The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-12-28

field. But this state of aft Mrs was happily
brought to final end about seven years
ago. There had been one Of the never
ceasing strikes, with the usual distressing
~--- Az -sras n the workin rrn,.-. a's'd ~Hui'
a.
wO.
+ disputes Iu
members taken In equal NUMBERS from .-
masters and wOrkmen. Il was successful /;
the DISPUTE was amicably seLtlei, and the
wheels Of industry were again set in mouon.
From this grew tha Nottingham Board of
Cancellation and Arb ration. u was agreed
shat The work rgmeu should select uiue Vf
their number; and that all matters Ot dis
mite should be sealed kJ these eighteen
I delegates. OF this Board MFR. Mlnd Ella, en-
I lecturer is the President, aud IN seven
years Of its operation il md settled every
\ dispgts to the Ng1tisfaction Of al parties.
\ Tue district. which bad formerly been in q
peruetual state Of strife, from strikes; the
trate. which had forrrerlv suffers. constant
/ lv from uncertainties ant interruptions, nov
has the great benefits Of entire harmony
between the employers and the employed,
and all the great advantages or steady oper-
( ton. At the regular meetings the Delegates
from the wDrkingmec and the representa-
tives OF manufacturers sit down together anu
consi Ter the wishes. interests AMI neceSsl
ties Of both sides. The worNingmen become
4 acquainted with eAe difficulties 10 trade
which constantly be set an extensive IN lnu-
fActare; and the employers become familiar
With the struggles OF the wOrkingnel II
raising their families on working wages.
Both sides learn the necessity and the Vir-
tue Of reasonable concession and forbear-
snce. They learn TO understand and respect
each other. This il the fest great good, aud
all the rest follows.
When question OF an increase OF a reiuc
ton Of prices is raised, or extra wages for
extra work, it Is referred to q subcommittee
composed Of equal numbers Of masters aud
workmen, who report at the next monthly
meeting; IL the committee agrees, that de-
cides the matter, and if it does not agree
then q vote Of the Board il taken, and that
decides il. So admirably has the system
worked that 1t has spread from Nottingham
shire over the neighboring counties Of Lei
cestershwe and Derby. The manufacturer
IL sure that the prices he pays for making
his sJods is uniformly paid by all his COL
leagues and competitors in the trade and
the workingman is sure that his wages are
the same % those OF all his fellow workmen;
for the manufacturers Of the Beard stem N.
&c Psseyent any undercuttpg oy rivals that
would hurt him a. well a. the workingman.
There is another advantage to the working
men. The heavy contributions they have
always been compelled to pay to aid those
who were on strikes, and for salaried officers
who atteneded to such affairs, are all done
away with, and one smiling year il now
all that . Nottingham hosiery man has to
pay for the support Of bis Trade Union.
How different 10 ali this from the condition
Of affairs among the poor miners noN On the
strike Ia Derbyshire Wherever there il q
prolonged strike the home Of the workman
becomes desolats; his family suffers his
children are piDched BY want the men are
embittered against their employers the em.
ployers are embittered against the men /;
thousands Of workmen cease to be produc-
tive hborers; materials lie idle: machinery
stops; the places that ought to be alive with
the cheerful hum OF industry are deserted
railways and Transfers lose their business
the workmen lose their wages, which arc
their daily bread, and they sfnk into hope
less debt; the manufacturer loses his trade,
and the country loses 50 much additional
wealth.