The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-02 00:00:00

THE STRIKE.

THE AMALGAMATES) SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS,

MACHINISTS, tic.

Last night about 200 of the members of this body
assembled at the Phoenix 'revere, Rateliff Cross, to cele-
brate the anniversary of the society.
Mr. W. ALLAN, the general secretary, having been
milled to the chair, stated that they had assembled for the
purposes of commemorating the amalgamation of • number
of sectional wrestles which bad been in existence many
years. He believed there was no individual who had taken
an interest in the welfare of the trade, bat would confess
that the amalgamation had effected a vast amount of good
daring tke short time the society had bees in existence.
In pest times they had been unable, owing to the disunion
that there bad been anseinget them, to effect the betlefielld
chime which their tride required; but he wee happy to
my that they were now in a position to accomplish coo,-
01011 i good if their power were only properly directed.
(Cheers.) In conclusion, ho isongratulated the meeting
upon the great gathering at the Hall of Commerce on Tues-
day evening, which he believed had had the effect of dis-
abusing the minds of the public and of the press of many
erroneous ideas which they had entertained towards the
society. He begged to propose, " Prosperity to the Amal-
gamated Society of Engineers and Machinists." (Cheers.)
Mr. W. NEWTON acknowledged the toast. Whilst all
must admit the great benefits which the e.sociation Lad
conferred upon them, it was difficult at the present moment
to divert their attentimafrom the great fact of which they
were at present in the midst. Ile might say, however, that
the predictions which he had ventured to make this time
lut year as to the success which would attend their opera-
tions had been more than verified to the satisfaction of
every member. The effect of the meeting in tiie City had
given them great cause of hope. Ile was sure there were
aerie there who viewed with much alarm the great
combination of the employers. In many districts
he knew that it was merely laughed et, because
they had bad experience of those combinations before. In
1845, a combination had been formed in Lancashire fur the
purpose of carrying out sue of the foulest conspiracies
which had ever disgraced the condition of a working man—
he alluded to the determination, if any man left • master's
employ because he was not paid sufficient fur his labour,
because he had bad a dispute with the manager or foreman,
or when his employer did not wish him to leave, to track
the individual from shop to shop by the accursed quittance
paper system, by which he would have been driver, out of
every shop. The men had succeeded in putting down that
combination, and he had from the beet authority that the
men of Manchester took no notice and felt no excitement
on the subject of • combination among the employers,
knowing that they did nut possess the elements of combi-
nation amongst them, but that there was such an inordinate
love of self, that if, after having pledged themselves
to one another to close their works, they yet would
upon the slightest pecuniary advantage to be gained, break
faith with one another, and throw their pledges and their
combination to the winds. (Cheers.) The employers, as a
bode, cared not one patch for individual honour or the it
plighted word, but had sacrificed the one and broken the
other over and over again. (Cheers.) Ile regretted that
the employers had not thought it desirable to attempt to
settle this question on amicable terms. The men had made
overtures in a public manner, and having done so, he must
say that the men had gone as far towards concession as it
was safe for their honour to go. (Cheers.) Mr. Newton went
on to deny that the society had ever attempted to equalise
wages, or to resist the introduction of machinery, for upon
this latter subject he could say with Wordsworth, that ho
rejoiced to see an intellectual mastery exercised over the
blind elements. He rejoiced to be able to announce, that
at the great works of Messrs. Mandalay and Field, and of
the Messrs. Rennie, the men had that day without exception
quitted their work at the completion of their day's labour,
and so far as reports had, up to that time been received,
there had been no variation from that course. He looked
upon it that their success in the particular matter which
now occupied their minds was certain. Their society had
been prosperous hitherto, and he was sure that it would
continue to be so if they behaved as intelligent and good
men. lie called upon them to act as they had hitherto
done, unitedly, friendly, and discreetly, and be would
answer for the result. (Chun.)
Several oth. r speeches followed, which protracted the
proceedings till after midnight.