The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-03
An Important Movement IN the Labor
QuarreIss

question, ana earnest euOrJS are Delug ludue
to bring the vexed issue to some definite
settlement. The day has gone by when men
thought the conflict between labor and capital
an irrepressible one, and held that the
very nature of the contending parties rendered
antagonism inevitable. The wisest thinkers
of the day have long since come to the conclu-
sion that, to a great extent, the interests OF
labor and capital, Of employer and employed,
are identical; that the quarrel between them
is one which could be settled by arbitration;
and that its speedy and permanent settlement
was for the advantage of both. This idea, we
are glad to see has not been confined to the
philosophers, but the workingmen them
selves are recognizing its truth. AT recent
meeting in New York of that large trade, the
tailors, a series of resolutions were adopted
which mark an era in the history of labor,
provided their intention be carried out. They
read
"WhereaS, The dullness of our business the past
winter has given the opportunity to some un-
principled employers to take advantage OF the
times to reduce our wages at period when so
much more Is needed for the support of our
selves and families; be IL therefore
"ReS0LUed, That we consider the first legitimate
duty of all men working at our trade is to be-
long to the organization of the same, for the
simple reason that in union there is strength
RESOLVED, ,Thatwe, as trade condemn strikes,
as not calculated to advance the interests of the
journeymen tailoTs
Resolved, That in order to carry out the above
resolutions practically, we have invited the
employers to this meeting that with their CO.
operation we may enforce the article contained
in the Constitution of the international Union Of
our trade, that he principle Of arbitration
6e substitute in the future for The odtoS system Of
strikes as at present carried oH"
The consideration of the policy of strikes in
so influential a society as the Tailors' Union
is significant, as it exhibits return of reason
where, heretofore, we have seen only passion.
The opposition to the system is based on
policy, and not on right, for, of course, any
man or number of men have the right to
refuse to work for less than any wages they
please. But the expediency of the plan of
striking has been denied by all thoughtful
men, and we are heartily glad to see the idea
of arbitration substituted. But at the same
meeting another and most important idea was
started, and is being earnestly discussed in all
the trade unions We refer to the cooperative
plan of labor, at present in vogue in England
to a considerable extent. The plan is to open
shop for the sale of their labor, and have the
profits divided among the workingmen instead
of going to the capitalists; or, in the case OF
class of labor which is not capable of being
sold in shop, of having fund towards which
each contributes, which is invested, and which
is treasury to draw from in days of trouble.
How the system works in England we will
show by quoting the testimony of the Secretary
of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers before
the Royal Commission on Trades Unions.
This evidence applies to all trades, and what
has succeeded in the case of the engineers will
be equally successful elsewhere:-
"The witness stated that the Society was
formed in 1851 of a number of societies which
had previously existed, and it now numbered
900 members, with an annual increase of
brancheswin England aud Wales 2sS brancnes'
The United States haze eleven branches, lOith 49S
members. Each member pays one shilling
week, and the Society has now a fund in diff
ferent banks, in round numbers, of El40,000.
The annual income in 1865 was $50 1885, made
up, besides subscriptions, OF entrance fees, each
member having to pay an entrance fee varying
from los. to f3 los The expenditure In 1865 was
949,l72, the heads under which IL was dstri.
buted being-Members out of employment,
9l4,O76; to sick members, fl3.7S5 las. 81. super.
animated members (members who are too
old to gain the ordinary rate of wages at the
trade. being allowed Is. to 9s week each),
&5lS4 IT'S. i'd; on the deaths Of members and
among eighteen members who met with acci-
dents and were unable to follow the trade"
From these data it will be seen that such an
Association can be well supplied with funds at
a very little cost to each individual. In order,
however, to restrain the propensity for strik-
ing without good cause, the system of arbitra-
ton was substituted. In this arbitration, how
ever, the employers have no voice. The merits
of the case are judged by council of the
Society.
"Mr. Hughes asked, 1T is very difficult for g
strike to happen in your society, L believe:
What measures have men to take for example
before they can strike in your society% The
witness ansWered:-They have to represent
their grievances TO the committee OF theil
branch. In town where there is more thar
one branch there is what is called a dstrlc
committee, com posed OF seven members from
the different branches or more In proportion Il
the number of branches in the district; and In
stead of the branch committee deal ng with th'
question, the district committee deals with II
because there is larger representation. 70
instance, here in London we have distric
committee composed of Lwenty-four members
because we have twenty-four branches in tn
dlstrlct, ana when any dispute arises in th
district tne whole of the twenty -four branche
are represented, thereby bringing about
proper understanding in relation TO the cues
tion at issue, and affording better opporLunit,
for arriving at a satisfactory conclusion' Mi
Hughes-Ihereiore, unless approved in the frs
place by the branches OF their own town and iI
the second place by the central executive conn
Gil, no members & Of your trade can strike
strike Mr.. Hughes--'But, as the ordinary rul
they would require TO get first the eonsent :
their own branch and then that of the execu
live councii?' Witness-'Yes, where there wa
1ime.' Mr.. Hughes-'And upon the consent Z
the executive council beiug given, the me
would go out and get their allowance9 Wi
pess-'Ies'