The Cotton Factory Times. — 1895-06-28 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

RINGLEADERS TO BE HANGED.  A Moscow correspondent states that twenty of the ringleaders who took part in the murder of the English mill director Crawshaw, at Ivanofna, will be hanged or shot in order to strike awe into the working classes, and to prevent a repitition of such scenes in future. The deceased English director was born in Russia, and is said to have been a severe master. He was so unpopular Knong the men that they actually tore him limb from limb, while the wives of the workmen are said to have acted in a still more horrible manner to the corpse. As a rule, Engish directors are more popular in Russia than those of any other nationality; but the deceased seems to have been an exception. The news that the director had sent for the military seems to have exasperated the workmen, for on the last occasion the troops had been in the district a serious engagement took place, in which 30 persons —mostly working men—were killed. The introduction of foreign ideas among the Russian factory population, in conjunction with the long hours and the present existing system of fining, which leaves hardly any wage over, is commencing to create a very dangerous spirit among the semi-educated factory people. It is a significant fact that the Novae Iremya has latterly commenced to publish a series of articles advocating shorter hours in all the Russian mills and factories.  Meeting of Weavers at IllidAletoa  Jr.notion.  On Tuesday evening a meeting of weavers wall I held at the Conservative Club, Middleton Junction, under the auspices of the Oldham and District Weavers, d:c., Association, for the purpose of considering grievances affecting them in connection with their work. Mrs. M. Callaghan (president of the Oldham Association) occupied the chair, and was supported by the secretary, Mr. A. Binles.. Mrs. CLLLAGRAN urged upon the weavers the importance of helping one. another in times of difficulty, when the employers interfered with them in any unjust way. If they did not display this cohesion she contended they would not be able to do much good for themselves. The Oldham committee were prepared to deal with their complaints, and were ready to take action on their behalf whenever it became necessary. Mr. A. BUiTLES explained at some length the matters for which they were met to consider, more particulary relating to the discharge of one of their members, who had been off work sick, although the employers were made folly aware of the condition of affairs. This person on going back to work, he stated, was practically informed by the firm that they could not find her employment, which he considered was doing her an injustice. He contended most strongly, in reply to the condition imposed by the employers, that the onus of responsibility in finding a substitute when persons were away from work through sickness should not fall upon the person who was suffering from illness; that, to him, was a most unreasonable demand for any employer to make. In his opinion it ought to be sufficient if a sick person notified the employer of the cause of absence, and that it should be left with the firm to find a temporary substitute. He warned the employers against carrying matters with too high a hand, becatme he believed if the person who was discharged bad not been connected with the trade union, different treatment would have been meted out to the party. Ile, on behalf of the Oldham Committee, wrote to the firm a fortnight ago for- an interview, but their letter was still unanswered. They had not lost sight of that fact, and they wanted the meeting to be loyal in any action which it might be considered necessary to take.  In answer to an inquiry by Mr. Birtles, it was stated that there were a number of looms standing idle at the firm when the member in question applied for work, and was told they had none "for the present." Mr. Birtles remarked that he believed there was a deeper motive behind the action than the firm wanted them to believe. It was resolved by the meeting that weavers should not be made responsible for finding sub. substitutes in case of siokness, and also that the matter as to the discharge be left in the hands of the Oldham Committee.