The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-23
Popular Reform.

Mr.. Arthur J. Mundella, a member from
Sheffield in the British House OF Commons,
delivered lecture to the workingmen OF
New York, prior to his departure for home,
which has attracted no small attention, and
should be in the possession OF every thought
full laborer in the land. Only a short time
before, a lecture on kindred subject was
delivered to similar audience by Mr.. Tom
Hughes, NJ. p, man who, as the New
York Tribune declares, is, by education and
impulse, in sympathy with Workingmen.
But as Mr.. Hughes was in no sense unjust
to the employer, so Mr.. Mundella, who is q
large manufacturer, betrayed in his every
word the earnest purpose with which he has
worked for the elevation, the happiness, and
the welfare Of the laboring classes Of his
country. And it is worthy Of remark that
both gentlemen, from opposite points OF
view, unite in making the same declarations
of the superiority to our own OF the Eng
lish system Of Trades Unions and in ten
dering the same advice regarding co-opera-
ton and arbitration to the manufacturers
and artisans of the country.
The lecture OF Mr.. Mundella was devoted
mainly to an account Of the various admin
istrative reforms in England which have
been or are being effected under the liberal
regime, but, what was most interesting Of
all, was his account Of the Councils OF
Arbitration and Cancellation established,
through his exertions, in Nottingham, where
he is large employer OF labor. When these
councils were formed the trade OF Noting
ham was nearly ruined by incessant strikes,
and the bitterest hates ragged between the
Trades Unions and the capitalists. Since
their establishment there has not been q
single strike or days labor lost in any
trade which has adopted them. The hosiery
trade began them; the lace trade then fol-
lowed its example, and the system then
spread to other towns, and is spreading all
over the country, even to the great iron dis
tricts. Nothing can be simpler than the
machinery. Seven delegates from the
Trades Unions meet seven delegates from
the employers once in three months or often
er, and sit round table in private room,
and talk over their differences and common
interests. II they cannot come to an agree
ment-and, in Mr. Mundella's experience,
this has only happened once-they call in an
umpire. Everybody is satisfied, aud as the
Nation remarks, "this one little simple de-
''vice has probably done more for the spread
s.of Christian feeling, and the promotion OF
ssreal civilization, and the security OF prop
sserty, than the legislation OF the half Gen.
"tury-"
Both Mr.. Mundella aud Mr. Hughes tell
the workingmen OF America that they are
on the wrong tack in attempting 'to right
"the wrong relations OF capital to labor"
by prescribing workingmen who refuse to
join the Unions, by limiting the number OF
apprentices, by demanding an eight-hour
law, and the like. Upon this subject, and
that OF the Courts OF Arbitration, we make
some extracts from Mr.. Mundella'S lecture,
commenting his earnest and unsellish words
to the careful attention Of the workingmcn
OF the South. The Labor Question is the
great question OF the future, and both en-
ployers. aad employed require all the light
which experience and study can give, thai
they may see their way to its just and har-
monious solution.