The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-26

ROYAL CON MISSION.

MIHUfEs 1F EVIDENCE
nsSoRs TEE
ROYAL OAMIssION.
Inquire Iato the Rules of Trades Unions
PRESENT:
The Right Honorable Sir VIZ. EHLs. Presding.
Ths Right Honorable the EARL or LIrcHSInLD.
Lord ELcso, n. p.
fAs Right HonorAbls Dir EDMuHp wALxEa HsAD
Bart, K. @. D.
sE DAsrHL aoecs. Bar. MP.
HsAMAH MsnsrALR Esq, OIL
jams BocrR. ksa.. q. b.
| TnoMAs HueHRs Esq, NJ p.
FHEDsRIox HARRrson, Ksq.
Mr.. ALsxASDER Med Examined.
(cosrISUED)
Earl Of Litchfield-You say 1prouoting a
strike," want TO know how the master set
about promoting this strike. As I undar-
stand, he offers reduced wages. Do you call
that "promoting q strike p No, do not
call that promoting . strike &C he may
pay tor mar or men to inflame the minds
VI she men to resist the reduction.
AViu 11CuV-Oou Juu e1y tDat tnat was
dones know this, that 10 1864, on the
occasion that refer to, gave my advice
strenuously against the miners taking that
course, as looked upon it as madness.
10 not say that it was done by the masters !;
but It looked TO me extremely like it. That
men had been guided with full market and
such material in hand, to strike seems i'm
possible.
Do you believe that in their strikes the
men always consider the state Of the mark ct
and consider whether the state Of the mar
ket will justify their raising their terms, or
whether the prices and the state Of the mar
ket will justify them in resisting . fall? No,
| do not believe ii is the case, and it is un-
fortunately the want Of that true knowledge
among the workmen hat leads, in many in
stances, to those strikes.
You admit that, from your knowledge of
workmen in strikes. as rule that Is not at-
tended to? | admit that it is frequently 50;
but have known q great many more strikes
successful than unsuccessful. | can re-
member the strike of 1888, that strike was
manifestly wrong.
Mr.. Booth-What was that strike for Ii
was against reduction Of wages.
Lord Elcho-Was that q general strike
1t was q general strike in Scotland. The
trade at that time was an opening trade
The result Of the opening of iron trade was
that great many few into the trade, great
many hands came upon the trade, and an
over production took place. The over pro-
duction led the employers rightly to demand
a reduction Of wages. The men resisted
and they were unsuccessful The same thing
occurred in 1912. There was again strike
and it was against over production. The
same thing occurred in 1856. We had a
very large strike IN 1856, and the men again
were wrong. There was a very great expan-
sion took place in trade from 1850, to 1856.
The consequence was that q large number
entered into the coal trade and large num-
ber more took place in the iron trade. The
prices remained buoyant until purchasers
discovered that there was stock accumula-
ting. The moment that took place as in
every other thing purchasers refuesed to buy
The vorkmen thought that every thing was
right and they consequently went o.t and
were defeated. These are the great strikes
remember in which it was o strike against
over production.
All those three great strikes were cases In
which the strike was unsuccessful S-Un-
successful, and they we're bound to De un-
successful from the very nature Of the cir-
cumstances. In reference to that have 60
say that | am firmly convinced that even
had those strikes not oc, aired, there would
| nave been the same amount OF want Of work
extended over q greater period, because In
these periods there was over production,
and the over production was bound to be
removed either by strike, or by the men
getting only two or three days work in the
week. And il il the want Of the thorough
knowledge of those laws among the men
that leads to these collisions. | NAV be
wrong in giving an opinion, il may be
thought that an again speaking wrong of
the class, but | have very strong convic-
tion end believe firmly that should employers
| take another course than the course that
they have been in the habit Of pursuing in
these matters, strikes would te got rid Of to
! q very great extent altogether.
! What ID the course which yoa think they
ought 70 takei-I will stats IT,
,Chsirman.) II all men were wise and good
W ssould get on very smicably you think
perhapsf That is possible. But will state
what would have tendency to soften stink
srs to great extent II employers instead
Of putting up notice to this effect, /" You
small receive reduction 90 Q certain date"
would call q portion Of their intelligent men
TO their ol6ce and point out that . change in
| the state of trade renaers it necessary for
them to make . reduction, and let the men
think over ID for day or two and communi-
cate with the rest Of the men, | am satisfied
that il that course were pursued in 80 cases
out Of leo oil those terrific things would be
got over.
1 (Lord Klcho.) You advocate then some
thi-g like what il called eonciliation meet
ings y masters and men to taik over these
subjects e--Yes. aa
hr. Aathsws.) When you speak Of q
meeting between workmen aud their employ
ere. Do you mean that the employers
should have the intervention Of the union del
sgstes f-No, | am not speaking of the inter.
vension Of the union delegates at all, | an
speaking of their own workmen.
/ Are yon aware that there il any disincli.
nation ON the part Of masters to have nm in
terview with their own workmen f--I am
aware OF this, that 1t 10 not followed II
the course which | have indicated were fol-
lowed, believe It would have tendency "a
get rid of the evil. ~
i am spesking Of the nastsrs, and I mean
70 state 70 yeu that the general course thai
the masters adopt b 10 try 70 get an inteF.
visw With their msu, that ths interyentioE
Of tho union prevents thsir hasing it, and
they decline - hare &C iatsrvisw with the
anioa oficsrs, and thu. thsrsupon the uniol
J olkosn advise the mens b strike f-The9
- . party who has for B rlpnx tims Eaken I
geat part in ooansxion With ths matter il
Scotland q least, I assset without fear d
contsadiction, that union msi on unior
employers and their Workmen.
j You conins four observstipa new 4
Scotland, and nos b Engiand f--That i
vhas STATE. Thsrs hAs bssn casss whsr