The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-11-16

Sir DANIEL GoocH Bart, ". r
HsKMAs MEEIyALK, Esq., b.
JANIS BoOrH. Esq. g. Is.
rHMAs HueHEs, ssq NJ. p.
FkKDRIcE hASzIsoS, Esq.
Mr.. RoBERr APPLEGARrH examined.
,cOSTISUED
want to know whether, 50 far as ..your
society is concerned, men are able to strike
a. tbey please, or how the strlks il eondact-
ed, and how it is authorized want to dis
cuver bow far this clause seven is a restraint
On strikes, or how far it is an encourage
ment TO them, and how were these strikes of
last year organized, this one at Manchester,
for instance The one at Manchester is
perhaps not fair case to take. The men
there desired an advance i wages they
had given their employers r.otice ts- it, and
the employers did not fee Inclined to give
it. The result was that ne men decided to
strike one shop That shop was struck, and
the empl Jyers met and resolved ON q lock
out, which foil Iwed. Now that strike cur
executive council never sanctioned thev
disapproyed Of strike at that time ON ac-
count of the monetary crisis. L.1.- was
another society, however, in Manchester
which had far more nemJers than We had,
and they struck without the sanction .of
their society, and were not supported from
its funds We were obliged to acknowledge
the lock out because our members were
forced into it BY u larger number. But that
is not the way in which the strikes are gen
orally brought about that our society has to
deal with
understand you to say that on this occa-
sion the members OF your society and OF
some o,her society were concerned p
Yes.
And that your executive council aad your
society we're against the strike ?-Yes, our
committee disapproved Of IT,
And that the executive:.council, 50 far ~
you know, and the authorities Of the other
society were also against the strike 2-I will
put it in this form, ii you please, shat the
men connected with the other society struck
Without the coaser. Of their society.
Was that consent given afss-ws G9s Ne
II was ret; they mad to support themselves
cn their own local resources.
But then your council allowed your mem
bers on strike (or rather locked out) the
benefit OF clause I, rule l6?-Yes The
ground on which we allowed the claim wa
this, that our members, if they had been
ever 90 willing, bad nos power to alter the
result.
Then in fact on that occasion your society
acted as far as it could against the strike
Il am not prepared TO say that much for
our Manchester members, but as far as the
council is concerned, whb have the power in
this matter, they did and only granted the
men support when they felt absolutely CON-
PEELED TO do so.
In fac: they would have stopped he strike
If they could ?-If they could they would
have stopped it on account of the CONNER
cal depression.
What was toe result of the strike The
men got one half of what theyiasksd then,
and the other half they have received now,
according to arrangement.
50 that in fact that strike has been sue.
cessful ?-Yes.
Mr.. Roebuck What did they strike for :?
Is. week advance, and Is. Of il they got
then, with one hour reduction Of time, and
they get the other Is. now.
Mr.. Hughes-You have told US Of strike
in which your society took no active part, is
there any other strike OF last yesr which has
been sanctioned BY your society, or which
has been advised BY yonr society p have
been looking over ths records of our s0ciety'
and there is no special case Of any particu-
lar interess that has taken place during she
! year previous (which perhaps will serve the
purpose) at Torqusy. Tns members Of our
branch there sent in a printed notice in re-
spectful language to the employers viii
read the document containing an epitome OF
the case, which was written BY the branch
secretary there. He says, /" In the frst
place the circular was sent to the EMPLOYERS
on the 18th Of ocsober, 1866, aud the frst
nk &x, M~w -
secretary OF their association askiog q depn-
tation to wait on them the next evening,
which they did, but 20 no purpose. They
only told them that they coaId not edord to
give them she mDsey. The men chen offered
them arbitration, which they rcfssed. The
next week we mst them again, bus ouly gcs
the same answer from them. Tnen yoa ad-
vised us 70 call q public msesiag." iwould
hsre taks the liberty OF expiaining that I
have always aaid that men hsve 10 right 70
strike, nor masters. 70 loek-ost without
Fret making the public aeqaainted With the
causes thai are Likely 70 1~d to a. strike
or lockout, for | believe that the intereses
OF the public are of much greater importance
than either those Of the masters or OF the
men, therefore [ hold thai neither masters
nor men have any right 10 run the risk Of
psralYzsg any brsneh Of industry without
,onsulting the public. Belieying this, /
advised the men TO call meeting, ard lay
q fair statement before the public, snd say
% them, -you - the inprtiAl j0dkss,
end tell " whsthsr xs are right q wrone.,i y
They called this public needing On tho 36th
LOT March, and = 6txtemnt ~ iaid b6fors
the public - % what the rally unutsd.
Ths iss.sr sass 90 = say - : esstlsnap,