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

ORIGIN OF THESE BOARDS.
Boards OF arbitration and conciliatlon had their
origin somewhat as follows: In 1859 strike Oc.
Cured In the Nottingham hosiery trade, with
which am connected. 1t was the third OF that
year. When 1t had endured for eleven weeks
some of my fellow manufacturers agreed to con-
slider II 1t were not possible to devise some machn-
cry which should not only terminate the existing
feuds, but also prevent their recurrence. Our
trade has had @ terrib history, and we were
reaping the fruits OF ancient hatred and acummu'
lated strifes. In the early part OF this century
the relations Of the capitalist to the laborer IN
that district were In the ghest degree unsatis.
factory. "Frame- brea&lng'l and outrages were
so common among us that Parliament enacted
special laws Furnishing the destruction OF machl-
cry with DEATH SIX workmea men s1asred me ex
native town. The struggle for mastery continued
with undImlnlshed violence until the period L have
mentioned.
Impelled BY desire to e1tinguish these ancient
feuds, and to restore the prosperity Of The trade
In which we were engaged, we invited rhe repre-.
sentatiyes Of the workmen to conference, where
we DEBATED for thres days in succession, the
most equitable method or terminating our dis.
putes. and Of establishing slrne tribunal which
should prevent their future Recurrence.
THE HosIERs' COUNCIL.
Without any plan to guide US, we agreed to n-
stttute council, to be called the Board OF Arbi-
tatIon and Cancellation OF the Midland Counties
1t was arrrnged that the manufacturers should
unions should choose an equal number, who
should form the council; the meetings Of the
council to be held at certain PERIODS 10 discuss all
questions affecting the rate or wages and the
hours OF labor commission, consisting OF two
OF the EMPLOYERS aud TWO or ths 'workmen, was
appointed to Inquire Into, and II possible TO ar
range all questions 10 disnnte oalore they were
presented TO the board. Inls substantially mas
been the practice for the past ten years. And
although there has often been. much discussion,
and at times considerable difference OF opinion
Prevailing among US. we have contriyed, Dy eX'
hibtIng spirit Of courtesy ana @ conGllation, @ 10
Tue worSmen. instead Of suffering from periodi!
cal strikes, have never lost days wages froaI
that time to this; and the employers have been
enabled to accept and execute commissions With
out fear OF hinderance or aroltrary interference.
PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT.
our example was gradually followed by
other trades. The lace trade, which had
also suffered from constant strikes, was the
first to adopt. our system. subsequently the
Stafrordshire polteres and the great iron
ed it with eminent success. You have heard
from Mr.. Hughes what occurred IN the northern
Iron trade This year. When the board called him
as umpire to decide the dlnerenre In the rate Of
wages offered BY the employers to worSmen,
after few hours consideration aud hearing
each Others arguments, the Two parties agreed,
without calling upon the umpire Tor MS decision.
This Is in the district which, fifteen years ago,
ton There is scarcely trades' union In England
which is not at this moment advocating the adop-
tion Of the system. The amalgamated carpen-
ters and joner5 have from twenty to thirty boards
branches OF the building trades have formed
courts OF their own.
WHAT TRADES UNIONS SHOULD DO.
And now, gentlemen, / have explained to you
what this is and 1t IA very simple. and II s some
thing which can be introduced everywhere. Zap
plduse.l Your trades' unions are what have to
where and they are legitimate aud right so long
as The aim Is legitimate; but ask you whether
they are quite on the right track In this country
have been examining lntD your aims In this
country, and I nnd that some OF them are utterly
lmpracticable, and some OF them YOU ought to
drive out. Now l will tell you what objects
think are not legitimate. 1t tsnot legitimate lor
workingmen to oppress or lntimldate or coinlnlt
outrages upon their workingmen. lCries
OF hear, hear and applause.] Every man has q
right to decide for himself whether ne wiz or VIII
not be member Of the trades union. lApplause.l
And as we say in England, you never can con-
vince mems judgments by punching their heads.
[Laughter.l Instead OF asking TOT legislation 70
which you nave right, which VIII admit OF your
going Into partnership with your employers and
Sharing tbsir profits, you ask for legislation TO
cut Town yonr hours Of labor. Cook at the folly
OF the eight hours, labor law. IT you delegate to
Congress. the right to say that eight hours are g.
days labor, they have the same right to say six
there Is something more than that. Suppose you
could retain the same wages for eight hours as
for tenS You could buy great deal less with 1t,
because boots and clothing and eserysaing aver else,
would be twenty per cent. higher than at present.
Now speak with great frauEness, and never
address wUrklngmen without speaking 80. l say
this, gentlemen-you go IN for ioollsn restrictive
laws. Talk about the restriction OF apprentlchg,
and restriction OF the hours OF labor. That is all
very well when they are crowded together In @
mass; but in O country like this every man should
do what he can to emapcpate limself from labor
before he Is fifty years OLD. lApplausel Wny
don't you study cooperation more earnestly
Aim al what believe the Amalgated Engineers
have always aimed ut. to transfer any excessive
lahor TO q place where there Is deficiency.
When you have TO much lor any one pace, pay
Aim to assist each other. Aim to promote legis-
laiion which will promote equality between EN-
ployers and employed. Aim o project The women
and children that are Worklng III lacIorles anu
dependence, which Is independence. For say to
YOU. In n country like this, where the conditions
Of labor are so favorable Il man Is only thrifty
honest anil industrious, l oelleYe ne may, ny
Gods help, defy fortune.
WARS AND THEIR PREVENTION.
And nov have detained you long enough, and
nv task Is ended; but should like to say three
or four wOrds-parting words-belore retire.
have been speaking TO you In the last Part OF my
address about q war OF classes, and some effort TO
more distressing more desolatng than the war
OF classes. Look at those terrible wars which are
desolating the continent OF Europe, and which
we thought and hoped we had seen the end Of.
No man suffers SO much from war as the working
up your mind to this you worsingmen In Amer
lea are suffering from the oppression OF your
brethren In Europe. AS they are raised In the
social scale you are raised; Us their difficulties are
removed yours become less aud less. We act and
react so to spt AZ, upon each otner.
And now say oeeev @ sven To % wer nd " Ho
leye the only people that can DO is are the great
Anglo Saxon people OF which you are the MODEST
craft on this side Of the water. Where an we
hope for any extension Of the principles OF Christ,
"Peace on earth and good viii to men, II this
effort In that directiOnH hold that II we couli
only erect board Of between
ouestioes nass' present and future, and prevent,
as far as In us lay, wars In other countries as we'll
as our own, we eshould influence the destiny OF the
whole human race. [Applause.l