The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-07 00:00:00

THE STRIKE IN THE NAIL TRADE.

On Monday morning a meeting of the nailers'
gates was held at the Royal Exchange Inn, Old Hill, to
consider the advisability of rescinding the resolution
passed on Wednesday, by which the operatives reduced
their demands by 24 per cent: Representatives were
present from the following districts:—Rowley, Old
Halesowen, Quarry Bank, Gorey Hill, Hayeich,
Long Lane, Blackheath, Lye Waste,_ and Upper
Gornal.

Mr. John Price, who presided, at the outset of the
meeting explained that if the decision the Executive
arrived at on Wednesday was carried out it would be
against the voice of the majority of the people. The
action of the delegates in taking off the 21 per cent.
from their demand seemed to have greatly angered the
operatives, and he scarcely felt it safe to venture into
some of the districts until this feeling was appeased.
The unpleasantness he had met with since that reaolu-
non went forth was such that he was inclined rather to
go home and " leave the men to their fate" than have to
go the people and tell them this resolution was confirmed
at that meeting. The masters did not regard their pro.
peals as conciliatory, and had expressed their deter-
mination to issue no other list than that sent out a fort-
night ago, which, he asserted, was condemned by the
whole of the nailers. Some suggestions in reference to
the strike had been received from the Halesowen Com-
mittee, were it now appeared that the nailers were
anxious to meet the masters by a compromise, giving a
still greater reduction from their original demand than
that it was proposed now to rescind,
Mr. James Williams (Lialesowen) said that after
mature consideration the committee at Halesowen had
resolved to offer one or two suggestions to the Executive
with a view of ending the strike. They thought that if
a conference of masters and men could be now arranged,
the dispute might be settled satisfactorily. According to
one of the masters the employers were willing to meet
the men if their leader, Mr. Price, was absent. But the
nailers objected to meet the masters unless Mr. Price
attended with them.

Mr. Price: I shall certainly refuse to meet the masters
again.
Mr. Williams, proceeding said the Halesowen Com-
mittee had resolved at a meeting to put forward :—" In
consideration of tbe fact that we have been on strike for
seven weeks, and that the trade and the interests of the
masters and ourselves are being greatly injured by this
struggle, we venture to propose on behalf of the men
that you be kindly requested to call a meeting of the
masters in order that something may be done to bring
this painful strike to a close." They also recommended
the delegates to consider whether they should not adopt
such a resolution, as follows;—' That this meeting,
oomposed of delegates, is of opinion that it is desirable
that the Chairman of tbe Nailmasters' Association be
kindly requested to call a meeting of the trade to take
into consideration the present aspect of the strike, and
to make an endeavour, in concert with the leaders of
the operative, to bring it to an end.''
Mr. Price pointed out that the Halesowen Committee
recommended a course which even went further than his
suggestion list week, which was so strongly condemned
by the nailers at Halesowen on Thursday.
Mr. Hackett ((id Hill) urged that reducing their de-
mands would not enable them to obtain them sooner.
If they gave way now they had better play for nothing
than work for nothing. He asserted that if the Broms-
grove men had remained out they would have had their
prices by now.

- The Blackheath delegate said the resolution reducing
the demand was not rescinded the nailers at Blackheath
would resume work at the old prices ; and the repre•
sentative from Olds winford said if the original resolution
was deviated from at all it woald be for the 1&75 list in
full.

After several other speakers had expressed similar
views the delegate from Halesowen decided td vote with
the majority, and it was then unanimously resolved to
rescind the resolution of last Wednesday, and make the
1875 list, less 10 per cent., the basis of the demand of
the nailers from the masters.

Meetings to confirm their decision were subsequently
held.

It was reported to a meeting held at Oldswinford
that subscriptions for the support of those on strike
had been received from the Glassmakers' and Cutters'
Society and
.a number of residents in Oldswinford.

A resolution tendering the meeting's thanks for their
assistance was passed.
A termination of the existing disputes between the
masters and operatives in the nail trade is apparently
more remote than at the commencement of the agitation
for the increase, and each party maintains its determina-
tion not to succumb to the other. The non acceptance
of the offer of the delegates of the "'Mien; to give way to
the extent of 21 per cent, has caused a hostile feeling
among the nailers, who now say that they ought not to
have offered the reduction to the masters. The nail'
masters do not disguise their intention more than was
set out in the lately prepared list, over and over again
asserting that it is quite impossible farther to increase
the wages during the existing state of trade. There is
no doubt that the prolonged dispute is acting very
seriously on the districts in which it prevails, and the
shopkeepers would rejoice to hear the end of it, for in-
stead of doing a reasonable trade, they have in a great
measure to let food go out "on trust," and their re•
sources in this respect are almost at an end. tenet
alarm is felt at the effect the strike will have on the
future trade, many persons foreseeing that the wrought
nail trade must ha very much damaged by the strike fur
some time to come, if not permanently, as many con-
sumers are getting " cut nails " instead. Some of the
warehouses, having nothing to do, are closed. It is to
be hoped that this long and troublesome strike will soon
end, and none more ardently wish it to terminate than
the other inhabitants of the places affected.

Mr. John Price addressed a large Meeting of nailers
in Porter's Field, Dudley, on Tuesday last. He said the
reductions suggested by the masters were in reality 80,
35, and 421 per cent. on the list of 1875, which they
desired to see again in operation. To put it elearly, he
might say that under the 421 per cent. reduction they
had to woik desperately hard to earn a sovereign, and
then part with 8s 6.1 of it to the master. At different
meetings he had held that day he was glad to find that
the ostlers were all of firm heart and determined not to
go in. Enemies were abont spreading reports that first
one sad then another district had resumed work. He
had heard that morning that the Cawney Hill women
had taken out iron. (No, no ) Well, such were the
rumours spreal by soine..me interested ; but if they ever
went under 10 per cent, reduction on the 1875 list they
and their cause were ruined for ever. Such a strike had
not been known for thirty years now, owing to its
maguitude, and it was almost won, for never were stocks
se low or orders so brisk. Many masters had orders
which ought to have been completed two months ago,
but whilst 24,000 nailers kept out orders could not be
executed. The masters wanted the nails, but wanted
also to show their " mastery." He advised as many as
possible to go hopping, and when they came back the
strike would be over, and the wce.kpeople in possession
of what they wanted. (Applause.) Now, he would ask,
were they determined to make no nails until they had '
the price? Cries of " Yes."
A resolution to "play on" was then unanimously
passed.
A great distress among the nailers owing to the long
continuance of the strike is now assuming a rathex
serious aspect, and on Saturday afternoon last Mr. F.
A. Homer, out of a fund subscetled for the purpose,
again presented tickets of relief to the nailers residing at
Sedgley. The extent of the relief given was calculated
on tbe number of workers on strike at eaoll house.
Mr. F. A. Homer is appealing to the benevolent for
their assistance to relieve the great and obvious suffer-
ings of the women and children consequent on the strike,
hopiug that the merits or demerits of the strike—into
which he does not enter—will not influence persons in
withholding help. The tickets varied in value from Is
61 to 33 eacn, according to the number of hands at play
in the houses where the relief was administered. On
Saturday afternoon last many of the women, on strike
visited the ironworks, ttc., for some miles round, and
obtained considerable pecuniary assistance from the
various operatives. It is arranged to renew the visits in
a similar manner the next wages days, if in the mean-
time the strike is not closed, many promising to render
all the aid they can consistent with their own limited
employment. From the present appearances the
struggle is likely to go on for a tong period, the men and
women asserting that there never was a nail strike in
which there was such a general unanimity among the
24,00 Q hands at play.
It • is painfully obvious there is very serious distress
amorg the wrought nailers on strike in Staffordshire, a
great many of whom are resorting to begging and other
expeiients for food. In consequence of the large
number of persons out on strike the claims on the
benevolent have become more than can be bcrne : hence
a committee is appealing for stibscr ptions to relieve the
suifeziog women and children.
Ou ednesday night last a mass meeting, attended by
upards of 3,000 nailers was held at the Cross, Old Hill.
Mr. Joseph Hackett presided, and stet-id that at the pre-
bout tome there were a few people in the district taking
oat iron. He ciutioned them against doing so, remark-
ing Viet the adoption of such a course on tne part of the
operatives caused their defeat in the last strike. He
warned others not to use intimidation towards those few
people who had deserted them in the Old Hill distric.
Their members were not large enough to affect the issue
of the strike in the slightest degree. (Hear, hear.)
They had still 23,000 people at their backs, and with
such an army they could not fail to win the battle."
Cherry Orchard (as it was called) had begun their
"shabby work," bat they could not injure those who
were out on strike, and they must not be tempted to
commit a breach of the law in consequence of their con-
duct. Thep might walk thirty miles in the district but
not fled thirty people at work; They had held four
meetings during the day, and they had only heard of one
case where the people had gone to work at the
masters' prices. Twenty-three thousand persons were
out, and who could drive them in? (Voices: No.
John Price remarked that all the districts were
firm in their opposition to the employers terms, but in
the Old Hill district there seemed to be an agitation
through it few of the people resuming work. It theye
went into work on the masters' conditions their fati
would be fixed, and there would be no hope for them n
the future. (Voices; Never.) The resolution had gone

forth, and there would be no deviation from it, and
every nailmaker must stand by him until the last breath,
or else they should go in and get the best terms they
could from the masters, and he would never render them
assistance again. (Hear, hear.) 'Those persons who
had deserted them were women whose husbands were
engaged in other trades. (Shame.) They did not care
about the interests of the trade, as they did not depend
upon the nail trade for their living. Out of the 24,000
nailmakers in the up-country he felt confident there
were not 200 of them at work. (Hear, hear.) What-
ever might be said or done, they were determined to
carry out the principle of the demands for which they
struck in the first instance. He also cautioned them
against using violence towards those persons who re-
turned to work.

The resolution to play on until their demands were
conceded was then put by the Chairman, awl carried
with the utmost enthusiasm.

Speaking at a meetin held at Blackheath, on Wednes•
day last, Mr. Price said there was apparently a mis-
understanding with regard to the action he had taken in
the present strike, more especially with reference to the
course he adopted at the recent meeting of delegates at
Old Hill. It was stated at that meeting that one of the
masters was reported to hay said that the employers
would consent to a conference with the delegates repre-
senting the men, with the exception of him (the
speaker.) Although the delegates unanimously declared
their intention not to meet the masters without he was
willing, yet he was willing to give way if, by any possi-
bility, an a:rangement could be made to bring to a satis-
factory termination the present strike.
Meetings were held during the day at Rowley, Long
Lune, and Cockshutts, where similar resolutions were
also adopted.
A series of entertainments are being arranged to take
place in the Old Hill district for the relief of the nailers
on strike.

On Wednesday last a crowded meeting of the miners
of the Old Hill district was held at the Duke William
Inn, Old Hill, for the puipose of further considering the
wages question, with a view to take immediate steps to
obtain on advance in wages.
Mr. W. Morgan presided and, in opening the meeting,
remarked that the times were very hard and bad for
miners. No miner could at the present time get an
honest living by his labour. They could not get suffi-
cient to eat for themselves and their families, and that
being the case, how could they clothe their families and
pay their way ? (Hear, hear) For these reasons he
thought it was time they asked their employers for an
Increase, or ceased working. (Hear, hear.) They were
told by the employers tt at they would never be redueed
lower than 38 GI per day, but they were at work at the
present time sixpence per day below that price. The
summer was nearly over, and there would be an increase
in the demand for coal. He urged upon the men to
unite, and seize the opportunity for demanding an in-
crease of wages. (Cheere.)
Mr. Noah Forrest (who attended with Mr. Price as a
deputation from the Chiaironakers' Association) ad•
dressed the meeting, an I urged upon the men the neces-
sity for combined effort, and advocated co operative
Unionism, which, it adopted, would improve the con-
dition of working men.
Mr. W. Breakwell, miners' agent, spoke at consider-
able length upon the importance of lie men furnishing
their minds with information upon the great questions
which so nearly affected their own interesta. He re-
minded the men that the reason why masters wanted to
take them back to the long hours was because they (the
men) did not seek to cultivate their minds nor improve
their morals, and the employers considered it would be
better for them to spend more time in the mine rather
than squander their time in the way many of them did
at the present time. He also exhorted them to re-
organise themselves with a view to obtain a better price
for their labour.

The following resolution was then unanimously
adopted :—" That in the opinion of this meeting it is
desirable that a a deputation should be appointed to
wait upon the miners of the Brierley Hill district with a
view to co-operate with them in asking for an advance
upon the present rate of wages."