The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-26

thus interview. Ithllk a. present the amendment
cissses occupies much OF your attention
Mr.. Spain Scotland at present we are mainly
eneageo IN Trying 70 remove from the statute book
the odious penal measures directed against US as u
csas. THESE are particularly tue Criminal Law
Amendment act ofJ1ne 1871. the law ofconsplracy--
criminal laws-and the Master and servant act OF
lS67 which, while its main object was to abolish
the immoral and 0ne-sded principle wnich maze
the contracts OF workmen enforceable by impris-
onment really let that principle In again oy sde
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is your objection to the
Criminal Law Amendment acts
Mr.. BoA-its vagueness and unialrness, ny tnst
act and l use It's very words, "EveryPerson Snail
be liable to imprisonment, Win or without naro
labor Tor term not exceeding three months VINO
shall () modest another person by perslstently fol-
lowing him about from place to place, or t2) II no
watch or beset the house or place where such
person resides works or carries on business,
or happens to be, or IT, with two or more other
persona. he follow such person In dtsorderly
II you should go and tap man on the shoulder
and say TO ham, II do not think you should walk
imprisonment. The act Is 80 vague that It Is I'm
possible to say what harmless deed may not he
law should he sufficient 10 meet every case OF really
ORRKsrONDKNT-You object that this statute
virtually creates q reign OF terror over the work
men when they and their masters dsagrees
CoRREsroNDENT~No wnas are your complaints
as 70 the Master and servant aots
Mr.. BoA-We object 70 Imprisonment for breach
rules To fail IN paying 900 at date is subject
for lawsuit; ~ mss . days work 10 matter for
provides civil remedies certainly for breaches OF
contract equally on both sides, and Its promoters,
believe, honestly entertained the idea that they
abolished o grievous anomaly; but, inasmuch as
the act gives the Court In whatn calls aggravated
cases" power to imprison the defaulting party Tor
three months. 1t happens that the workman may
Tor q breach Of agreement which some sapient
magistrate considers aggravated" be sent to
jal like a common felOn.
CORRESPONDENCE this imprisonment can only
occur IN very special circumstances
. flexible phrase, and leaves too much to the dis-
erection OF the magistrate. And, besides, there are
ey Inc Of n o
even always cast Ia damages. This pamphlet
hold In my hand Is by FREDERICK Harrison, A., Of
LncOin's Inn. He says, Two wOrkmen left their
employment IN kingston attracted by tho high
wages odered at the London Gas Works during
places. Mea, as We know VINO had struck were
beng sentenced every day to prison under the
men who had come up from Kingston to take the
places OF the men on strike and do their work were
conduct tended TO diminish the evils caused BY the
strike one would have looked at 1t leniently. We
are told again, that In the rural districts 1t Is
the rule Tor justices TO treas the condition OF,
Aggravated misconduct" as mere surplnsage
as, in legal significance, equivalent to leaving EN-.
piovmenL Thus an Essex farmer, who gives names
and addresses including his own, writes publicly
on the case Of man who was earning seven shil-t
hngs week for fourteen hours LABOR, and who
LETT this valuable situation for work In another
part OF the country. On returning to his home, SIX
this section Another man, who asked for a rise
OF wages, was TOLD by his employer II ne did not
ike bis TO LEAVE MS n place He took his s m
had TO appear at the Petty Sessions, and that his
employers regarded this too scrupulous liberalism
IN carrying out orders as aggravated mis-.
conduct.r These are English cases certainly, but
we have had similarly oppressive occurrences IN
stirred up much indignation throughout the
country.
CoRREspoNDENT-Are you meeting with success
in your efforts to persuade candidates for Parhs
ment Of the Injustice Of these lawsf
sn are tSe connrry on thus top,c r. start
Ing and the power they therefore possess At cleo
tons forces recognition OF their demands. have
Just received telegram this afternoon that our
coadjutor the Secretary Of the Miners Association
Of Scotland. Alexander Mcdonald, mas been re.
turned TO Parliament from stafford. He IS the nrst
workingman representative returned to the House
OF Commons. 1t Is a great triumph. He 10 man
who will honor Ia every way the electors who have
returned him, ana the cause which he goes to serve
IN the House OF Commons VIII be immensely
strengthened.
CORRESPONDENT believe that will be the gen.
eral feeling throughout the country.
Mr. BoA-I have had q further evidence Of the
power now welded by our body. This tern0On
received telegram nom Colonel Mcdonald, the
conservative candidate who is contrasting the
MonIrose burghs against the late Secretary OF the
Treasury ". +. Baxter. The Colonel says to 81
60 in Tor the repeal OF the Criminal Law Amend
Money no object" was thunderstruck &C this
barefaced pro posal, o. II we could be bought and
graphed Mr. Baxter's election committee 70 make
the proposal known and to press workingmen not
to forsake liberalism nor be mised BY the specious
promises OF sham friends.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. as you in mea-
sure do, the great body OF The Intelligent working
classes OF Scotland, should like to hear from you
your opinions OF political measures not OF strictly
class character Tho game laws. for example
Mr.. BOA-ihese We would summary Abolish.
CoRREsPoSDEST-The law OF prlmogenitureS
Mr.. BoA-We would repeal 1t as well as tie law Of
entail
CORREsposDENr-Does the present system OF rep
resentation satisfy your
Mr.. BoA-No. We would have equal electoral
districts, and an electoral system on Mr.. Harris
plan, If possible We believe also In the payment
OF members OF Parliament.
CORRESPONDENCE to Church and State
Mr. BOA-We are opposed 10 the continuance OF
the Church and state connection.
CoRRESPONDENT-How do you FEEL a. to the
''Home Rule" movements
Mr.. BoA-That we have not yet given much at
more % Bu So 4 Rne
! the giving greater charge OF national or local
concerns to purely national or local bodies, be.
! lieve we are all IN favor OF that step. / DO not
think the Scotch workingmen favor the disinte-
granon or dlsmemberment OF the United Kingdom
CoRREsPoNDENT-But how would you feel with
regard to a federation OF the three Kingdoms on
the principle OF the United States Of America
ooectionaDie but a0 have not considered very
anxiously. Besides, this question Of "Home Rule"
when started in scotland, generally assumes q
| Rule means Rome rule" do moi say that 1t does
/ but We workmen, who are united to man on all
purely secular questions concerning trade and
! labor get TO skies and sevens when the religious
difficulty is imported into our DISCUSSIONS
| CoRREsPoSDEST-May / ask, Mr., Boa, what are
your opinions with respect TO repuDlicanism
Mr.. BOA-Well / believe there is not any very
great dissatisfaction in Scotland with the existing
mode OF government. We look on queen Victoria
as an exceptionally good monarch, and could we
1eel sure OF succession OF "VictorlaS" there would
not be any cry Tor repubcanisn.
CoRREsPoNDENT-You are aware Of the repub-
lican movement IN Englandp
Mr.. BOA am. There 1t Is identified with a
/ religious difficulty lnasmuch as It's most prOml-
nent advocates, Charles Bradlaugh and Hoyoake
and Watts, are secularists. In scotland You Will
ma the religious element a strong characteristic
OF the people, and pervading the artisan class as
well the Others, and 1t will be stumbling block
TO the advance Of a repubcaniSm based on secu-
larlsm.
CoEgEsPoNDESr-You are member OF Church
body, Mr.. Boar
Mr.. BOA am Methodist.
CORREsPosDENT-iou must have had hard work
to-day cany assngg
Mr.. Boa nave been canvassing very hard.
have haYeXer ael