The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-07-27
THE MINER.


lron-WOrkers OF South Wales for further
rise In wages is extending and several
meetings held, 1t was resolved to demand
twenty per SSnt. advance, and to reduce
the hours OF labor to eight A meeting OF
steam coal owners was held to consider
these demands, and it was resolved not to
depart from the conditions Of the arbitra-
ton of February last, by which wages are
70 rise and fall according to the scale
adopted at the iron works. In regard to
the application of the stokers and engine
men Tor reduction Of the hours Of labor
to eight, the employers agreed to invite the
men to send delegates to conference
The news agents If Nottingham have been
on strike, and on Monday morning con.
siderable sensation was created in the town
by the fact that the inhabitants were not
supplied with their morning papers. The
proprietors have made reduction in the
rate at which newspapers are supplied to
agents.
At a recent meeting Of the Nottingham
Board Of Guardians it was remarked that
strike was expected among the rate col
lectors.
A large meeting Of the Bilson golfers
was held on Tuesday near Canderford, and |
later the proprietors Of three Of the princi-
pal firms met and discussed the question in /
dispute. No definite arrangement was |
made, but there was a strong inclination 10 |
give the ten per cent. claimed
At the GlamorgGn Quarter Sessions the |
magistrates made general advance of |
wages TO the county police. Chief consta-
bic, from $500 to $3.50; superintendents, |
fl64, rising to EI82, after five years ser
vice. inspectors, to sol, rising to 600 |
after five years. and sergeants and consta-
bles receive an advance varying from IS.
to Is.
On Tuesday the porters and quarrymen
at the Stanley, Albert, Mapping and Water
loo Docks, Liverpool, definitely struck for
an advance of Cd. day in their wages
The Thames Eghtermen threatened a
general strike should their demand for in
creased wages be not complied with as do
| the wOrkmen III the Government yards ut
Deptford.
On Tuesday, more than 200 wrought
nail makers in the South Stafordshire and
East VI orcestershire district struck work
for an advance of 20 per cent. on the list
prices of 1869 The nailers of the above
districts are the worst paid of all the oPer-
atives within fifty miles of the scene of the
strike, and their continuous efforts during
the preaent high prices meet with great
encouragement from the public. There is
but little doubt that the masters will have
to give way, although at present they de-
cline to receive the mems demand The
chain-makers, a kindred body, also threat
en- a strike, and this course has been taken
to assist the nailers
On Tuesday night the executive council
of the London Bakers Trade Society re-
..lr-..l III IL. Il i
the Barmondsey and East End districts on
Monday next, and next week in all the
other parts Of the metropolis, unless the
masters acceded to their demands, which
it appears they have already refused to do.
The men ask for twelve consecutive hours
out Of the twenty four, and no increase Of
pay. They complain that the present
hours, averaging eighteen, is killing them,
and urge that the same amount Of work
can be done III twelve as i'll eighteen hours.
| AT the last bakers trade dispute in Lon
don a large number of German bakers were
imported to take the place Of the London
men on strike. 1t is these Germans who
are now the promoters Of the present
movement. The men think that one week
strike would cause the populace to make
such an cutlery as to compel the master
bakers to grant their reasonable twelve
hours labor.
THE AGRICULTURAL LABORBRS.
The agitation for an improvement of the
condition of the agricultural laborer in
Kent, begun about two months ago, Meet
ngs have been held within the past few
days at Orpington, Cranbrock, Wrotham,
| Sidcup, Headcorn, Westerham. Swanscomb,
Goudhurst, and Bearstead; and there are
now established in the country thirty-six
branches Of the kentAgricultural LabOrers
Union, centralized at Maidstone At Gran
brock the meeting, when was held i'll the
yestry hall, was very large, presided over
! by Mr.. Roots, prominent friend Of the
men, and addressed by Mr.. Simmonds,
the honorable Secretary of the union. who
said that in that immediate district the
wages had been lbs. a week, but the mas
tiers had been liberal, and had raised the
sum To AS, a statement which called forth
much derisive laughter A laborer pres
ent complained that in many cases the
farmers rented cottages from the land
owners and then sub-let them, with a
profit, to the laborers. Thus farmer was
enabled not only to discharge man from
his employ, but to turn him and his family
out of house and home. At Headcorn the
meeting was also large, and there 1t was
stated that laborers had been turned out
Of work only for being suspected to favor
the wages agitation. Mr.. Slmmonds said
the union would take care no man suffered
who had been the victim Of such tyranny.
The statement was loudly applauded
There were about 800 persons present at
the meeting, which was held in the market
place at Westerham and it being market
day, great many farmers came up to hear
what was said, and there was much noise
and confusion. Among the speakers was
Mr. j. c. Cox, Derbyshire magistrate,
who happened to be in the neighborhood.
He said that one Of the worst features Of
the age was that while the rich we're bec0m-
ing rapidly richer the poor were getting
the poorer There were thirteen millions
and half Of producers in the land, Of
whom only about two millions receiSed an
average Of goo year, while eleven mil
lions and half averaged but $50 year
or lis. ID week. Wages within the
last 100 years had increased fifty per cent
in Kent, but rent and every necessary of
life had increased in cost by $50 per cent !
within the same period. At the conclusion
Of the proceedings at all the places named, |
branches of the county union were formed. |
THE BUILDERS STRIKE.
The various lockout committees on We'd |
nesday received returns Of the number Of |
men locked-out. From these returns it /
would appear that the numbers are as fol-
lows: Carpenters and joiners, about l.,
600, masons, 800, Of whom $50 have left
London; bricklayers, 200; plasterers, 300;
smiths, 100; laborers, 1900; and other
trades, such as sawyers, plumbers, etc,
about 800; making a total Of 5, 400 men.
1t is probable that when the returns are
complete the total number will not much
exceed 5000 men.
The comparatively small number Of
bricklayers and plasterers arises, as stated