The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-13 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1852.

cheers.) That the sun had ben Justified in seek-
iag the abolides M systematic °Millie was now generally
esessiisli se diem. Ms speaker lime mitered into a
Ie eel, ]tint bjrallt. togs lowing article of a
.) M
be ming des in this business was, that
nay mei nothing for W Ina win wen eat of employ-
=wad whom the meaesses sins Amalgamated Society
being into employment. The Amalgamated Society
did not conceal its desire to servo them ism who were out
of employment, and who ought to be employed. (Cheers )
The Amalgamated Society wanted, they ionfeiced, to divide "
among 30 the work which 20 were now compelled to mono- '
pollee. (Cheers.) Their right to ask this was perfectly ,
plain. 1 hey made no demand for higher wages ; they were
ready to see the powers of labour and the wages reduced
proportionately. The employers, through their organ, I
now said that they would du ji.stice to their !
men, in regard to overtime, if the men would agree to ;
withdraw the circular. That wits as much as to guy that'
when the men would give over asking they would get all
they asked. (Great laughter.) Well, the men would he
' perfectly ready to meet the masters on these terms ; and if
the masters would announce that everything stipulated for
in the circular would be conceded, there was no question
whatever that the circular would be immediately with-
drawn. (Cheers and laughter.) The men were told that
they must disavow the Amalgamated Society ; but the men
knew what they meant : it was the out dodge to kill the I
leaders, and then leave the people to do what they could.
The membersof that society did not dictate to employer's Ile
might be regarded as meddlesome •min as moat ; and lie
could go back to the employers for whom he had worked,
and from each get • good character. All the good muter*.
wanting and granting fair play, said that the intelligent
workman was most easily dealt with. The intelligent man
listened to nevem, and could reason in reply ; and if the ho-
nest and sensible men, differing at first, talked over a
doubtful point with each other, the one with the beat argu-
ment was sure to convince the other. (Cheers) In the
Amalgamated Society the masters had to deal with a re-
sPonsible and sensible body of men ; and it was, come-
quently, a protection to the employers. In this dispute,
they had asked the employers to meet them—they were
confident that there could have been but one result
to an amicable discussion ; but the employers re-
fused, and they had even gone so far as to
discharge those of their workmen who had gone up to them
as a deputation to represent grievances. (Hear, hear.)
The masters had had every chance of obtaining •
settlement. The men hail never threatened • strike
—they had not struck. (Cheers.) The working
men abhorred strikes; they kuew full well the misery
and the mischief of which strikes were the occasion.
But just as peacelosing England, hating war, would nut
hesitate to enter on a war, on just cause or provocation, so
the working men would accept all the conditions of a strike,
when a strike became absolutely necessary. The musters
had now struck; they had removed that responsibility
Irons the melt. (Cheers.) The mural support of the men
was good. They were now totally disconnected fruin those
who had hitherto employed them. What were they to do?
Every man must rely upon his own inoividual energy.
Those who depended on themselves could nut fail. They
must have nothiug to do with their late employers. There
must be no picketing; no intimidation; no mule/dation.
They must not look to anybody but themselves; they mutt
bo their own employers, and they must attempt to
get the profit proceeding front their oats labour.
(Cheers.) They had made common cause with the
non-society meu ; and other societies had made
common cause with them,—the boilermakers, fur
instance. (Cheers.) In favour of their non-sueitty
men, they appealed to the public. For themselves the y
depended on their own society, or its funds, end on their
own exertions; and they would support themselves
for one month, three months, nay fur 12 months if that was
necessary. (Cheers.) They would last until they had
established their own menus of employment. (Cheers)
The Amalgamated Society would not care if all the men, ex •
cept their own members, went back to work. They knew
that the work of the country must be carried on; and that
among their 12,000 members were the best workmen in
the trade; and they were perfectly sure that their
skilled labour could not possibly be replaced.
(Cheers.) The future was then perfectly plain,
and for the present he would exhort all the members to de-
pend on themselves; and if the single result of this contro-
versy should be but the establishment of • single successful
self-sustaining workshop, lie should consider that they
would have done a great deal in developing that one prat
tical scheme for the benefit of the working elms, s. (Cheers.)
A boast was made by the organ of the employers that the
Bristol men had repudiated the acts of the Amalgamated
Society. But this was not true, the Bristol men had dune
exactly what the Amalgamated Society would have desired
them to do. They had arranged with their employers that
they would leave all disputes in suspense until the result
of the matter pending in London and Manchester should
bu decided; and that was what it was best for them
to do. There were noblemen and gentlemen coming
forward to aid and advise them; and he was glad
to see Lord Goderich among them on this occasion. (Loud
cheers.) With the sanction of such persons, and with the
moral support which they possessed and with the resources
at their command, they could at least keep the wolf from the
dqor until the question between capital and labour was de-
cided. Above all he advised the men, in all their present
proceedings, to observe moderation. The object of the em-
ployers was to injure their leaders; and if they had any
respect for the members of their council, they would be
discreet for their sake. (Loud cheers.)
After a few words from Mr. JAMES Beanie, the resolu-
tion was put and carried.
Mr. RICHARD BRADDON moved the second results-
ton That as a means of removing the evils which beset
the condition of working men in relation to the unjust con-
duct of employers, we recommend the principle of pelf-
employment on a co-operative basis ; and this meeting is of
opinion that workshops should be immediately commenced
by the workmen themselves, in order that the business of
the country may be proceeded with." Ito stated that
workshops on a co-operative basis had been already com-
menced by the men in Greenwich and Southwark. At
Greenwich work to the amount of 1501. was be log done,
and contracts to the extent of 2,0001. had been tendered for.
Mr. JOHN REID seconded the resolution. lie only
accepted this proposition of co-operative workshops as a last
alternative. Ile confessed honestly that he did nut see has
way through this new principle ; and, under other circum-
stances, he would hesitate greatly before pledging him-
self to such • system. Fifteen years ago there was •
similar dispute in the trade. But the employers then
had been ready to listen to reason ; and he thought that
they would have done so on this occasion also but for the
individual who, as secretary to the employers, stood be-
tween them and their men. (Cheers.)
The resolution was about to be put when a working man,
in an engineer's dress, rose and said that ho was • non-
society man, and that he r.-A with the opinions cf the
Amalgamated Society in reference to this matter, but that
he was poor, and in daily want of the merest necesaaries of
life, and unless he had some one or some body to depend
on he could not refuse to accept any terms the masters chose
to impose. Otherwise he would rather commit suicide than
submit.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Amalgamated Society
was quite ready to support and maintain this individual,
and all others similarly circumstanced. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put, and carried unanimously.
The meeting gave three cheers for the chairman, three
cheers for the reporters, and then broke up.

FORMATION OF A CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.
At the aggregate meeting of the men engaged in
the metal trade, held at St. Martin's Hall, circulars were
distributed inviting the attendance of the working-cluees
at a meeting in Southwark, to hear statements relative to
the progress of an association founded within the last few
days, known as the Southwark working Engineer, Mill-
wright, Smith, and Machinist Association, for the manu-
facture of all kinds of machinery.
Accordingly a crowded meeting was last night held at the
Goldsmiths Arms, Southwark-bridge-road. Shortly after
seven o'clock the chair was taken by Mr. John Laing.
He stated that the meeting had been ea led for the purpose
of laying before them what had been done in that district
with regard to carrying out the co-operative principle.
There had been two or three tech associations started on
that side of the water, and their desire was to amalgamate
them all into one, so that their interests should not club. The
Southwark branch had been in treaty for the premises of
Moan. Horton, but be wee sorry corny they had been unable
to obtain them. He, as one of a deputation, had that day
waited upon the Messrs. Merton's man of business in the
hope of concluding the terms on which the premises should
be taken, but when he stated the object fur which the
premises were required, he was plainly told that they
would not be let to any parties who were connected with
the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, although previ-
ously he had expressed great willingness to let them.
This, he firmly believed, was owing to the interference of
the mailers. (Hear,
.hear.) They had, however, other
premises in view, and one employer had offered to do any
amount of boring and planing ler them that required the
assistance of powerful engines. (Hear, hear.) It was ne-
cessary to state that in this movement they were assisted
by some capitalists, who had undertaken to take the pre-
mises, who would be responsible for the payment of the
rent, and would advance money for any amount of stuck
that they might put upon the premises.
Mr. MONCUR inquired how they were to govern the
management of the funds.
The SECRETARY, in answer, read the rules, which,
however, he said, were only provisional. They may be thus
epitomised:—Rule 1. The name of the society. Rule 2.
Authorising the raising of 3,640!., or more, in IL shares ; no '
person to tako less than 5, nor more than 25 ; deposit of 40.
per share; no shareholder allowed more than one vote.
Rule 3. Providing for appointment of three trustees, a se-
cretary, and five committeemen, to carry on the business in
conjunction with the general manager. Rule 4. Mr. J. I
Laing to be the general manager, to conduct the working
department, act with the committee appointed be the share-
holders, and be respor.sible to the trustees for all money re-
ceived ; his salary to be 2 guineas per week. Rule 5. The
three trustees to be appointed by a general meeting; one
to act as treasurer, and in their joint names all moue), to be
invested, They to advance money to the manager, through
the medium of an order from the general secretary, signed
I by a majority of the committee. Rule 6. Secretary to attend
all meetings, &c. ltule 7. Committee to meet once •
month, or oftener; books to be always open to their
inspection; ono to retire every quarter. Rule 8. The
business to be carried on in the name of the manager; the
profits to be divided as follows:-50 per cent. to form a
reserved fund, 50 per cent. divided among the share.
holden; no dividend to be made while in debt. Rules 9,
10, 11, and 12. Appointing general meetings, mode of
&netting shares, and of making calls.
Mr. U. DAVIS stated that they only commenced their