New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-09

OI
only efficient defense of their order against the undue
influence of capital As 20 The extent and power of
these Societies the inquiry pending before the
Royal Commission on Trades Unions is making daily
disclosures the importance of which can scarcely be
exaggerated To the few persons who had studied
the subject here there is nothing new in tho blue
books winch are rapidly following one another from
PaTk-place, where the Commission sits. But John
Boil has persistent habit OF shutting his eyes and
ears obstnately against sights and sounds which are
likely TO disturb him. that to the bulk of
Portable classes the fact that in every branch of in
dustry the hand-workers are organized in compact
body with the one great object Of keeping mp wages
and shortening the hours of labor, comes an
perating and astounding revelation. They knew well
enough that these Unions were widely spread, and
becoming troublesome to masters and manufacturers
generally, but their journals told them and they had
believed too readily that strikes always ended in the
defeat and ruin of the men, and that the masters,
whenever they chose to do So could easily break down
the strongest Trade Society. They woke to find this
faith dcusion, and that the balance of power is
tumblinG in the scale, if indeed it has not already
fallen 10 the side of the masses
What then, is to be the result Of this awakening
believe there is no more serious question forus and
l wish could feel confident that it is about 20 be
answered wisely and righteously. Fortunately there
is every reason to hope that far legislation is
concerned, we shall have breathing time. and
that nothing viii be done while the ndigna-
ton of the country is still hot from the
disclosures at Sheffield. The Royal Commits
sion is only at the Threshold Of the inquiry,
having been occupied hitherto almost exclusively
with the different branches of the building trade.
Thus they have as vet not even touched one of the
largest and most important branches OF the subject
Imean the extent TO which foreign competition has
10 la IN, thor i'm
ing OFF our trade AS Englishmeu, anxious TO build
themselves houses, cannot export plot of British
soil to Belgium or Germany, and employ the masOns
and ioneTs of those parts they must have the work
done here az home by our workpeopc, if it is 10
be done at all however unreasonable and eXt0rtlOn
ate these latter may he. IL will be necessary. there
FORE that the Commission, before reporting should
extend their inquiry in detail nc least To the iron
trades and of the great textile manufactures.
This inquiry. with the evidence from other quarters
which must be heard, will probably last for
another year. SO that if The report is pub
lished by next June it viii ne rs early ~
we can expect The leaders Of all the political par
ties he agreed that there shall De cgisla
ton till the report is ont as it is expected that there
will be recommendations in il fOr amending The law.
Thus we get breathing time but after the breathing
time what then! Well. l think there seems every
chance of a strong effort being made 90 pass some
stringent penal law against Trades Unions. Should
that effort be successful | cannot imagine greater
misfortune for England. We should he returning 10
the old class legislation of the times before the repeal
of the Combination acts. IN the year after the great
pestilence Of the black DEATH in the reign Of Edward
L. our ancestors passed the first act for regulating
the rate Of wages and SURPRISING combinations
among wOrkpcOple From that time down 10 lSs,
the ~ stem continued, and there some 20 penal
statutes of this kind scattered over the rcgns Of Plan
taganets TudOrs, Stuarts and Guelphs. In 1875 We
repealed hcm ALL and made such combinations legal
thereby at once converting the Trades Unions from
secret irresponsible societies into bodies recognized
for certain purposes by the law, and able TO transact
their business in the daylight. Something OF the old
faint doubt still hangs about them, these Shelf
field outIages prove but to recur 80 the old penal
! legislation woud obviously intensity the evil a
hundred fold whereas if let alone il will speedily
and surely die out scarcely think any Parliament
will try this whatever panic there may he in the
upper classes when all is known that can be known
on the subject Sucl law if passed would either
lead to a revolution or, what would be far worse for
Ms in the end snch o wholesale emigration of all
best artisans and work people would leave En-
gland without bone muscle, land Of wealthy
people and paupeTs Heaven avert such q catas-
trOphci Then there are those who very sangune
rs To what arbitration lcgalizcd, and ccnncils Of
cOnclIldllOD answering 10 TIE fIcllcn tonoclS utS
prudhomiues" may effect for ms. Undoubtedly there
are very cheering instances of the admirable working
OF such courts in several parts of England Al NOT
tingham in the lace and other kindred trades there
has been no dispute for the last three years and
moro which has not been amicably adjusted
BY board consisting OF equal numbers
of masters and men, with borough maeistrGte-a
Nh. Mundell-fOT chairman IN the carpet weaving
trade Of The north OF Yorkshire they boast Of having
had similar system for y years and strike dur
ing the whole of that lime. Other towns sending
TO Nottingham FOR the rules OF their Council and in
some of the larger trade associations both of masters
and men, il is now made imperative TO members 10
appeal to arbitration before the Society will sanction
strike or lockout All this looks we'll and one
cau he only thankful for every such sign OF wiser
mind among our producers At the same time, | fear
the evil is too deep-seated 10 be radically cured in
this way. though would gladly see every possible
help given to arbitration that legislation can give
ii il C0Hld DE made compulsory no doubt the diff
Guilty would cease theoretically; but have never yet
heard reasonable, practical plan fOr doing this
The impossibiiy OF enforcing penalties against
who bayeho property which may not he realized in
2thours. Whose. halits have become migratory. and
10 q hon, one town j, the another for resi-
,lencc, so,la 10 me inapelal,e. Aud 50 We come
hack to the old .u0strum. which Ihavc of,ai pro.
pounded IN your cOnnns, aud which will suit the
New World a. Well a. the Old though ID needed
with Won i matter Of life and death--l mean
Of course partnerships Oi industry. and associations
of wOrllpeople These Increasing here with
wonderful rapidity should not he surprised if an
establishment IN which payment by share OF profits
IN one form another does not prevail, is not the
rare exception IN England this time 10 sears-a
blessed solution indeed il we only carry it out
- - IL.