Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1873-12-13


The recent visit to this country, of
Joseph Arch, President OF the National
Agricultural Laborers' Union of En-
gland, has brought into prominence IS
man and movement :iither. but little
known on this side of the Atlantic.
AS general rule, changes in social
order are wrought but gradually, and
only through years of unreniittipg ef-
fort. History, however, furnishes oc-
casionai exceptions and among these,
may be classed the movement now
sweeping through the agricultural pop
ulation OF the he,world--fer the same forces
that. operate in this country TO produce
the Grange organizations, are at work
no less actively in other lands asad are
there reaching the same results under a
different name. Possibly these excep-
tions are in reality but seemingly so, for
the reason that their causes have passed
unnoticed and the results appear start
ling because unexpecteti-eyen as the
fall of overhanging rock or towering
tree may produce sudden terror, al
though the undermining stream or weak
ening decay may have been silently ard
all unknown at work for years, But
whether the labor of years or days, the
final existence OF these general recogni-
tons of the need of Reform, alike in
volve the necessity of candid considera-
ton and the views and plans of individ--
uals connected with them, acquire inn
portance as being expressions of the rep
resentatives of most powerful agen-
cies.
Joseph Arch was born at Basford,
Warwickshire, in 1926. The son of Al
laborer, his early life was such as COM
monty falls to the lot of men in that sta
ton Of life, anu, after few brief
months spent In the requirement of the
merest rudimenIs of an education, could
be summed up in the one word
work. At the age of twenty, ne mar
ried-his earnings at that time being
only nine shillings (s2.25) per week, the
average wages of an English farm la
borer. Finding it impossible to provide
for his family upon that pittance, Mr..
Arch shouldered his tools and started
forth in quest of more remuneratiye la
Dor. At hedging, draining, railroad
making, in all parts OF his native coun-
try-denying himself almost necessities
that he might save up money for wife
and children-after long years of toll,
he accumulated sufficient sum to buy
a cottage and a piece of land in the viii
lage Of his birth. Here he settled down,
passing his days I'm honest toll and his
evenings in study, and not until the ear
ly part OF last year did anything occur
20 change the even tenor of his ways or
to call upon him to take up what has
since proven to be the mission of his
life. r,5.-i.1.. 80
At that time few laborers, in an ad-
joining village, having been denied an
increase of wages, applied to him as be-
ing a man who, although of their own
order, had nevertheless raised himself to
a position whence he was prepared to
advise and counsel. As an answer to
their appeal, Mr.. Arch advised the for
nation of a Union, and acting upon the
suggestion, about two hundred men
banded themselves together in this man
ner. From this starting point the move
ment spread over the entire land.-
Other villages invited Arch to visit
them, and wherever he spoke branches
of the Union were formed. On Good
Friday, 1872, the first meeting of dele
gates was held at bennington, and MFR.
Arch unanimously chosen President
From that time he has devoted his life
to the work of aiding and improving
the condition of the laborers of his ma
tive country. At present the Union
numbers over 1OO, 900 members.
|. But although achieving results OF inn
mensc Importance to local laboring in
terests, it is nevertheless quite probable
that Mr.. Arch and his labor would never
have received other than general atten
ton in this country, had it not been for
the overcrowded condition of the En-
glish labor market and the prompt rec
ognition of that fact by the President of
| the Union. This and his consequent de-
termination to promote immigration,
and within the next two years to send
out over 200, 900 men with their families
| TO wherever they are likely to work out
u prosperous future for themselves,
have, however, brought Mr.. Arch and
his plans into a foremost place before
the public and given to both an import
ance which they would not otherwise
have attained.
In order to personally ascertain the
relative advantages of the different
fields for immigration, Mr.. Arch, in
August last, visited Canada and spent
over two months in examining that
province. He was everywhere treated
with the greatest attention and respect,
and from Lord Dufferin down to the VII
lage beadles, everyone strove to con-
vince him of the superior advantages af-
forded there over any other section OF
the continent.
By reason of the fact that he was un-
able to reach the States until the last OF
November, Nj. Arch decided to defer
his tour of inspection until spring, when
he intends returning to and spending
four or five months in this country. 3.
Naturally the question arises-will
his mission be of benefit and should ii
be responded to by the agriculturalists
throughout the eountry?. To those in
terested in the advancement of the eoun-
try and especially, therefore, to the or
ganizations OF Grangers, the plan oi
Mr.. Arch ia an important one. Even
irrespective of the number of farmers
whofind it so difficult to obtain help, our
railroad men, contractors and others
who have a demand for rough labor, for
muscle, thews and sinews, will find the
exact material required, among those
! who propose to emigrate from England.
In fact, these men are declared to be the
very cream of English agriculturalists,
such as are seldom landed on these shore;
sober, Industrious, hard-working
skilled husbandnIen-while in theil
families will be a large proportion ol
young women trained to domestic ser.
vice--the demand for which Is now fal
greater than the supply. @ss