The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-08 00:00:00

THE WAGES MOVEMENT.

The unemployed weavers of Preston attended in large
numbers at a meeting held in the orchard at 9 o'clock
yesterday morning. it was announced that the amount
received by the committee exceeded 2,000/. being about
2001. more than had been obtained in any previous
week.

Mr. THOMAS RHODES (who presided) congratulated
the assembly on the augmentation of their resources,
and gave promise of still further increase a fortnight
hence.

Mr. GRIMSHAW moved the first resolution, which was
as follows :—" The operatives of Preston, in public
meeting assembled, having read the decision of the em-
ployers on the 4th inst., not to re-open their mills only
on condition that the wages of, the operatives be re-
duced the 10 per cent. granted to them in August last,
hereby most solemnly declare their unalterable resolve
not to accept such terms, but to maintain inviolate their
just demand— namely, an unconditional 10 per cent."
It had been said that they were not good generals in
making their demand now, when trade was bad, food
dear, and winter approaching. Now, in his opinion,
this was just the time to try their strength, and to show
their mettle. If they could manage this winter—if they
could stand the frost and snow, the highness of provi-
sions, and bad trade, they should be able, when trade
revived, when provisions became cheap, and when sum-
mer returned—they should then be able to redeem
labour from* that degradation in which it had hitherto
been engulfed. (Chen-s.) They had every confidence
in being able to weather the winter ; for sooner than
they should be defeated, their fellow-operatives in other
town had promised to send the entire proceeds of one
loom each, which would amount to 4,0001. or 5,0001. a
week. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE COWELL seconded the resolution. He
said he had been told that the operatives were robbing
the whole of the shopkeepers of Preston. He had no
doubt the shopkeepers were suffering, and suffering ma-
terially ; but he scrupled not to say that whatever
might be the amount of suffering, of privation, and of
poverty existing in the town, the operatives' committee
were not responsible for it, but the parties who had
closed their mills against an unoffending people. (Hear.)
Although the manufacturers were scampering about the
country in order to curtail the subscriptions flowing into
Preston, he was happy to say that those subscriptions were
weekly increasing. According to the statement of a
delegate in town yesterday, one of the principal mill-
owners in Blackburn bad given 6d. a loom to every
weaver who came to the help of the factory workers of
Preston. (Cheers.) He held in his band a letter stating
that the manufacturers of this town had been to Bolton
for the purpose of persuading the masters there to close
their mills ; but he was thankful to say that hitherto
their mission had been fruitless. (Hear, hear.) The
writers in those newspapers which sought to run the
operatives down, did not attempt to prove that trade was
in such a position as not to warrant the advance of wages
now claimed, because Blackburn, Stockport, Accrington,
Darwen, &c., were paying that advance, and none of the
manufacturers in those towns murmured about it. He
therefore contended that those millowners being in a posi-
tion to give the required advance, the imllocracy of Preston
could do the same if they liked. (Hear, hear.) This
week, when all the money had arrived, they should have
' 3001. more than last week. He had no doubt the sub-
scriptions would continue to rise ; and if it had not been
for the manufacturers getting Bacup, Bromley, Padiham,
Newchurch, and the surrounding districts to close their
mills, the committee would this week have had 3,0001.
But never mind that. They should still go on increas-
ing until they had 3,0001. for the weavers alone. New
channels were daily opening up ; every post brought
fresh overtures of sympathy and support, and they might
depend upon it victory would be theirs, (Cheers.)
The resolution was then submitted to the meeting, and
carried by acclamation.
Mrs. MARGARET FLETCHER addressed the assembly on
the impropriety of married females working in factories
and neglecting their children and household duties.
Every man was entitled to a fair day's .wages for a fair
day's work, by which she meant that he ought to have
such remuneration for his labour as would afford him

the means of maintaining himself and family in comfort,
of keeping his wife at home to attend to domestic duties,
and of educating his children. (Cheers.) The speaker
concluded by moving the annexed resolution :—" That
the married portion of the females in this town do not
intend to go to. work again until their husbands are
fully and fairly remunerated for their labour."
Mrs. ANN FLETCHER (sister to the last speaker)
seconded the resolution, and it was carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN announced that when the 10 per cent.
question was settled, there would be such an agitation
raised respecting the employment of married women in
factories as the millowners of this country little ex-
pected. (Cheers.)
Several other addresses having been delivered, the
meeting separated.