The times., 1897-04-25
A PLEA FOR
LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.
And a History of Their Relations to
Industry, Society and Government.
Fourth Paper.

Industry, Society and Government
Fourth Paper.
The success OF the American Revolution
gave great encouragement TO the down
trodcen people OF all nations, and the work
ing people of England especially built III
great hopes upon the result of it. Bu
the reactionary tendencies which forceC
the revolution upon the American people
and which sought to supplant the fre'
principles OF the revolution of 6SS by The
tyranny and corruption of the Stuarts, had
full swing in the government Of England
The least intelligent, the prouder and more
obstinate of the nobility and traders were
in control. notwithstanding the govern
ment was in the hands OF their most un-
yielding enemies, the working people were
able to form organizations, though not able
TO increase or even maintain their wages
which often had to be supplemented by
parish allowances to enable them to live.
One of the victories of the workers was the
election OF Abel Smith TO Parliament, In
1T85 But they We're defeated, notwitll-
Standing Mr.. Smiths assistance, in their
efforts to secure legislation in their in
terestS The same year the Stocking
Makers Association for Mutual Protec-
ttan.' whose members had been most IN
fluential in the election OF Mr. Smith, got
a report favorabl to the workingmen from
q committee OF the House of Commons, BUT
the measure reported was defeated. Next
year the same association asked Parlia-
ment to legalize the wages agreed upon
between tue employers and workmen, and
though two committees made favorable
reports upon the measure, and though some
OF the amendments proposed by the EN-
ployers We're accepted by the workmen.
the measure was defeated.
The trade unions, or rather the protec-
tion societies out OF which the trade
unions have grown, were numerous at the
close OF the last century, nearly every
trade having some sort of an org ganiZa-
hon. These organizations insisted upon
employers paying the wages assessed by
.he justices, and they attempted to en-
force them by STRIKES but the employers
were strong enough To have enacted the
combination laws OF 1789-1S00,. making
ST a crime for workmen To combine in
Societies Of any kind TO resist the action
OF employers 10 fix wages or hours. under
penalty or imprisonment for two months
at hard labor. Though these laws pro-
hlbited any combination OF worbInen
Or capitalists there was no way of en-
3crciug them except by complaints Of
parties The employers were often more
merciful than the laws, and many COM
biuatOns which must have been ap-
parent TO the employers were not pro-
ceeded against. ana some employers
even condesceDded to treat with their
organized wOrkInen. Occasionally work
men would prosecute capital SITS for
combining, and though they proved their
charges in almost every case, the capt.
talist> were never punished 10y the courts
and, after several failures TO get Judg-
ment, such prosecutions were abandoned.
The laws for the assessment OF wages
by the justices We're not repeaIedo o + amended
though there could be no prosecutions Of
those who violated them by trade societies,
which, to all appearances, were friendly
societies. Ia 1906 they ventured on
forming q society called Good Intent
whose object it was to enforce the laws |
IL relation TO the establishment and main
tcnanCe OF wages, and TO prosecute those |
employers who refused TO conform 10 them.
The existence OF the society was at least |
partially concealed, but ats work was so
effective that employers were prosecuted,
Rnd In Sl3, when judgment was obtained
against some OF them, Parliament was
to and at the request of the
that part of the statute which
lad heen passed in the early part of Eliza
le5h's reign, providing for the assessment
OF wages by justices, which was first
~ the contrivance of employers and had
DUen maintained by them for 200 years,
was repealed 1t is significant that this
2ction was taken by Parliament, though
100000 men petiuuned for the retention
III the laws and 1000 for their repeal
The movement Of the worknSnen at the
beginning Of the century In England was
bot the offspring Of ill-paid and ill-treated
aborers, seeking relief from intolerable
conditions, but OF the men engagedin in call
ngs IL which the best wages were paid
and the conditions OF whose labor was
such that they were comfortable, IL not
prosperous, compared with their il-paid
snd dill-treatedbrethren No dOubtth the very
these men witnessed in other
,alhngs stimulated them to contend for
heir own standard oflife that they might
never be brought TO endure such misery
The success OF the labor movement today
depends upon the same class OF workers /,
hat instituted labor organizations in the
Of the century. Men who find !
difficult to live can never be depended
pom to carry out reforms which demand
ontinued perseverance for great lengths |
( time, and which must rely upon men
With capacity for regular and continued
nenta al exerlon.
From 1729 TO 1924 the Iaboring people of
,ngland probably suffered more thanh any
)rmer or later period of their history.
hey were mainly bearing the burden Of
le Napoleonic wars The misery and deg
ldation of the great bulk of the English
coplc was acknowledged by nearly every
clergymen, magistrates,
,dges, members of Parliament, and even !
y the king in his addresses. They strove
yainSt the conditions that were smother
G them, and were met by the oppression
-hich the enforcement of the most unjust
nd cruel laws put upon them. The leaders
the workin gtnen were almost continually |
iail 1t would he of interest to relate the
any unjust prosecutions OF the time, IL
ace did not forbid. 1t is within the facts
say that the law condemned many
orking people to cruel and outrageous
lmshments for doing the very things
hich it Authorizes and sanctions today
The evils which the workers suffered
ere nidgated by the parti al repeal In
"a OF the combination laws, permitting
EN- TO combine, etc, when wages and
urs Of labor were concerned. The modi-
sation OF the combination laws was ef-
cted 10y the wise strategy of Joseph
Ime, a member OF Parliament, assisted
Francis Place, a master tailor, one OF
e most remarkable men OF his time
was accomplished in the face of diff