The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-24 00:00:00

" datal," or what we term " stab" hands ; nearly the whole
of the work in Sheffield (both daily and weekly) being,
however, done on piece, and the wages of course vary ac-
cording to the ability and attentiveness of th workman.
Had Mr. Harrison proposed to place his hand; on time at
the recognised wages, we could not have complained; but
instead of this he offers an amount equal to ~ reduction of
about 10s. per week, including the extra charge for hours
worked after 10 in the evening. And beca the men will
not submit to this, and leavetheirunion, th 'y are discharged. '
This, and this only, is the reason why they are sacrificed,
whatever Mr. Harrison may say to the contrary, and
however he may attempt to justify his conduct, as he doubt-
less will, through the medium of his widely-circulated and
extensively-read newspapers—the Daily Times, Daily
News, and. the original Weekly Times. The public know
the many changes and transformations these influential
journals have undergone since the present proprietor has
had them ; but they do not know the actual position they
are in as to circulation, and the various schemes that are
resorted to in order to cheat them of news, by filling up
space with what are termed "dummy" advertisements, i.e.,
advertisements that are never either ordered or paid for.
But we are in possession of these and many other facts as
to his present position and future prospects, which would
astonish the public, should we be compelled to give them
publicity. For the present, however, we will refrain from
doing so. There is the less excuse for Mr. Harrison's con-
duct, seeing that all the other papers in the town arepaying
aroper price to their journeymen. The daily p aper that
he hoped to fix/ill and ultimately crush—the Tel'egraph—
having been conducted in the most fair and hr mourable
manner ever since it was established, forming a striking and
pleasing contrast to its feeble and all but defuncii; contem-
porary. The proprietor, too, of the Independent also paid
this extra charge, not only for his " Morning's Nerws," but
for the mere temporary daily published during the last
borough election.
By the means referred to, we regret to say that Mr.
Harrison (favoured by a temporary depression in. the busi-
ness) has found a sufficient number of men base enough to
accept the situations of the discharged hands—all, with one
isolated exception, of an unimportant and worthless cha-
racter—from a distance. But it remains to be seen how
long this heterogeneous importation will enjoy their lucra-
tive situations—some of them having engaged for 245. per
week without compensation for night work. This amount,
it is confidently anticipated, they cannot long enjoy, the
papers being unquestionably on their " last legs," if actual
circulation be any criterion, the proprietor doubtless adopt-
ing extreme measures as a last resort. Failing to obtain
public support by upright and honourable means, he seeks
to grind down his workmen to the lowest level, and thus
hopes to keep his head above water.
The whole of the men whosernotices expire this ,day have
left the office, and we earnestly entreat all our townsmen
who hate tyranny, oppression, and humbug—who like to
" live and let live"—and are anxiousthat every man should
receive " a fair day's wage for a fair day's work"—for the
future to withdraw their support—little though it may be
—from the conductor of these tottering papers, to support
those only that are conducted on fair and honourable prin-
ciples, and with something like consistency, and not coun-
tenance one that for the sake of expediency will advocate
all sorts of politics and religion in the same week. This we
askiwith the more confidence well knowing that our towns-
men generally are opposed to those who wish to trample on
the rights and liberties of the working classes, and that
they believe that " the labourer is worthy of his hire," and
are desirous to see justice done between man and man.
We remain, on 'behalf of the hands sacrificed, and by
order of the Council of the Letterpress Printers' Society of
Sheffield,

GEORGE BINGHAM, President.
WILLIAM DRONFIELD, Secretary.
Committee-room, Dove and Rainbow, Hartshead,
Sheffield, October 2, 1858.
[flinchliffe, Printer, Sheffield.]
The plaintiff's examination was continued. He
said—l had 10 or 17 printers in my employment.
I did not give them notice. I said to about six of
them, " I intend a month hence to discontinue em-
ploying society hands. If you like to remain let
me know." The men, with the exception of two or
three, sent me written notices at a month. I ob-
4Lctegreat
edtothobe
jueentiinoon'swraessttricttiothnesiracnodn
connection with
the union enabled them to rule me and to be my
master, instead of my ruling them and being their

master.
Mr. Chambers objected to the witness giving his
reasons.
Mr. James said his lordship would recollect that
the libel was justified.
The learned judge overruled the objection.
Examination continued—The men were my mas-
ters. I could not employ a non-union man. They
would not allow me to make arrangements with
my men as to wages. I could not regulate the
wages according to the ability of the men. They
would not allow me to give each man his work ac-
cording, as he was adapted for it. They held a meet-
ing and came to a resolution that they would not
distribute some type, though it would have been of

advantage to them-.
Mr. Baron Martin here interposed and suggested
that some arrangement might be come to between

the parties.
The plainiiff—l have suffered £l,OOO damages.
Mr. Chambers—Oh no, the libel was published
on the 4th of Oct., and the action was brought the

next day.
Mr. Baron Martin again suggested that some
amicable arrangement might be arrived at, the
defendants undertaking that they would not con-
tinue in the course complained of.
The plaintiff—lt is a question of ruin to me, lam
sorry to say. I had property worth £lO,OOO, and it
has been nearly destroyed.

Mr. Baron Sfartin—Well, let the case proceed.
Examination continued—Two of the men re-
mained. I saw the libel in the Daily Telegraph on
Oct. the 4th. I accordingly published a placard,
denying in general terms the statement in the libel
and sent it to the defendant.
The document which commenced with the words
" Malice and envy trampling on truth and justice,"
and was signed by the plaintiff's solicitors, threat-
ened legal proceedings against any one who should
circulate the libel. Advertisements published sub-
sequently in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph were
also read. They were to the effect that the Printers'
Society's officers were prepared to substantiate
their charges against Mr. Harrison.
Examination continued—l paid some of my men
by the piece and some by the week. I never said
I intended to reduce their wages if they would
stay. I had no such intention. I did not object to
pay extra for night work. It is not true. I had
always paid extra. I had never demurred
to the amount of wages, except that I told them the
extra charges for working a daily paper, which
were 15 per cent. for day-work and 50 for night
work, were exorbitant. Still I submitted to it. The
two men who remained received the same wages as
before. One of them is now with me. I advertised
for new hands, and received 100 offers in reply to
one advertisement. I got average men—nearly as
good as those I had before. The average wages I
paid to the new men during the 11 weeks they have
been with me have been £2 a week within a shil-
ling. This is more than the average wages earned
by the society's men. The average wages earned by
them in the previous quarter were £l7s., and the
quarter before that £1 7s. The other newspaper
proprietors pay lower wage~ than I do. I have not
engaged any of my new men at 245. a week w ith-
out compensation for night-work. The very lowest
wages I pay are 285., and, unless they are inferior
hands, they have compensation for night work. I
was originally apprenticed to the printing and book-
selling business in Sheffield. About the close of my
apprenticeship I was under the necessity of becom-
ing a member of the society, but only for a short
time, as I became a reporter. After I served my
apprenticeship I was out of employment for five or
six weeks, and received 6s. a week from the society
as I was entitled to do. I purchased a bookselling
business for £1,200. It is not true that I was started
in life by my marriage. I got money with my wife,
but my marriage in no degree altered my position
in life. I never inserted " dummy advertisements."
I take " dummy advertisements" to mean fictitious
advertisements. I have occasionally, for convenience
sake, inserted advertisements oftener than ordered.
I never cheated the public out of news. I always
gave the news first. Iconsider that, in consequence
of this libel, I have sustained a very great loss.
The falling off in the circulation of the Sheffield
Times was 400 a week. My morning paper has been
nearly destroyed, and the falling of in the half-
penny evening paper is 1,000. The advertisements
have fallen off £8 or £lO a week. The circulation
of the Sheffield Times was 2,500 a week.
Cross-examined—l have brought four actions in
this matter. I have suffered more than a money
loss-4 have suffered loss in character, and been
exposed to the detestation of the whole town. In
1853 I printed a bill-head which stated that the
circulation was between 4,000 and 5,000 a week.
It was sometimes as much as that. In that I fol-
lowed the example of my predecessor. I might
have done five years ago things which I would not
do now, though it was not wrong. Every one does
the same. (Laughter.) I have published the stamp
returns. I have circulated of the Sheffield Daily
News as 'muck as from 20,000 to 30,000 a week ;
that was in the early part of the present year. I
do not believe the circulation had fallen down to
10,000 before March last. The highest circulation
ever attained by that paper was 9,900 in one day.
Mr. Chambers—Oh, that might. have been an
election time or a horrid murder. (Laughter.)
What was the highest weekly circulation ? When
did it reach to between 20,000 and 30,000 ?
Witness—ln the week ending January 7, 1858,
the circulation was 21,100. •
Mr. Chambers—Oh, that is what you call between
20,000 and 30,000 ?
Mr. Chambers—Did
Witness—So it is. (Laughter.)
Mr. 'offer to to purchasefo
,op
years and half the
Daily defendant'sTelegraph,the-
Witness—About two newspaper,
ago I orff it) d
him that and other sums. Ile refused my offere..e
never said that if he did not sell me the paper I
would run him down. Ido not believe the defendant
ever remonstrated with me about publishing articles
against his newspaper. He published far worse
against me. (Laughter.) I have brought another
action against Mr. Ilinehcliffe, the proprietor of the
Argus. I did not threaten that if he did not give
up the Argus I would reduce the price of my paper
to 2d., and he would be compelled to do so. I said
nothing unfriendly to him. I have been employing