige.stileet.".
- - •

"The Chairman reported that his negotiations had
been successful ; that all the objects propoged had been
obtained. The difficulties also that hail to be over-
come had turned out quite as formidable as he hail
expected, and their enemies had proved quite as
numoons and powerful as he had anticipated when
he told the Council that hio negotiation would at least
occupy three months ami noire—probably nix months.
From the 3rd of February, when he received ids au-
thority from the Council, to the 4th of August, when he
received the pleasing tidings he had now to communi-
cate, was precisely five months. The first portion of
these six months had been occupied in nego-
tiathons which resulted in entire failure. The
peers and logialators who were occupied during that
time in the endeavour to form a Council of Legislators
sufficiently united and powerful to carry through both
tin nines .4 Parliament legislative measures to accom-
plish the xenon objects of this association were obliged
to abandon the task, after three months of hard work ;
and in May last the chairman found himself obliged to
begin bin work all over again. This Mat attempt had
been to unite peers and legislators chiefly with what is
called the Liberal party. The second attempt was,
therefore, necessarily directed to what is called the
Conservative party. After three months of negotia-
tion this party has been thoroughly and satisfactorily
united in a representative Council of Peen and
Legislators. They thought it wise to ask the adhe-
sion of some of the abler men in the first party,
some of whom, the chairman was glad to say, had
accepted the duty, but the bulk of the council
was 'onservative. On the 4th of August your chair-
man waited on the chairman of this newly-constituted
Connell, and received from him an official statement to
the following effect : -"Hod the 'mined of Legislation
for the well-being and well doing of English skilled
workmen accept the proposition made to them by Mr.
Scott Russell, as President of the Council of Represen-
tative Working men, constituted in January last.
They aroept the responsibility of advising with that
Council regarding the legislative measures necessary to
pr quote their physical. mural, awl intellectual welfare.
They accept the responnibility of preparing legislative
meagures for carrying the objectsn of tine working men
Into effeet,and of bringing in and passing those measures
through both Houses of Parliament They donot conceal
from themselves the great opposition which these
measures will encounter in passing through Parlia-
ment, but they consider it their duty to make earnest
efforts for the better understanding and closer union
of the separated classes of society, and retaining to
themselvsen perfect freedom of judgment and decision
on the witidom of the meagureg propmed to them, and
the expedient modes of giving them effect, they
cordially unite with the working men for the promotion
of the common good. This Council of Legislation
(nsintinued the chairman) comprehends earls, lords,
baronetg, and one commoner. Its number is at pre-
sent limited to ten, but it may, if expedient, be ex-
tended to fifteen, which is the number composing the
Council of Working Men. The chairman further
stated that so goon as desirable, with the consent
of all the mend*ro of both councils, a complete list of
their names would be exchanged, and it would be a
matter for the considaration of the two councils when
and how publicity should be given to the objects and
the organizations now tendert:W-4x Secrecy would
only be of value so long as premature publicity would
teed to strengthen their numerous and powerful
enemies. The chairman, in conclusion, stated that
he did runt wish this meeting m.w, or hastily, to adopt
measures or pass resolutions. Their next iinty was
to propose suitable measures to give effect to the
objects of their association, and he entreated
every member if council to devote his leisure
to considering the wisest measures of legislation,
and the most powerful mechanism .4 organi-
zation for carry fing them into effect, and so tin prepare
for an important meeting oi all the members after the
holidays." The seven resolutions, which have appeared
in .our odium's, then follow. The report then ends with
this special notice After sonar consideration it was
agreed to adjourn the further consideration of tine chair-
man's report, and a special meeting of the council was
ordered tin be convened at 10, Bolt-court, on Thursday
evening, September 28, at whieh you are urgently. re-
quested to be present. Chair to be taken at eight
o'clock."
It appears that, as far aa Mr. Wm. Allen, the secre-
tary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, whose
interview with Mr. Scott Ru,sell has gone the round
of the papers, is concerned, he attended but one meet-
ing on the subject. That wan in January, and the
meeting %AA a preliminary one. With the alleged
subsequent negotiations Mr. Allen had nothing what-
ever to do • and he kul.ws of document having been
tignel by ;he peers or the working class representative&
He never saw cavil a document.