The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-21
80, ,ooe srRoHs.
[concladed fe,m nrst page.l

[Conciuded ffe m frsb page.l
ing classes In this country was caused
by the robbery of labor in the interests
of the few, and they must demand from
the government Immediate remedies, re-
membering, and being prepared to act
upon the knowledge, that man only
Welded to the fear, not Of God, but Of
/ other men. [Cheert.
Mr. Frost contended that the working
people were robbed. by the wealthier
classes of something like quarters
of the value of their labor, and he urged
them to force on a Social Revolution.
[Cheers.
Mr.. James Macdonald, tailor, main
tanned that the poor had right to prac-
tiee selfhelp by helping shemselves to
whatever was necessary to support life.
Hear, hear : % E
The meeting being too large to be con-
yeniently addressed from one center, o
subsidiary gathering took place about
100 Yards from Cleoratra's Needle, a cart
serving for platform. the speakers be-
ing Mr.. ]. E. Williams, laborer, Mr.. Mac
donald and Mr.. Champion. tEEEg
On the arrival of the procession at the
Offices of the local government board,
Mr.. Burns, Mr. Macdonald, Mr.. Williams,
Mr.. ". II. Foreman, palpter, and Mr..
T.J. Murphy, bricklayer, went inside to
interview Mr.. Russell. That gentlemen
was accompanied by Mr.. Et. Owen, per-
manent secretary to tho board, DIR.
Bridges and MI. Headley, metropolitan
inspectors under the department, and
Mr.. J. E. C. Bodley, private secretary to
Sir c. Dixie, NJ. P.
Mr.. G. Russell, NJ. P, said that
although Sir C. Dixie did not generally
receive deputations, he had thought this
one SO important that he arranged to
see it, but subsequently cabinet was
summoned for that afternoon, and he
was compelled to attend 1t. 1t was
sitting at that moment, and was not
likely to rise for two or three hours.
What, however, the deputation had to
say would be listened to not only with
respect, but with lively sympathy be-
cause uttered in the sacred name of dis
tress Having received printed docu-
ment setting forth $he requests to be
made on behalf Of the unemployed, he
wished to say before hand that it was
not the duty of the local government
board to consider>the hours worked by
state servants. That was question for
the treasury. "As to the cultivation of
lands, at present uncllttvated, that again
was a matter which could hot be said to
come specially within the province of
the president of the local government
board
The deputation then explained their
views, Mr.. Burns claiming that they
had been endorsed that day by meeting
of $4,000 men on the embankment. AS
for himself and his colleagues, they were
all out of employment through no fault
of their own. He maintained that not
wlthstanding the official returns there
was more distress in Great Britain than
ever before. Unless the government did
something to provide work their inaction
would amount to such provoCation- to
the laboring classes that serious results
might follow.
Mr.. Macdonald remarked that if they
had brought some of their complaints to
the wrong place it IVES the duty of the
government, who were the servants of
the people, to transfer them to the right
place and see them attended to. There
wss often talk about pauperizing the
people, but be denieC that giving them
fair share of the wealth they produced
would be pauperizing them. If they
attacked bakers shops or vans, as in
Liverpool, 1t was the fault of the govern
ing classes, whose oocial system had
made criminals of them.
Mr.. Williams dwelt On tie destitution
and on the want of public Improvements
on the East end of London. He also
pointed as unjust that while many per-
sons could not get work, others, such as
railway servants, hal to work twelve,
fourteen or sixteen hours daily.
Mr.. Forman warned the government
that many of the unemployed were say
ing, "Deputations do no good; we must
try something stronger" He had no
sympathy with dynaniters, and there
fore be urged. the government not to
drive the working classes into their
arms.
Mr.. Russell pointed out that if one
state department took over the work be-
longing to another Coln pi,.t. confusion
would result The building of embank-
ments, washhouses, public libraries, and
so on was an object with which he sym
pathlzed but it was one with which ac-
cording to an old established principle
local authorities had to deat. With re-
gard to the long hours of labor under
railway, tramway, and other companies,
he spoke as a private citizen when he
said that they were. not only hardship to
the employees, but distinct danger to
the travelling public. At the same time
it had never been the policy of the state
to interfere with private undertakings,