The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-31

OF DAAthL 0ooChy bart., nj. r.
HEREAE MRREvALL Esq, g. b.
JAMES BoorH, Esq, O. B.
TaoEAs HUeaBs, Esq, MP.
FRRDEEIcK HARRIsoE. ESQ.
Mr.. ALEXANDER MCDONALD, Examined.
(coSTISuED.)
Mr.. Mathews-Ts there not . bill! already
passed for that purpose, Lord Sc. Leonard's
Blllf Yes, permissive.
Lord Elcho-Do you propose to make 1t
compulsory Il is matter where mutual
interest are so much involved that II is not a
matter for hasty legislation, but | think that
it the plan have referred to was adopted it
would lead ultimately to courts OF civilization
and aIhitration.
You have been to America you saw. Can
you give US any information as TO the exis-
tence or action Of trades unions there? Yes,
| found trades unions in America in almost
every trade and occupation. They are not
very pC werful, because trades unions in
America are for large extent only OF one
class, that is for labor purposes only.
Earl of Lichfeld-And is not the one
which YOU represent for labor purposes on
ly1 No, the Scotch unions are, but I am
citation, having the objects have explained.
The fact that the unions IN America are not
very powerful arises from this circumstance,
that there Is not necessity for them.
Lord Elcho-That arises from what p
Wages being good and the condition or the
laborer being also good.
Mr.. Mathews-Does that prevent strikes 7
It does net
IL does not prevent combinations No,
combinations are recognized by the laws
of the state, and | have an authorized COPY
OF statue 10 the state of New York, which
| shall be glad to put in, authorizing q
union which can sue, and be sued and act in
q corporate form Of any other body.
Lord Elcho-Are the objects Of that union
the same as Of trades unions here. Yes,
this is q benefit as well rs trade unicn So
ciety that aIlude to-
Mr.. Mathews-Does the American law
forbid combinations to prevent people from
free laborr 10 does; the Law is almost simI-
lar to that in this country.
Is there pIcketing there in case OF a striker
| id net hear Of any picketing.
You do not know whether picSeting would
be illegal under the America hwY I pre-
sumo that in America if the question were
ever 10 come up it would be held TO be illegal
as in this country. lind that the words
and the terms Of their statues, being nearly
the same as ours, they follow the decisions,
and have reference to the decisions that are
given in English courts, as We are ia the
habit in several cases ut least, OF referring
to American judgments.
Lord Elcho-Have there been frsQuen,
strikes in America Of late years Yes, very
frequent.
Have there been strikes arising mostly out
of grievances such MS you have ssmedied in
this country, as to ventilation and no ON. OF
strikes on wages ? Entirely on wages as far
as know.
How have they generally resuItedf AZ
far ms learn, in q number Of instances,
just as here, where they have struck against
falling market they have nistaAen the
course. On the other hand, where they
have struck with rising market they hsv,
been uniformly sncesssful.
They have not been able i'm America anv
more than here 70 interfere with the nsesrs
laws that govern the tradet They en- m.
terfere with the natural laws which govern
trade production and demand much NOR,
| rapidly than here, and they interiors with il
In such way ~ very soon cores the evil
they complain Of. Il is in this wsv hund
reds Of the workmen In Americe. indeed
thousands Of them, 70 out west, and pre-,
enpt 100 acres Of land. They build cab
In upon il, and then in soma cases they re
turn and work. IL the Waees gwen by III,
employer are sufficient, and hey deem the,
are better OF working for bim, they work
IL on the other hand they Rnd THAI, they
would be as well of living on thar lands
| they betake themselves 20 their lots. apt
the result ID that 10 very short time theY
make the inevitable Inv quite efIlcacsous by
lessening the quantity Of the material.
Then the pesssssion Of this land make,
them 10 certam extent independent Of thei
masters, and therefore they can exact terml
uhich otherwise they would not be able b,
dor TO lsFgs sxtsnt.. w s.se
| Al 70 this loo they bag What do thsy %,
Tor isfa A dollar an acFs, and 70 cents al
acre, and 20 On. xsss ttza 10 la
How DO they cultivste 10; DO they reclaim
il It I'll whilst working In the minsf |
tthey 20 to the ststs Of Illinois, OF Nebrss
ka, Of Michigan, on any Of those imnens
/ plains and pIsiries 5ou only have to scratcl
i The coil with thorn bush and throw W
fey sFains Of Wheat pr :orn and i grow
Do their families r,sid, On Tia Ind s..o
/ Yss 4 feund thousands of yosng men WI
bsd len Scotland so0s ysnss go ~ owner
Of - - 10 essss'ce -, haEiAg = hous
i on tb>ir own lapd - thsk ssss asd - assn
| q thces i1n44 eoel ana sveFythisg Spr . ~
~ g ag& y - 9henanes veney, -
Ecolafly IN fShagylvon11, - vhoIs VIII
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