The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-25
FOREIGN.


LAST year the total coal production of
Great Britain was about one hundred and
ten million tons, IN against one hundred
is good enough to justify proportionate
increase this year.
THE British miners, in their amalgamat-
ed Association, have resolved to raise a
fund by subscription and donation for the
purpose of sending to Parliament one or
more direct representative Of labor.
The MINERS OF BRITAIN.-From pub
lished copy of the minutes of a conference
of the Amalgamated Association of British
Miners held recently, sent M by Mr.. Alex
ander Mcdonald, we CLEAN some interesting
statistics. The organization was started in
October, 1869, for the purpose Of protect
ing the labor in the mines of Lancashire,
Staffordshire and North and South Wales.
Since the last conference. the membership
has increased from 16, 800 to II, 900, and
over. Wages, during the three years, in
the Wigan and st. Helen's coal-felds, have
been advanced 25 per cent, and in the
Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Ash
man Districts, about 80 per cent. North
Stafford has gained an advance and in
w AAes the wages nave Dccu kcueI1llI III
creased about 16 per cent.
The Nine-hours Rule has been adopted
in many localities, and, in pursuance Of a
resolution recently adopted, general de-
mand for eight hours win be made on the
first day of July next, to be followed by a
stoppage, we presume, in case the demand
is not acceded to.
From the beginning, the policy of the
Amalgamated Association has been 10 de-
fer to the condition of the trade, and, 30
far as possible, the interests of ''the mas
ters, and they have therefore been almost
uniformly successful in their undertakings.
In the words Of their efficient President,
Mr. Thomas Halliday, they have always
"tried to attain their ends by reasoning
rather than by war or fighting" That this
is the true policy, few will deny-that it is
profitable one, the history Of the Amalga
mated Association fully attests. We can
not avoid, in this connection, remarkinl
upon the strangeness Of the fact that, whilC
in Great Britain, the miners are good trades
unionists, almost to willing to trust
one another and work in harmonious con
cert with one another, by far too large
proportion of them, when they come t.
this country, are careless Of their union
and by their unfaithfulness to it, create tn
weakness of the organization, and want o
faith among its members, which is SO mucl
to be deplored, and which is alone respon
sible for the troubles with which we hav
to contend. English, Irish, Welsh ant
Scotch, in their mother country, seem t
understand and appreciate the value Of
trades organization in the land Of thei
adoption, they permit their nativity and re
ligion 10 embitter them one against tn
other, and to 30 materially interfere wit
their efficiency o. a combination that defea
comes to them more frequently than vic
tory whereas the advantages possessed b
working men in America are infinitely tn
greater and more enduring We can onl
allude to this fact. 1t is to be sorrowe
over, but not explained. 4 Anthracite Nor
itor.
GREAT MEETING OF MINERs' DELEGATE
IN WALEs.-At the close Of last week d.
eQate meeting was held in Pontypridd, q
which some g, 400 persons were represent
ed by delegates. They met to consider tn
present state of the trade and wages of tn
workmen. 1t was agreed to solicit the en-
, ployers to meet the representatives Of tn
men, to discuss the question Of wages, o
the 25th of April. The meeting though
the men were entitled to fully 10 per CEN
. of an advance on the rate of wages the
, now have. They expressed an opinion i
; favor of the Government Mines Bill. The
also expressed hope that the Governmer
would persevere with the measure in a