The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-31 00:00:00

arairod lute betereen two parties ? Was it not quite arbi-
low IS IMO side and entunision or dismtesai on theoltheir
e?
Oink kaarA What was the conoquence.' Why,
nthhis
•Ildlninn did Mit like to go home with rem titan I 11.
map% b• weeked over hew to earn as much as others, for
be met hare I: said that he got less than. theordi-
gate ot wages. (Hear, hear.) But if it so ,
=glieted •
that he made a few shilling. mom than
do ereran the next time he was asked to do
the piaso MeetetL Imo. (Cheers.) if he made the least
aempleibet sgemegiganteete, he was told that he was dicta-
ting is his sup.ratea laritappealed to the gentlemen of the
pre.* whether that mosthe way. in which newspapen were
conducted—whether the compositor, who got so muck per
thoueand for setting up his type, was treated in this man-
ner—whether if a good compositor and there were differ
cores between workmen—made his 2./. or 31. Ly piece work
it was tote cot down till he reached the level of the less
MlTVable workmen at the ordinary wile of weeps ? (Cheers.)
They opposed this system, then, not on principle, but be.
eau.: it wee abased and led to such fearful results.
They were dopeeed to meet their employers fairly. and •
they had no objection to adopt the suggestion thrown
out in the Dada News, which was as follows :
"As we have said, this is not to he achieved by tins
ioterferenee of parliament; but we think it jog pamilabe
that a body might be constituted, composed of a gerbille
Dumber of marten and men from every emehamisel trade,
each elan electing the representatives of im Men latersita,
to whom all queetions of wages, time,
ether miners which are frost time to =lllitrZtsal
difference, should be referred, and whom MsfsMse should
ham tint form of law." Now he begged to mo that through-
out the whole of this affair the woman limb never .lawn
a dictatorial spirit ; and if he might be allowed to speak for
so large a body, he would say that all they wanted was •
fair and honourable settlement of the question. Let the
',impute be referred for settlement to independent parties,
and they vomit* he willing to abide by the re-ult. Let them
sec men appointed who were not wrapt up in the cotomer-
tie' speculations of the country; let them see men who had
identstied themselves, nut merely with the progress of cont-
uses, hat with the improvemeist of the social condition of
the induarial chowan . let them see such men so Lord
Shaftesbury, Lord Carlisle, and the lion. Arthur Kinnaird
—let them see such persons taking up the question, and if
they could not substantiate their position—if they could nut
show that their &met, were justifiable, they would abide
by the result. (Cheers.) lie must take that opportunity
ofthanking Mr Rennie for the feeling., which be had ca-
pe-toed towards the workmen. (Cherie.) No employer
stood higher is the trade, and he honoured him err his est-
tinsels. With regard to machinery, he must declare that
they were cot a Chi/01 of men who wished to oppose
its introduction. They were constantly trying to discover
by what stems work could be dune best and cheapest, and
while on the one hand they knew that the introduction of '
machinery at lint eupereeded labour and often threw men
out of employment, they had faith in the progress of society,
and they believed that the time would come when the
genius of invention would secure for them the neceoarice
and comfort* of life without such excessive toil as now pre-
vailed. (Cheers.) These were their realms fur not opposing
the introduetton of machinery. Their views were confined
to two simple propoeitions—the *Whoa of systematic over-
time being the hrs. Let them not be told that this
"Council of Seven," as they were called, was dictating
these terms. Theo: queetious had, as he had stated, limn
agitated fur yeas. In September, 11si0, a delegate meeting
of the trade was held at Birmingham, at which about sixty
person, attended to represent England, Scotland, and Ire-
land. It ISM determined that the opinions of the members
woefully should be taken; a circular was issued to the
whole .1 the branches, 120 iu nuntber, and out of 12,000
member% the returns did not give 20 votes opposed to the
repo:alone which were submitted. It was true that the
whole 01 the members did not vote, but thaw who voted in
oppootion amounted to only 16. 'the council were the
mere taecutore of the will of the society, and on one day
recently 1110 letters were teeeived to the effect that eyste-
inane overtime and piecework ought to be abolished.
The society had always advocated the abolition of
these practices —it was the universal wish of the
trade, in eumequence of the evils which had resulted
from them. (Meer, hear.) With regard to the charge
that they were socialists, he must again declare that politi-
cal 'minuet. were: never introduced into their proceedings,
and nf any attempt were made to iutroduce them, it would
be put duos,,. They were, for the- reasons he hail stated,
opposed tin eyetematee overetime and to piecework, but they
were not so morn opposed to theta us to cony that whether
employers should yield or nut, whether the public should
oppose them sir not, they would carry their point. So con-
fideut were they off the justice of their cause, that they
would have no hesitation in *Omitting it to men who
would deal frankly between them one: their employers ; and
if otneo were auxious that there should he a settle-
ment of the quevtioo without evoking any hostile feelings,
he would declare that the society had always berm prepared
for it, sod were prepared then. (Cheers.) As regarded
the charge that they were seeking W dictate to employers,
he must remark that when trail hal complained personally,
they. had frequently been discharged as mischief melon;
and, on the other hand, when permits were sent impale: re
to try end settle disputes, employ. ea sissy. said they could
settle their dispute's with their men without the interterenee
of other parties. (Hear, hear.) When men were so to
quently subjected to petty despotisms it was to be expected
that their teatimes would he evoked in some tangible form.
(Hear, hear.) Now, the public hail been told that they
inteutleel to strike on this let of January. There never was
anything farther frosts their intention It was not said that
they intended to strike iu fond at, but iu the, north. Gentle-
men (root Manchester could tell the meeting that nu such
thing as • strike was contemplated in the north. No
arch word had hem mentioned to employers ; and all that
was intended was that a workman should, if he liked,
eacreise the power of leaving his employment when re-
quired to work overtime. It' any member of the trade
thought proper to work overtime, and believed that Inc was
morally janified in working overtime, let hint do so;
but, on the other h and, let those who were not sac desirous
of working overtime (If friSC the power which Mr.
Newell said they powiesed, of leaving their employment.
(Cheer..) No strike of the workmen would take place,
he was mrtain. Whether or not the employers would close
their wort:Aut.. on the 111th of January he could not say,
but they lie would my, that if they threw on the poor rates
12,000 men, or if they threw them into anarchy and confusion
in consequence of throwing them out of employment, upon
them would rest the moral responsibility of thus endanger-
ing the state of society. They knew that they had justice
on their *Me, and if the public would interfere on their be-
half, they would be guided by its opinion. Twelve thou-
and men could not he misled—at least not long. Fur Id
years had they been inve.tigating this queetion ; they were
now willing to submit it to an impartial tribunal fur settle-
ment ; acid they elm wished for its establishment, for the
watlement of all future questions, in order that dictation
might never be exercised On the part of the men, and that
oppriasion might never be allowed on the part of em-
ployer,. (Clicare.) They could not work overtime
so long as them were so many of their fellow-
workmen walking the streets in idleness —so long
as they them-elves wanted recreation, amusement, and im-
provement —and so long as they were contented with the
wages which six day's labour would give thou. The ques-
limo in dispute must he eettled tither now or at mine
future time, and the feelings he had expresed were so
deeply muted iu their minds, that he believed they would
neve r he Cr edwatest until the whole matter bad been dip
pe0..4 of. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. It. 111t.IDDON then moved the following relate.
lion .—" That. having beard the statement made upon Ilea
part of the l'..tasteil act the Amalgamated Society, this meet.'
mg is perfectly satistiesd that the acts and iuteutions of the
council b kae been publicly misrepresented, and that it has
never demanded of the employers either theme.
tinuance of the um of machinery of an kind, or the die.
charge of the weeinesel emplu) cd at machines."

UEORGE USUEIt seconded the resolution. He
was neittur a socialist nor a communist, but he came for-
ward to second the resolution from the confident belief
that the 'locative committee were justified in w►at
they had dune—(hear, hoar) and he hoped that
the 12,000 associated workmen would 'import them
in their sets. Lot them trust themselves and such other;
let them MIA iu their rosined, and such WY the justice of
their cause, that he had nu doubt they would shortly arrive
at an amicable settlement of the natation. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. NEw.tux said, that a request had been sent from
Mr. Ernest Jones, mating that he wished to address the
meeting. (.• No, :ass ao.•') He hoped that Mr. Jones
would nut identify the tossing with politics. (Hear, hear.)
Ile had his ultra spiaisas ea politics, but ►e wished this
quotas to ;be diessed an its own menu, and apart his
nay Stier gumbos w►atnot. (Hen, Hear.)

JONES then eye upon the platform, and attempted
to address the meeting, hat he was met with a determined
maniteetatins on the part of the meeting In opposition
thereto. He could only say that he cordially sympathised
with the objects of the meeting. (Cries of " Off, off.") He
wan not going to introduce an polities, but as one that
though: deeply--(" off, off.") ((They might make music as
bag as they pleased, ho' he would stead there till he was
listened to. ("Oh! Oh!" "Of, off.")
Mr. NEWTON put it to Mr. Jones whether, after the
decided declaration of the meeting that they would not
hear him, it was right to take up the time of the meeting.
(Hear, hear.)
Kr. JONES—If they but listened to him for one minute
he should finish. He thought 'that, if it waa their magi
determined enemy, instead of a friend, who appeared before
them, their (sir play would induce them to give him a
hearing. (" Olt") All he had to say, then, was this, bow
could they expvct to resist the combination of the capitalist
aid the monopolist? (Renewed uproar.)
Mr. NEWTON mid he would put It to Mr. Jones whe-
ther he would proceed, when the enemies of the society
night make a handle of his presence.

. - -
it. JONES mid he was not aware that hie yeessece
was so disyneeful that it Could be used as a handhs stainst
the society. The ilLiffllll36oll [Continuing. and the mestrig
being • dy determined not ts bear • weed, M. Jones
at obtained silence by &Maria. the he wadi @peek
rely am minute Mager by the waishir the missilat wiwahl
lime, to him. What he hail to eny is Him was that
their attempt at • combination of the hmia. bend as it
sad be apse strikes against capitalists, wean* samoida.
=
.1 a 4 the seat time he appeared before them they would
ledge the truth of his words sod give Ma •
beeriag.
Yr. JOHN COLLIS NMI haviet boss we et ifs dais-
. met who waited upon the samisealeakoos sonslikesd
the question of overtime Milan bees melded as that
period. omelette& by wrier se aPPl.OTing
of the cenduat lb* esseative eteleithte, la r."
isfesOm te °towel's. WNW*. sham
Mr. J. HO essimisd the imessieteet.
The CR/MALAN thus pee theeseeedasat. Frei:it:a
all
sheet half • dues hole trees held up, sad the
usedue wee lamas* egegieL

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