The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-11-29

better supplied than he could have hoped t,
do in the old way
He had been from early life an arden
Methodist, and he was accustomed for man,
years, wherever he found himself on Sunday
to preach to the labOrers of his own persuas
ion often in the open air; and thus he gainet
great extcmporc speaking, and acquired TIT
confidence of thousands OF his class. Hence
it was that when these eleven men of Charl
cote were puzzled how to proceed, it occurred
to them to consult him.
One Monday morning in February 1871,
rap was heard at the door OF his cottage. He
had come home the light before, after preach
ing twice, ard his wife was not disposed al
first to let anyone see him, although he was
up and at work making n box for his son
who is a sergeant in the British army. Mrs
Arch went to the door Two laborcrs stood
! before her
I'VE want Jce," said one Of them. rs he
| at hOme?"
What business have you with him." said
| She
Why" they answered. eve want to talk to
| him about forming a Union, and we don't see
why we shouldn't have one. It's time we did
sunmat"
You form Cnion?" said Mrs. Arch.
why you hain't got spirit enough for no
such thng'
Yes we have" said the man, If Joe will
only lead us If he won't, we can't; but If he
will were ready
Then Mrs. Arch vent and brought her has
band, who listened very attcntivcly to their
story. For years he had broodcd over the SUI.
fcrings of his order and he was ready for the
movement.
Pass round the word" he said in sub
stance, to the men, and | will come to the
meeting"
The word was passed and when night came.
instead of score or two OF men, as was cX-
pected, the village swarmed with 1900 or
400 and the meeting was obliged to be held
on the village green Cnder a chestnut tree, "a
ig-kiling board serving as platform. 10.
seph Arch mounted it and addressed the
throng He recOuntod their wrongs, and
told them that their only chance was to keep
the peace and stand together as one man, For
several Wednesday evenings similar meetings
were held, and at last the labOrers felt ready
to begin to act They addressed the follow
ing circular letter to their employers:
SIR: We jointly and scyerally request
your attention to the following requirements,
IS Sd per day for our labor, hours from to
), and to close at 3 on Saturday, and al per
hour for overtime. Hoping you will give
this your fair and honest consideration,
I'VE are, sir, Your humble servants.
No answer being vouChsaied to this straight
forward letter, the men waited week, and
then struck work. Acting upon Arch's al
vice, some of them migrated to other counties,
and the rest accepted IN offer of the farmers
to resume work for 10 sLillings week, which
was an advance of , ShllingS. This speedy
success gave new ve9r to the movement.
The whole county of Warwickshire came in
to the Union, and Joseph Arch, going from
county to county, in u few months tOundhlm
self at the head of an organization which had
branches throughou5 Great Britain. Each
laborcr paid an entrance fee Of Cd and a week
~ contribution of 2d As the members now
enrolled exceeded 100000 men, the National
LaborcrS' Union hes become Il formidable
power in England.
Already wages have been raised at least
two shillings a week, on an average, through
out the country, and the Union is in fair
way to reach its grand object which is, that
the wages of agricultural laborcrs in England
should be le a week, equivalent to little
more than 50, The Union has I, newspaper
published in IFS interest, and Mr.. Arch has
crossed the ocean 80 ascertain whether Il Sys-
tematc and concerted emigration may not be
added to the means already possessed Of re-
lieying the Labor market in England. Lord
Dutlcrln, GovernOr-General OF Canada, in
vited HIM to dinner on his arrival in the Do |
minon, and he is everywhere received in the |
United States with honor and cordially.