The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-26 00:00:00

THE STRIKES FOR WAGES.

MANCIIESTER.—Not withstanding the serious im-
pression made on the market by the difficulty of obtaining
money sad the probability of a war in the East, which
have not only checked business, bet depreciated •dues in
all descriptions of cotton goods, the operatives continue to
press fur higher wages, with as much urgency as from the
tint movement of the ten per mt. agitation. In noticing
this course the monthly circular of a large house in the
ManebesteT trsde obeerves

" at is under these circumstances of oar market, and in
the face of oar not very It Meting prospects, that the opera-
tins throughout the cotton trade have chosen their time
for making • demand for an advance of wages, an india-
criminate advance, too, of ten per cent. That their organi-
sation is very extensive and widely spread, there can be no
denying ; and their success over the masters at the recent
strike at Stockport, was so complete as to encourage a
similar essay in other districts. It is to be hoped,
however, they will not blind themselves to the
changed aspect of affairs, nor commit themselves
rashly to encounter the resistance which their un-
reasonable course has forced on the employers.
Already a combined movement has taken place on the part
of the employers at Preston, in which every important
establishment in the town and neighbourhood has given
notice of their intention to elms their mills on the 15th
proximo. A similar combination has taken place of spinners
and manufacturers at Ashton, including Hyde, Gloesop,
Staleybridge, and the surrounding districts. Another
similar and formidable union is taking place in North Lan-
cashire, having its head quarters at Burnley, and the same
imperative necessity will develop combinations of like kind
amongst the employers of labour in all quarters. Should
the hands persist in their present unreasonable eourse, and
a struggle with the employers ensue, it requires little fore-
sight to predict what the result will be. In the present
elate of business, and with our future prospects, labour
cannot wage a successful encounter with capital. The
chances are that after • period of much suffering and dis-
tress work would be resumed at only a lower rate of wages
than paid at present to the operatives, for the times are
against them.",
The following history of the way in which these claims
of the men are urged by the operative', is thus given by •
manufacturer at Fairfield, near Manchester. The gentle-
man is a partner in a large firm, and he related the circum-
stances without reserve :—"Last week, ourthrostle spinners
came and said,' We man have an advance of 10 percent.'
I sai4, we are already giving as much as the masters at
Stockport, and really cannot afford to give more. They
replied it did not matter what was given at Stockport, they
must have an advance of 10 per cent., or they should turn
out. I was attack by their unusual tone and want of
courtesy, and maid, ' You have not come to this resolution
of yourselves, but have some oats at the back of you.'
'Yes,' said the deputation, we have : two delegates have
been over from Stockport, and they say we must ask fo-
the advance, or turn out, and that if we do not strike, they
will compel us.' Well, 1 obeerved, this was a serious mat-
ter to no; we could not decide it at once,

and proposed that the decision should be post-
poned until Tuesday last. To this they consented.
On Tuesday I was detained later than usual at the Man-
chester market, and did not see them until Wednesday.
On Wednesday I reasoned with the deputation at some
length, pointing out to them the serious check sustained by
the market, and proposing that the settlement of so serious
a question should be postponed a few weeks to see if any
amendment would take place in business and prices. The
aaswer was that they could not put off the decision any
longer; the delegates from Stockport were in the village,
and could not wait past noon, by which time the answer
must be given. As we were not prepared at once for a
strike we then agreed to give them an advance. In the
afternoon of the same day the winders came to me and said
they aloe wanted an advance of 10 per cent. I said it was
hard upon us for all the hands to come upon us for an ad.
ranee, without giving us time for consideration, and pro-
posed to them a postponement for a month. To this they
agreed, but as this did not please the delegates
to my surprise yesterday they came again, and
said the threads spinners bad been to them. They
now told me that they were directed to give us no time fur
elnsideration, and that unless they struck for an advance,
it was determined that the throstle-spinners (who had re-
ceived their advance) should strike, in order to compel
them to do the same. Under these circumstances we
agreed to give the advance on Monday, and they informed
me that so soon as we had yielded, the operatives in a
neighbouring mill had directions from the delegates to
demand an advance from their employers in the same way
—the object being to attack us not in a body, but one at a
time.

It is hinted that the masters at Preston will be encoun-
tered as those at Stockport were, the hands beim; suppwtetl
by contributions from the whole of the operatives in other
towns. If this is done, unle-s the masters contribute to the
support of those at Preston, to compensate them fur suffer
ing their machinery and capital lying idle, it is obvious
that they have only one of two other courses open, either to
close their mills in a body, with a view to overcoming such
111 an extensively ramified movement, or to quietly submit.

THE IVEATIIkiI IN THE 1110111. ANDS.—In the
last tin days there bee not been a shower of rain i, the
higolands of Scotland. At Balmoral, which is the highe-t
table land in the north, the temperature at noon has ranged
from 70 degrees to 90 degrees in the sun. The court has
thus enjoyed a delightful amnion, and, should the pr!s-nt
tine weather continue, it is eapeeted that the Royal family
will remain as long as they did last year—viz,till the second
week of Octoher.