The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-28 00:00:00

THE WAGES MOVEMENT.

[mom OIIR OWN REPORTER.]

PRESTON, NoV. 2&.—The largest meeting we have had here
for some time, in connection with this movement, took place in
"the Orchard" this afternoon. It was computed that from

10,000 to 12,000 people were present, Considerable surpriso
was excited by its being announced that the manufacturers of
this town had memorialised the home secretary, in reference to
tha rough treatment experienced by some of their body at
Blackburn, no such document having been heard of here
(except, of course, amongst the parties by whom it was
signed, and perhaps their confidential friends) until its ap-
pearance in the Manchester Guardian: of to-day.

The CHAIRMAN, (Mr.Waddiugton,) of Preston, expressed
himself gratified to see the people so cheerful as they were at
present. In travelling through the various districts this
week, the delegates had met with every encouragement to
persevere in the honourable course they had commenced ; it
was a course that had nothing but reason; justice, and truth
on its side. The nianufacturers might say what they would,
and do what they would, and write what they thought proper
in any paper they chose to select • but there was no paper
in this country that could trample down truth, reason, and
justice. (Cheers.) Truth, reason, and justice would make
their way in spite of all the opposition that could be raised
against them. (Hear, hear.) It was cheering to his mind
to find the people in the out districts of Lancashire, Cheshire ,
and Derbyshire, in the excellent spirit they evinced, consi-
dering the difficulties they were labouring under; for they
had their difficulties as well as the people of Preston, their
employers being a little bit selfish, like those of this town.
(Hear, hear.) After a few more remarks, the chairman
concluded his introductory address amid applause.
Mr. K. Slam, president of the executive council, dis..
sected a letter published in the local papers by the committee
of the masters' association, in reply to the memorial recently
forwarded by the operatives toLord Palmerston. [Shortly after
the speaker commenced, a woman was called away from the
meeting to attend upon her child, which had been nearly
burnt to death during her absence from home.] Mr. Smith
a, m
referred to this incident before proceeding further. He
observed twit uli other had had
to leave her home, and in consequence of that a serious
cident had happened in her family. Now if all the crimes
must be imputed to the manufacturers of Preston, which he
believed really belonged to them, a great deal might be
enumerated. When they came to stand before their
immaculate God, when the black book was opened, he be-
lieved that many sins would be imputed to them which they
little expected. But, however, be that as it might, he
would see whether they or the operatives were in the right.
The committee of the manufacturers' association Said :

" Seeing in the Times of the 18th November, a copy of a
memorial sent from the delegates of the power-loom weavers
of Preston to the home secretary, which we do not consider
to give a fair account of the cause of the cessation of labour
in this town, we deem it our duty to the public to notice a
few of the statements therein made. In the first place, we
give a complete denial to the charge made against us, as a
body, that when we reduced wages in 1847, we promised to
restore the same at some future period. No such promise
was made by the masters generally of this town. The
charge has been frequently put forth of late, and we are glad
of this opportunity of denying the truth of it." You see
(said the speaker) they don't deny the fact that some of
them, at any rate, made the promise. They say here that
that promise was not generally made, but they don't say
that it was not given at all. The operatives, therefore, are
right in their allegation, "We may further state that since

1847, at various- times, advances in wages have taken
place." I believe that since 1839, several reductions have
taken place in this town. In 1839, the wages were
reduced ten per cent. ; between that period and 1847,
another 10 per cent. was taken off; and in 1847 they were
reduced 10 per cent. again. Now it says here that in con-
sequence of several advances which have taken place since
1847, you and your employers have been working very
comfortably together. (Laughter.) But although they have
thrice taken off 10 per cent, they don't say that even one
ten per cent. has been restored. (Hear, hear.) "Taking
into consideration the diminution of the hours of labour
from 69 to 60 hours per week, the weekly earnings of tho
great majority of the operatives were higher, previous to the
strike than at any former period." It is generally admitted
that in all mills where the principle of working 60 hours
per week has been established, the operatives produce more
work proportionately than before when !they were employed
69 hours. "We need not again enter minutely into
the cause of the strike." Because they dare not ; they are
ashamed of their cause, for they know it is a bad one, and
as a matter of course the less they can say about it the
better. (Hear. hear.) "We need not again enter minutely
into the cause of the strike ; this we have previousiy put the
public fully in possession of. Those mills where it first
commenced were amongst the highest paid in the town ;
the delegates stating that after obtaining their demands in
these cases, they would take the rest of the mills in detail,
and so bring them all up to the same standard." I don't
know what the manufacturers of Preston mean by this.
But I think I could name particular districts where, up to
the present time, the hands have never once asked for
the 10 per cent. At the same time, however, I do
believe that it was, and is yet, the intention of the
operatives where they are as badly paid as in Preston,
to rouse the masters up a bit ; and I also be-
lieve the delegates will not be content till they
get those hands up to tomething like a com-
fortable position. (Hear, hear.) "In various interviews
of the operatives with their masters, they appeared to have
had no power to make any terms without first consulting the
committee of delegates." Then we are just in the same po-
sition of the manufacturers themselves. I understand that
this week, in your own town, a certain employer wanted to
come to some terms with his hands, but before he
could do this he had to consult the association of employers.
That being so, if it were a fact that the operatives had to
consult the committee of delegates—which i deny in toto—
if it were a fact, I say, we should only be on a par with
themselves. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the
gander too. It is immaterial who settles this dispute, if it be
settled honourably and satisfactorily to both parties. (Hear,
hear.) In conclusion, I have only to inform you that
London, at the present time, is on the move. Last night
there was a discussion going on at a meeting of various
trades, as to whether they must send £5OO (:r £lOOO down
to Preston. (Cheers.) The cork cutters of London had
granted us £2O; and that has come to baud to-day. Accord-
ing to what I have heard, and I have every reason to con-
sider the information authentic, if all the mills in Lancashire
were to lock up, and the people of Preston would persevere
in this movement, they would be supported until they won
the day. Everything is prosperous before us, and under these
circumstances, I hope and trust you will be true to the cause
of 10 per cent., and not withdraw one iota of it. (Loud
cheers,
Mr. WALLACE BEEVER stated, that during the week ho
had been in various districts where the people were locked
out, and he found them very happy and contented, for they
were receiving very good pay from the parish. He met ono
man, the head of a family, who had been for parochial relief,
and he had got 21s. Many were receiving ls. 6d. per head
for every member of the family, and therelbre they were in
better circumstances than the operatives of Preston ; for
taking the average, his hearers did not
get so much as that.'
After all, however, the people he had spoken of were deter-
mined to go to work if the masters would open their mill
doors, and some would go in even at a reduction, before they
would sacrifice Preston. They were resolved that the battle
should here be fought and here be won. (Cheers.) After
asserting that the masters were scheming day by day to
induce the operatives to break the peace, and after cau-
tioning his hearers to beware of any " dodges" by which tt
might be sought to exasperate them, the speaker adverted to
the allegation that trade was bad at the present time. There
could be no trade now, he said; it was impossible. The
reason was tails— al,. 1, nrS fn call, ail
1
therefore there was no trade. But that was not the fault of
h i tagitation. the operatives. The manufacturers might have something to
sell if they would give their hands an advance of 10 per cent.
upon their late wages ; then they would hate a trade, but
not till then. (Hear, hear.) Taunts had been thrown out.
about the delegates going up and down the country spending
the people's money. He would ask, where would they have
been but for the delegates ? Where would have been the
two thousand pounds and upwards brought in last Sunday
but for the delegates ? It would not have been in Preston.
If they meant to have money they must have somebody to
fetch it. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. I_,A.NG blamed those who had taken part in the recent
disturbances at Blackburn; and intimated that such conduct
was disapproved of by the weavers' committee in that town,
who had issued the following placard :—" Peace, law, and.
order.—To the factory operatives of the town of Blackburn.
Fellow operatives, in consequence of persons assembling in
the old Market-place on a Wednesday evening, thereby
while the Preston ten per cent. question is in
disturbing the public peace, we, the weavers' committee,
i
beg to state that wo do not countenance such proceedings ;
and we earnestly request you to stay in your own homes
every
eveningse sectary."
e Y order of the weavers' committeea ry . " Mr. Lang added that if the Black-
burn manufacturers were induced to take off the ten per
cent., it would never stop the Preston subscription. To-
morrow a larger amount would be sent from Blackburn
than had ever been received since the lock-out. (Cheers.)
Mr. GRIMSHAW remarked that, although this struggle
might last over the winter, " because trade was so bad,"
the manufacturers would run their mills on condition that
they might withhold the 10 per cent. If ever there was a
system that ought to be warred against, it was this. If our
trade could not pi osper ; if our commerce could not flourish,
but at the expense of the comfort, happiness, and well-being
of the operatives of this country, he would say let trade and
commerce perish, and a new order of things be established.
(Hear, hear.) Many of the places he had visited during the
week had been put on short time, but the people declared
that if they only worked two days a week, they would con-
tinue their levy for Preston. (Cheers.)
Mr. CHADWICK having briefly addressed the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN referred to the statement of the masters'
association, that advances of wages had taLii place in this
town since 1847. He said ho should like them to name the
places, for he was ignorant of any such advances.
Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the vast
assembly dispersed in an orderly manner at sunset,