The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-22
MINUTES Of EvlDEncE

Heaven only knows-and 90 he died.
MINUTES or EviDEncE
ROYAL COMMIssION..
xprorsrzp 70
Inquire Into the Rules of Trades Unions.
A PRESENT.
The Right Hcnss BILE Sir wH. EsIz. PresId.ag.
The Right Honorable the EAxL or LfrcaFIsLp.
Lord ELcH0, M. p,
The Right Honorable Sir EpxuEp wALKnR HsAD,
Bart, X O. b.
4 Sir DANIEL GoocH Bart. Mp.
HsnxAH MsHaIvALL Esq.. O. 3.
JAMES BooFa, ESQ, O. b.
fsoHis HueHns, Esq. M
FREDEncK HARRfsos ESQ.
Chairman-Are you aware Of the history
Of the course Of Legislation from 1882 to
1868. as affecting society in general and the
working classes especially. given in Mr..
Ludlow's book on the "Progress Of the
Working Classesf" | have not read the
book.
He has collected . series Of statutes, the
Post Office Savings Bank Act, for instance,
and q variety of other exa1.pl Of benef-
ce,,l legislation since 1882. There is q col
lectioa OF the statutes OF benefit to society,
the working classes having their statutes
beneficial to them, and the rest Of society
having their statutes beneficial TO them
and great deal Of that has been from the
spontaneous efforts Of men Of enlightened
bsne6cencs in Parliament You are aware
that il has not all originated from those rep
presenting trades unions; they have co-opera
ted with the rest OF society. Would you
let me look ut il from that point of view
Yes, am quite aware Of those social changes
that you represent
Each class Of society according to the
view Of some has the means Of being heard,
and whenever there is grievance there are
men OF enlightened benehcence ready to
attend to it and remove 1t, and each class
gets heard upon the matter which it under
stands best, and the workingmen get relief
from their grievances in the same wayf II
am quite aware Of that, and further, speak
my mind individually on this question when
| say that believe no body Of men in tine
world but our House Of Commons, such rs
1t was and is, have In the same period pass
ed so many benehceDt laws.
And each class is benefited according as
it has suffered under grievance which has
L
known and taken part with the bleachers |
who came up here and represented their
pa ocular grievance, the children being kept
on stoves and degrading hours. have TAX |
en part with them and l have taken part
in other matters suggested in connection
with that, and only repeat, that think no
body of men in the world could have pass
ed so many benthcent laws as what the |
n -. l.
80 years.
TsIppose we may say that we have ad |
yaa ed the interests Of the w0rkingmen |
There are at the head OF the unions men of
great experience and strong sense and great
determination, and they have done great ser
vice in bringing about useful measures. |
suppose that this ls description which, as
far as it goes, you and should agree in. All
that we siffer in Is, whether the workngmen
have been the sole authors Of these benefi
cent measurese You misapprebend me-
do not say that they have BEEN the sole au-
tbors. But for those kind friends in the
House we could hare done nothing. The
bI achers came there, the friends OF factory
children came there and they iouad ready
and willing ear /; the miners came there, and
they found ready and willing ear. They
may have been delayed !; and IN regard TO
those legislative measures where more than
one Is concerned it is probably better that
thev should not be hurried. But in those
80 years, agar repeat, think that no
body Of men IN the world have passed so
many bene6cent laws. | trust that ! have
entirely removed any impression from the
mind Of the Commission that | am come
here to speak against the great body OF le-
gislators.
Mr.. Mathews-You spoke of the bleach
ers. Was there much opposition from the
master bleachers to the alteration of the
Law +? There was from some, but am happy
20 say knew q number Of bleachers in the
House who gave il their most cordial CO.
operation, Mr.. Crum-E Ewing and the late Mr..
Crook. | know that Of the class Of bleach
ers number of them were most ANXIOUS
that these improved laws should be promptly
passed.
only wanted to know whether the bleach
ers CO -ope rated with you, and those whom
you &C, . .apanied on Tour representation, in
end. ayoring to ameliJrste the law : They
have done SO.
May we infer that it il your opinion that
every other class in the House Of Commons
would be equally desarous with the master
bleachers to ameliorate any Law injuriousiy
affecting those In their employf Well,
have not found that readiness in the Nine
owners Association.
Then you make IN exception on the part
of the Miners Association to the general de-
SIRE on the pare Of the manufacturers Ia the
House Of Commons to do anything ths. be-
nefits their workpeopief i do. That ID my
distinct experience.
suppose we may infer from that that the
coal and iron masters are distinct class,
standing out IN respect Of thsir want Of con-
sideration for their workpsople. from all
other classes of capitaiistsf That question
leads ms to impute motives, and | wish
to be distinctly kept clear Of Smputing mo
tuves. They may not visw those social meas
ures as ne do, and they may be perfectly con-
scientious and believe they sre right in op-
posing them, but do NOT take me to impute
. motive where do not wish to imputs
one.
But il they differ from you in opinion you
viii give them crech for doing what, accord
ing to their hght, is ths best thang for the
men Clearly.
Aud the only Differences 10, shat you think
one mode Of going 70 work the BEST and
they Anotherf II may be %.
Does not that take them out Of the cate
CORY Of being class snss stand alone Is
| compared wiz eli other classes u capitalists
/ in taeir want Of considerations Tor ms work
ing Glasses 2 Il takes them out Of the cate
CORY uf intention, but IL places thczn IN she
Category Of oct. Thus had, = hSvs said
/ Ia the csss Of the basschsrs, II. Oruu- En-
ing taking ~ acsivs part 10 favor of me
bleachers' petition, and 1nd N. Dalglsish
4