The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-26
Sir Charles NIAGARA, Head of
British Cotton Weavers,
Now in Limelight
THE BARONET SAYS
HE is A SELF MADE
MAN IN BEST SENSE
Is 6S Years of Age But Still Vigorous.
Is Managing Director of Famous
Bannerman Mills and Origi-
nator of Lifeboat Sat-
urday Movement

London, October 25.-(Special.) )-One of
The most truly striking figures in the
Industrial world of this country, Sir
Charles Wright Macara, the many sided
strike which began in November, 1892,
ternational Federation of Master Cotton
Spinners, and president of the English
Federation of Master Cotton Spinners,
Is once more man of the moment as
result of the present crisis in the cot
ton trade, which he has just described
as the greatest in the history of the in
dustry." This crisis, which has arisen
out of the refusal of the employees of
one Of the biggest mills inLacanshire,
the Beehive, at Bolton, to work under
an "overlooker" against whom they have
made complaints, at present threatens
to eliminate in a lockout which would
directly affect over 65O,000 persons in this
country, and indirectly, one million and
third. The mill owners, who are we'll
stocked and well bought. having, accord
ing to Sir Charles Macara, their ac-
knowledged head, never, been more de-
termined to be master in their own house
A self-made man in the best sense of
the term, the claims of distinction of
this popular baronet, who, at IS, is still
the embodiment of vigor, occupy almost
a full column of that essentially con-
seryative publication who's Who"
which notes that besides being manag-
ing director of the famous Bannerman
mills at Manchester and originator Of
the now famous Lifeboat Saturday move
ment, he is J. p. of Lancashire. Chew
alier of the Legion of Honor, chevalier
of the Ordre de Leopold, and that he
possesses the Grand crus del Merito Ag-
ricola, as we'll as the Order of the Red
Eagle. A wide traveller and incident
ally an ardent Free Trader, it is gem
orally admitted that Sir Charles Macara
knows more about the industry of which
he Is the supreme. head than anybody
else in Great Britain and that he has
more influence with the workers than
any other member of the Cotton Spin
ners Federation.
Born in Scotland in 1886 Sir Charles
went to Manchester at an early age
and there his unique ability pushed him
rapidly TO the front. The firm of which
he is now managing director was estab-
lished at the beginning of the last CEN.
tury, and in the course of his connection
with 1t, Sir Chares-who was created a
baronet in 1911-has had a wide expert
ence with strikes, and has presided over
no end of conferences of the representa-
tives Of employers and operatives in set
ting disputes.
Had Part in Brooklands Agreement
lie took prominent part, for example,
in drawing up the Brooklands agreement
which terminated the 20 weeks cotton
strike which began In November, 1892
and few years later formulated a
scheme for the adjustment of wages ac-
cording to the state of the cotton trade
which was generally adopted. The mot
to on his coat Of arms. by the way. is
Cancellation is Better Than Force" and
lie invariably has lived up to it, and is
recognized as a white Man. by the
operatives of Lancashire
In 1904, there was trouble in the cotton
world owing to shortage in the raw"
In consequence, the International Fed
Grafton was Matched, in which Sir Charles
took a leading part Twice he went to