The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-05 00:00:00

Mr. Justice Byles on Strikes.

in-his charge to the Grand Jury at the Staffordshire
winter assizes on Fridasy, Ur Justice Byles said a great
many persons whose names wore in the calendar stood
charged with offences against the Combinations Act. The
law on combinations he conceived to be this com-
bine if you please, and as many as you please, persuade
if you like; but you must not use intimidation or threats.
That is to say, you must not intimidate either by word or
acts. If you do, you break the law. Ho gathered from the
depositions that the persons indicted had marched in mili-
tary array to the sound of military music. He very much
doubted whether that was not in itself an offence against
the law of the land, because it presupposes, if it does not
actually include, drilling and training, against which there
was a direct and explicit sintattUhtee.expTrehsesiloanweovfertyhoplearnsodnwians
goccasionally or permanently armed,
theth a that themilitary
profession, i nclu di
was under the control of the Crown, and of nobody else.
This was a principle which could not be infringed without
the most obvious danger, as the grand jury themselves had
seen. Not only had the prisoners marched in military
array, but there was evidence that they had intimidated
some of their fellow-workmen, and there had likewise been
cases of actual violence.. His lordship recommended the
grand jury to examine the cases (19 in all) separately, with
a view to the selection, if possible, of the most serious. A
similar course would be pursued when the cases came into
the open court. The learned Judge then said—l am a
stranger to both the masters and the men of this district,
and I trust I am actuated by no other desire than the ad-
ministration of the law of the land, with justice. The
hand of the law must fall heavily on those who aro disco-
vered to be active instigators in the matter. Those who
are mere dupes will of course bo mere leniently dealt with.
I cannot help saying that cases of this kind suggest all
observation to me which I venture to make in the presence
of those who have the means of making their voices heard,
or the voices of those who represent them hoard in the
great council of the nation. Is not the mode of
adjusting disputes between men and masters by means
of strikes very barbarous in a free country like this ? I
say this because in a neighbouring country there aro
courts regularly formed, consisting of masters and work-
men in small numbers, for the adjustment et their dis
putes. They have found means of obtaining a satisfactory
reference of those points on which they disagree. I can-
not help thinking that if some such courts were established
here great good might result. Generally speaking, the re-
spective representatives of such bodies on both sides might
agree ; but, where they did not, I think it would not be im-
possible to find a referee of practical knowledge who would
command the attention and secure the respect of both sides.
The arbitration should have the force of law. 1 believe
there aro very few subjects more deserving of public atten-
tion than this, especially in this county and at this time.

A BUST CF THACKERAY (from tho hand of Baron
Marochetti) is to be placed in Westminster Abbey between
those of Addison and Macaulay.
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