The New York herald., 1877-07-29
The Strikes and Lockouts in England, France,
Germany and other Countries.
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEEBy BROTHERHOOD.
Enormous Destruction of Life and Prop
ety. with Widespread Suffering.
THE PARIS COMMUNE INDORSED.

Ike IL before has occurred the history Of strikes.
Tho consideration OF the principles OF trade unions
and combinations of workmen from which tho wide
spread disorders prevailing directly arise is, there
fore, forced upon the general community. The matter
has now gone beyond the question Of wages be-
tween corporations and their employees and seriously
affects business interests OF the country not
TO speak OF fearful destruction OF life and property
that las already taken place. Tho records Of
all strikes prove that the attempts TO remedy
by force real imaginary wrongs only increases the
total OF prvation and suffering and stimulates the
gathering Of nobs made up OF all the dangerous ele-
ments Of societypick pockets, burglars professional
rioters and common robbers To these TO be
added at such time this the Internationalists or
Communists, who urge openly and secretly the most
fatal and revolutionary doctrines Tho Brotherhood
OF Engineers the responsibility OF
the strike that led TO the present disastrous
dillon of things, and 1t is stated that when they
struck recently some Of the New England roads
unfavorable opinion left the public mind
In that quarter to the policy OF reducing tho pay Of
engineers The first thing, however is the restoration
of the supremacy of the law after that the grcva
OF the railway employees will doubt full and
candid consideration Combinations OF workmcn to
obtain increase OF wages have from time time ap-
pcared, but until comparatively recent date they
everywhere the object of severe legal penalties.
The purpose Of tnis article is to trace in brief
nor the history of such associations both In Europe
and America what here presented cannot fail to
be read with interest
WHAT WHISPER COULD ACCOMPLISH.
Sy reference to the volumes Of the "Anuual Regis
teri published between the years 1850 and 1900 It will
be seen that the formation Of worxngmen's societies
became quito a common during that period
In consequence of the introduction of machinery Ma.
ehnery, by concentrating the leading industries In
arge establishments, gradually reduced many small
masters to the position OF aborcrs and the
difficulties OF rising from the working to the employ
ing class. In England unions had been formed
among wool carders, cotton spinncrs. SCISSORS,
grinders and men of I other trades before
the beginning of the present century. New
laws passed in 1890 against combinations of
workmcn, prohibiting the emigration of mechanics
and the expectation of machinery either the colonies
foreign countries but these evaded various
ways Matters having reached very unsatisfactory
conditiGn IN 1924, motion Of Mr. Hume, a commit
too appointed by the House OF Commons inquire
into the whole subject OF the relations existing between
Labor and capital aud respecting artisans and machn-
cry. In 1924 there hardly trade in which jour-
peymcn organized aud prepared TO any
body OF workmen who chose to stand out against
their employers. The taiors took the lead and had
things pretty much their way. whisper spread
that there was to be strike and without discussion Of
the subject work abandoned whore orders 10 that
effect received The strikers had Tor years been
the habit of proceeding the greatest excesse
murder, according 10 tho records of the period,
committed without scruple 10 attain their cnds In
many places object Vt these combinations had been
not much to augment wages as to prevent persons
considered Objectionable from obtaining employment.
SYSTEM IsrEonucEn
lenent system was now introduced which, while
Abolishin all old laws against inaon, denounced
severe unshn-nt against those who should attempt
to influence overcome by violence men desiring to
accept work any terms whatever that they were
willing to accept The immediate effect Of these laws
was alarming. Tho industries of Glasgow and other
places almost entirely suspended from the end
Of August ,il January in the following year. Cotton
spinnsrs, weavers and other classes
Of artisans withdrew from their employmenis
IN body. They fixed and insisted upon
terms upon which they were willing to negotiate with
their masters; they dictated the ruos by which the
conduct of the work men be regulated, and, IN
Short took to their hands the nage me mt and
direction of the large establishments engaged in
ufacturcs For a time the societies succeeded, but
after a while "lockouts" came into fashion and
strikes were met with retaliation. II may be cx-
planned that lockout" IS measure TO deprive
worEmen OF means OF assisting others strike by
throwing tho former out of employ ment The follow
list OF the principal strikes that have taken
place IN Great Britain since the repeal OF tho combna
lion laws
Manchester cotton
10000; duration six months.
Ashton and Stacybrdge cotton spinpers in 1880;
number OF idle 30 0OG; duration ten weeks.
Liverpool building trades in 1885, duration six
hs
Preston cotton spnners in 1854; number of idle
IT, 900; duration nino months.
London building trades in 1859; number of IDLE ooo
General lockout In the iron trade in 1865 number
OF idle 200 900 duration sixteen weeks.
Clyde ship building trade 1867; number of idle
IL, 600; duration nino weeks.
North Of England iron trade in 1866 number Of Idle
12,000 duration i've months.
woRKMES.
In 1867 there was unusual commoton among the
English worknsmcn, aud numerous acts OF violence
were committed against persons and property Tnc
laor struck against reduction Of wages and forcibly
opposed the engagements Of new hands. Many Of them
were brought TO trial and severely punished. But il
the great manufacturing centre of Sheffield that
tho worSmen went 10 extreme crminal lengths. The
grinders OF saws hles fenders pen and pocket blades
edge tools scissors and scythes refused 10 work
permit others TO work IN their placcs IL was
established est. she'd before parsmcn.ary Committee
paid for dong out of the funds
of tho unions Attempts were made to mur-
der by shooting; machinery maiicously ais
ablcd houses were set on ire and and women
burned. and there were several Instances of largo
bottles filled With powder and wick, with lighted
fuse attached having been thrown The dead of
niabt into inhabited buildings Both the tailors and
sheffield received, in 1867, money from Germany
France Belgium and switzerland, and II was clearly
proved that tie agents Of the International Society,
winch bad then 1ecn three years IN existence, had
taken All active part in instgating tho workmen 10
VIOLATIONS OF She law In 1874 the cutlcrs again struck
but failed TO carry their point, ana oy thus time the dis
pue between capital aud labor, which had been
fined 10 the mechan zeal casses extended to agricultural
laborors under the agitation OF Joseph Arch and his
allIes
THE AGRICULTURAL LABoRERs' sTRIKE
In Tie canal aud iron trades strikes mad occurred
sequence OF the reduction Of wages which began after
long period OF Imitation. From October 1871, tho in
had varied from ATTY eighty per cent but
early III 1874 change commenced The gh price OF
coal operated to limit consumption and IRON less
Ia demand owing to the cause. Wages had,
therefore, TO come down to tie raes prevailing before
fndntIon. The farmers proposed that their help
should accept reduction. Harvest time was APP
proxcnpE aud they refused 10 60 into the heds. Two
nnts seopjstc associations we're formed-the National
Agricultural Laborers Union and the Farmers Assoc
alton. The latter remained lrm aad were
sbIe 10 gather In their crops without difficulty WITH
the AID Of machinery, and tho Iaborers MI
srtmnge through the eastern and midland districts
sh~rc they well received by tho workngmcb
rns strke large section OF Tho country
but loscrs 10 Tho business wcrc the agricultural