The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-08-13 00:00:00

THE STRIKE ON THE MIDLAND
RAILWAY.

On Monday morning the strike on the Midland
Railway of drivers and stokers against the introduc-
tion of new regulations providing for payment by
journey instead of stated weekly wages still continued,
and there appeared no prospect of a conciliatory
settlement. The passenger traffic of the company
seemed to be working well as far as the main lines
were coeeerned, and there was a buoyant and confident
tone at headyiraters in reference to the progress being
made in overtaking the goods traffic. This did not
promise well for the men on strike, who were evi-
dently regarded by the company as practically de-
feated. On the other hand, the despatches
received from several centres indicated that
the streggle with the men was not kept up
without much difficulty, cost, and inconvenience.
From Nottingham news came that men drafted into
the compae)'s service from other lines were return-
ing. At Sheffield, men from the North-Eastern
Railway had to be lodged, fed, and protected in the
engine sheds. Servants of other companies passed
resolutions in support of their Midland comrades,
and thus strongly di,=couraged any outside assistance.
Thus, although in Derby there appeared to prevail a
feeling that the company were getting the upper
band, there was sufficient reason on both sides for
wishing the contest at an end. A speedy
settlement was obviously desirable in the
interests of many others besides the parties to
the dispute. A Wolverhampton correspondent tells
bow the pig-iron makers of that district are mainly
dependent for their supplies of coke from ~he Derby-
shire cove ovens coming to them over the Midland
line, in consequence of the strike there was an in-
terruption of supplies which threatened to throw many
persons in the iron trade temporarily out of em-
ployment. This is but one of the serious incon-
veniences that might result from a prolongation of
this painful dispute.

The Midland Railway Company announced on
Tuesday morning that they had received applica ions
from a large number of men in the employ of other
Railway Companies, and had appointed many. They
were keeping open the vacancies at several large towns
in the Midland Counties for a short time, to give the
men on strike an opportunity of returning. On the
other hand the men declared that they anticipated a
large accession of support from the signalmen, who
fear-a like fate should the company succeed against
the classes now on strike, and frcm the employes of
other comnaniac

During Tuesday further instances occurred of yield- I
ing on the part of the engine-drivers and firemen on
strike on the Midland Railway, the most notable
surrender beint at Chesterfield, where the whole of
the men applied to be re-engaged. The company
were evidently on Tuesday making progress in sur-
mounting their difficulties, and traffic on nearly all
sections of tie line was being worked with compara-
tive regularity.
I meeting of members of Parliament was held
in the Conference Room of the House of Commons
on Tuesday afternoon—Mr. A. M'Artlaur presiding
—to consider the condition of affairs caused by
the wages dispute on the Midland Railway. After
50... e discussion the following memorandum
was drawn up and signed, and Mr. F. A. Chan-
fling was instructed to forward it to Mr. M. W.
Thompson, the chairman of the Midland Company:
"To tho chairman and directors of the Midland
Railway Company.—The und, reigned members of
Parliament, in view of the injury and loss likely to be
suffered by the railway servants and their families,
and also by the travelling and trading public, in con-
sequence of the present difference between the Mid-
land Rai,way Company and a number of their
employes, venture respectfully to suggest to the direc-
tors that the question at issue might with advantage
be made the subject of friendly conference or media-
tion: A. DVArthur, Robert G. Webster, H. L. W.
Lawson, J. Allanson Picton, F. A. Cha.nning, A. J.
Williams, G. Howell, Jos. Woorlhead, W. R. Cremer,
C. A. V. Conybeare, Wilson Noble, W. Plowden, T.
Burt, C. M. Warmington, J. Rowlands, P. O'Brien, A.
Blanes, P. A. Chance, W. S. B. MtLaren, E. Spencer,
Caleb Wright L. J. Jennings, J. Wootton Isaacson,
C. S. Parker, C. Bradlaugh, A. D. Provand, R. B.
Cunninghame Graham, H. Byron Reed, H. P. Cobb,
H. T. Wilson, H. H. Asquith, H. C. Stephens."
A Derby correspondent stated on Wednesday
morning that a reply had been received there from
Baron de Worms, who had been asked to mediate in
the Midland Railway dispute. Tke reply was as
follows: "It is not thought advisable that a member
of the Government should act as proposed in your
telegram." A less hopeful feeling appeared to pre-
vail in the men's committee, and the end of, the
struggle seemed on Wednesday near at hand.