New-York tribune., 1897-08-23


This has been one of the remarkable OF labor
disputes. The complications began in August last
year, when memorial signed by seven of his work
men sent TO Lord Penrhyn This was followed
by series of interviews anJ letters. leading I'd TO
the issue OF statement by Lord Penrhyn on Sep
tember % in which he denied the existence of the
grievances put forward by the Although the ac-
ual persons who met him at the interviews were the
seven memoralists the real body behind was a com
mittee of severty-one workmen. which all through
he declined to recognize. On September 2G this com
mittee decided 10 declare a strike in March 1897, un-
less in the time its demands were conceded
Lord Pcnrhyns retort was two days later to "sus-
pend" mot 'dismss') the whole of the seventy-one
committeem a proceeding which al led to
the strike.
There was no dispute that Lord Penrhyn was
acting within his legal rights but this action was
obviously a distinct blow the principle of COM
bination among workmen for self-protcction. At
the height of the controversy Lord Penrhyn. in do
scribng his attitude. said that he did object
any combination among his men. but that he was
determined to remain master OF his quarry.
AT the same time however he persistently refused
tc recognize the combination which the workmen
had created TO formulate their demands and 10
conduct their ease, namely, the Committee OF SeV-
cnty-one. During the discussion of the merits Of
the case in which the whole English press partci-
pated it came out that for years in the life
of workmen obtained great power, and succeeded so
it was asserted. in managing the quarry entirely in
their interest. TO the detriment OF the future
prospects OF the quarry itself. In 1855 the present
peer stepped IN and al once abolished that commit
tee: and il appears that ii has been point or
honor with him TO recognize another com
mittcc or to repeat what he conceived 10 be his
fathers mistake in allowing any committee 10 De-
come masters OF the quarry.
The Board Of Trade intervened in the hope or
bringing about conference to settle the dinlcultN
But Lord Penrhyn could not tolerate the presence
Of q Board of Trade official. because that would
have constituted - precedent for outside lnlerIe
ence with the manag cment Of mis- private aHaTs.
though this objection had little force, in view OF
the provisions OF the Cancellation act IOru rem
rhyns opposition to the committee and 20 the ld,a
OF Il cOnfcrcnc" became so captious tnat. Wheh th'
WOrkmen asked TO have their own shorthand writer,
well as mis- present at interviews. he would NOT
consent except with the proviso that their snort
men, excluding the seventy-one who had been sus-
pended. And not until now. eleven month"; after
the threat 10 strike in six months time II me
grievances were St unrcdTeSsod. has he been Will
ing recognize their right to send such a com
mittee as was originally proposed 10 discuss the
matter with NM.
His attitude. which eliminated in the virtual clos
ing Of the quarry, caused great distress to the l"O
thousand workmen and their wives and families
labor involved. lay In the fact that the users
of saies in Great Britain for time compelled
fo .u:n 10 Pennsylvania as the only alternative dis
where they could get 4 sufficient supply of
good material. and many large orders crossed the