The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-04
GREAT STRIKE IN WALES.
Sixty Thousand Men out "f Emplo!

Sixty Thousand Men out "f Employ
ment.
A London paper says: Sixty thousand men
are ont on q strike in the coal and iron districts
of South Wales. The disagreement between
masters and men began, as all such disagree
ments do, on the question Of wages. Every
bcdy knows how dear coal and iron have been
for some time past The colliers, miners and
lrou.workers, last summer, felt they were emit.
tied to an increased rate OF wages correspond.
ing with the rise in the price OF coal and IRON
They demanded higher pay, and met with
refusal. Their only recourse was strike. and
they remained in id!eness for two or three
months. at length compromise was arrived
at by al bitration, and the men resumed work.
Two months ago they asked for an increase OF
ten per cent. on their wages. This demand
was, successfully resisted By their masters, for
no aooner haG they announced lock k.out than
the men, convinced Of their error, withdrew
their demand a1d went back to work. Since
then. however, the price OF Welsh coal, as we'll
as the price of iron, has fallen considerably.
It is now the masters turn to propose
change 10 the scale Of payment for labor. AS
the men had insisted upon hi her wages when
trade was prosperous, the employers now in
sist upou lower wages when tradeis depressed.
On the LIST of December the great iron-mas-
ters and colliery proprietors Of South Wales
issued notice to the eff ct that the existing
agreement between them and the men IN their
employ,must terminate on the 1st OF January,
and on and after that day a reduction OF ten
per cent would take place in the rate at which
labor WAS then paid for in the coal and iron
districts Of South Wales.
Against this reduction the men combined to
protest. On New-Year's day an important con-
ference between the masters and men took
place at Cardiff, and was attended by the
principal ironmasters and coal-owners of
South Wales. together with thirty delegates
who represented the vast host Of colliers ard
miners employed IN the district. At this meet
ing the masters explained their. reasons for
proposing reduction Of wages. and it was
throughout evident that they had no intention
of withdrawing the notice issued at the begin
ming OF that month. They we're willing and
ready to satisfy any sceptical workman as to
the truth OF taejr statement OF the present
state Of trade. They offered to allow their
books to be examined in order to convince the
men that there was substantial ground for the
proposed reduction. They stated their case
clearly, and the delegates, to the best OF their
ability, stated the views Of the colliers and
miners who had sent them to advocate their
claims The delegates were not empowered
to agree to any proposal without consulting
their constituents, and nothing was suggested
by the masters as means OF setting the dis
pute.
On Tuesday q great meeting of colliers,
miners and iron-workers was held at Merthyr,
and was attended by an accredited representa-
tive of the masters. The speakers were earn
est and determined, aud with one or two ex-
cept1ons they expressed their views with com.
mendabIe moderation. 10 the industrial
population Of the district the meeting WAS one
OF grave importance. A resolution protesting
against the reduction OF wages and determin-
ing upon refusal to work at q lower rate OF
payment was submitted to the assembled
multitude. Its consideration was postponed
for few hours, bul it was ulti nately accepted
by conference OF delegates. The result was
strike. by which sixty thousand mon are de.
priyed Of employment. 1t is one consolation
TO know that no disturbance of the peace is
apprehended. IF such an event had occurred
ip Ireland We should probably have heard Ct
alarming riot before now.