Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-10
A LABOR LEADER ON TRIAL,
Benjamin Tiilett Charged with melting
Strikers to Riot.

Benjamin Tillett Charged with melting
Strikers to Riot.
BENZ. Tillett, the well-known labor leader,
who was an unsuccessful labor candidate
for parliament at West Bradford in the gem
eral election, was put on trial at Bristol, Eng,
yesterday on a charge Of having melted the
strikers to riot on the occasion of tine labor
demonstration at Bristol on the Friday
night before Christmas. number Of leading
labor men we're present at the trial and Tillett
was heartily cheered by large crowd on his
way to the court room.
THE BRISTOL LABOR TROUBLES
The labor troubles in Bristol were caused
by the timber merchants locking on,
their deal porters, who have for over
twenty years worked on q system Of day
work The season Of the year being in
the employers favor. the men were locked out
without any notice being given on account OF
their refusal to allow a vessel to be discharged
by local men. The name of this vessel WAS the
Revolving Light. She was moored in the roads
until all the other vessels were discharged. She
was then brought up the river and discharged
by gang of men from another port. On this
account Bristol men refused to assist in the
work.
After negotiations, the firm promised that
the matter should not occur again, and every
thing appeared to be settled.
were refused employment except on the condi-
ton OF their accepting it under a contract sys-
TEN, the men having no Iower Of choosing the
gangs or the contractor, and being obliged to
pay the latter out of their earnings.
This the men could not accept, and they were
locked ont. The men expressed themselves as
being willing to accept any system Of contract
work such prevailed in Hull AMI London
The mon prepared and submitted q scheme
which, after considerable trouble. they induced
the employers and the Bristol conciliatory board
to consider.
This body reported favorably upon it after
taking evidence from practical men as to it's
fairness to both parties. The men claimed that
the rates at which they offered to do the work
were below those of any other port, considering
the distance timber had to DO carried. At
present the men paid 8 shilings per day.
carrying what is equivalent to two and a half
hundredweight OF timber q distance of from
twelve to fifteen miles.
The employers refused to accept the recon-
mendations 1T the Cancellation board or to
allow men any opportunity Of choosing the
gangs, effective superintendent of the job or
access to the buildings. The men applied for
leave for labor procession. This leave was
given and a route designated. the Bristol au-
thorities at the same time introducing several
hundred dragons and hussars from Aldershot
on the ground that a breach Of the peace was
apprehended. The labor people objected to
being debarred from the leading streets on
their line of route. The prohibited line OF
route was strongly guarded by the police and
hussars.
AT Bristol bridge where manv thousands we're
assembled. the procession tried to make for the
high street, but were barred bv the police, who
at length had to charge the demonstrators,
and in a few moments the procession
broken up. Portions of the procession found
their way to the horse far, where an open-air
meeting was held
The police in their struggle at Bristol bridge
had to use their slaves freely in charging the
crowd, some Of whom must have been badly
hurt. The people soon fed however. before
the troopers, who quickly cleared the streets
they traversed.
At half-past o'clock military and police
were engaged dispensing crowds which still
fingered in the city. At the labor meeting a
strongly worded resolution passed assert
ing that the men were allowed to starve to
crafty INSCRIPTIONS employers. and the
speakers condemned the magistrates for calling
out the troops and derided their efforts. After
several exciting scenes, during which two
dragon guards were slightly wounded with
stones, and four or five casualties, resulting
chiefly from the charges, had been treated at
the intrmary, the military succeeded in clear
ing the horse fair. Iillett is accused Of having
urged lie laboring men not to obev the restric-
tons pnt by the authorities upon the de-
monstration.
The prosecution charged that Tillett, in
addressing the Bristol strikers. urged them to
fight with fists and clubs, and if necessary With
guns. and declared that he would lead them.
The case was adjourned until January 10.