Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-09
Letter From ..0nd0n.
IoSpoN. MAY 20. 1853

Aialaan QulNlu.-LoHd0a Season. LaHra-
Siur Factories. Strikes Emigrcii0H- Init
"a States 1geaN.-Bed WORKERS coming 10
Am01ca-Farfs for Frcc-fradcrs.--Er icai Of
Emigration Organisation.
The Alabama question, in its Sumner phase, is
still by far the most interesting and most cxcit-
ing TOPIC 0f interest here conversations, news
papers serious and comic, are full of il, and the
caricatursts have now got hold Of IT, This is a
subject, however, that our papers ut home do not
fail to cnlghtcn You upon by cOpious extracts
from English newspapers, 50 that | need not
dwell upon it,
Our London season is about closing, and mat
tiers generally are as lively as possible Theatres
some tirty-ye IN number, are in full blast, and
the usual rushing tide OF metropolitan gayeties,
crime and poverty sweeps onward as strong ms
ever. do not care 10 dwell on any OF these topics
but on one of moro immediate humanitarian in
forest Ever since | can remember anything,
cannot recall period when the factory operative.
OF Ian ashire were not threatened with suffering
from short work OF short nations And for the
last twenty years their history might almost be
resumed in the words d" stopped running short
work. strike, and starvation OF late Years,
emigration to America has been discussed among
them, as the remedy for their troubles rhi.
idea slumb5red until the recent successful effort
OF the Preston mill-Owners and manufacturers Il
reduce wages again evoked IT, Gradually th,
scheme was brought 10 the surface once more
first in Preston, then in Blackburn, and now it j.
nursed iy nearly every factory operative in NORTH
and East Lancashire In Preston, the Operative
Spinnors aud Minders' Association, disguised
Us they allege, with the conduct of some Of the
Masters Association, who, in the face Of REQ
luton passed at n general meeting of that body
TO accept the offer Of the operative spinners h
submit 10 a reduction Of five per cent, still insist
ON ten per cent reduction, have turned theii
HH..a Q al
OF emigration. Nearly one hundred spinners and
minders with their wives and families have left
Preston, chiefly for the United States, since TN,
recent unhappy dispute began, and on Tuesda,
next eight more such families will leave Preston
Tor Liverpool 10 depart for the same destination
in the steamer Manhattan. Mr.. Henry Davis. d
gentleman now in London as the agent Of certain
firms in New York, for the engagement Of opera
tlves here in various hrnches Of industry has
been invited to Preston by the committee Of the
spinner, Assertion, 10 consider plan for more
numerous dep0rtatons of their members. and he
has replied that he will visit Preston for that
purpose in short time In Blackburn, still
more energetic measures are ON foot with the
same object. Subscriptions are being largely col
ected among the poor lOpm-weayers, and their
executives are preparing 20 send of as mnny Of
them as possible, and as soon us may he upward,
ut OOO having already expressed their desire 10
leave for America. About twenty OF these opera
tjSe- VIII depart from Blackburn during tie pres
emit mouth The Spnners Association in that
town voted 1880 from the union funds lJr the
elmc purpose, and the ordinary weekly low per
member has been doubled lur the slle purpose Of
augmeutIug the emigration fund The increased
.eys viii take effect Immediately after the Whit
suntide holy d'ys. Arrangements have already
been made O. send Oh between 90 and 20 mem-
ber- OF that society, and more will follow them
as the funds come in Some families must. be-
fore thus have reached America, and on Tuesday
last another batch of emigrants took their de.
parture ior the United States.
In DarWen, also, the idea prevails that 4" it
would he far better To send people TO country
where work is plentiful, and where they are
abunduntly paid for their labor" The notion is
general among the operatives there that the man
uhcturng trade is leaving the country altogether .
and 1t Is fact that this was one Of the reasons
given and accepted, why tho operatives should
not strike against the recent reduction of wares
there, which, It was urged, was only enforced lar
the purpose of killing the strike in Preston y
by disabling them from contributing 10 the sup
port OF the operatives there. In Darwen there
are ID ,665 looms, and it has been agreed 10 raise
an emigntlon fund By levy of ia penny per
loom per week 10 raise 56E lSs 3D., which will
be sufficient, it is estimated, to send five persons
per week TO America, giving them / 10 each TO
start them across the Atlantic" At the weekly
Sunday last, several Representatives of districts
IN East Lancashire gave it as their opinion, and
the general opinion Of their constituents, that
emigration was the only solution Of the present
dlitculty in the cotton trade, as tending to dmn-
lsh the supply of labor at the present time, and
TO place the hands remaining at home in better
position Many families of weayers have left
Preston for America, but as their society has no
immigration fund, the expenses have ali been de-
irayed by the emigants themselves. 1t must he
understood, that operatives who are thus leaving
and preparing 10 leave their native land, are the
most intelligent and industrious of their class.
men and women of proyident habits and good
character, the very persons whom the EMPLOYERS
can and will be least able TO spare, and of whom.
when trade reviyes, there will be found serious
want The present and projected drain of the
best cotton-workers from the manufacturing dis
tricts OF Lancashire, is undoubtedly a matter
that ought to receive the immediate consideration
OF the employers, who, if it be not checked, will
certainly at some future time, perhaps not very
llr distant, be placed in position OF great en-
barrassment