The Cotton Factory Times. — 1889-07-05 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

MANCHESTER, FRIDAZ, JULY 5, 1659.  MER= FOR PRICE ONE pENNY. [TRAXI TIMMIIISION AMA  thing, the following such a course has retarded their progress in the past, and it would still more do so in the future. The "workers fcr the workers" ought to be the watchword in the coming race, as it is only by adopting this policy that we can be assured of success.  Of the speeches at the dinner we need not say much, as they are elsewhere reported. No one who was present could, however, fail to note the deep earnestness which pervaded the remarks made by the various speakers. Mr. Andrew, of Ashtonunder-Lyne, who gave the dinner, and presided, touched the canny Yorkshiremen when he told them in effect that "he would not insult them by talking philanthropic twaddle. His sympathies were with the workers, as he had proved a hundred times, but he could not afford to carry on a newspaper which was not self-supporting. If the Yorkshire workers were in earnest in wishing for an organ they must be prepared to support it, and he pledged his word they should have good value for their money." This, we venture to say, is what our friends over the border want, and it is time they got it, as in the weaving (woollen) trade especially there are a host of grievances that want puttihg right. Mr. Mawdsley, of Manchester, and Mr. Ashton, of Oldham, followed with a few encouraging remarks, and these were, supplemented by vigorous speeches from Mr. Gee, of Huddersfield, ; and Mr. Shaftoe, of Bradford, and other gentlemen. Both of them are veteran workers in the cause of labour, and no one knows better than Mr. Shattoe the value of a workers' organ which can assist in moulding public opinion in the right directian. This they have now got, and if they can only make it as successful as Mr. Burgess, of the Yorkshire Factory Times staff, conducted the arrangements for the inaugural dinner no one concerned will have cause to regret the result.  Licensed vicWallers act somewhat on the same lines is employers in the cotton trade, when they are caught in the act of cribbing time, or, in other words, selling drinks during prohibited hours. They are never short of a good excuse why the Act has been avoided, but in this, as in the cotton business, the magistrates are beginning to see through the pleas which are urged in mitigation of the offence committed, and to deal with them in a way which is calculated to put a check upon the habits of those who are disposed to crib time in the carrying-on of their business. Workmen, as a rule, are opposed to their employers running their mills overtime, and no doubt complain when they do so, therefore they ought not to encourage others to break the law by inducing them to serve beer during prohibited hours. Cases are frequently cropping up where it is shown that the publicans are encouraged by some of their customers to break the -law in respect to the time of closing their business, and our advice is to give no encouragement, but strictly adhere to the law, aid then no one will be to blame for having assisted in getting a public-house keeper summoned and fined for cribbing time for the purpose of_serying drinks.  Mr. Maclean is a representative of whom, so far as his stand on questions affecting the cotton trade is concerned, the Oldham people have up to lately had no cause to be ashamed. When, a few weeks ago, a deputation of operatives waited upon Lord Cross on the Indian Factory Acts, he rendered signal service to the side by his lucid exposition of the state of affairs in our great dependency. Such testimony coming from a man who had spent many years of his life in India was most valuable, and the thanks tendered him by the deputation were no mere empty formality, but came from a sincere appreciation of the service he had rendered. The members of Parliament, and it may be said the operatives as well, cannot however understand why he should hold the views he does on the currency question. The former are very much annoyed at it, as it is not so very long ago that in the Times he showed most conclusively that the unsettled state of the currency between England and India was handicapping the Lancashire trade to an enormous extent. If we were placed at a disadvantage then, it is much more the case now, as the rate of exchange (or, in other words, the price of silver measured by gold) has very much receded since. If Lancashire members are not elected to, amongst other matters, look after our trade, we should like to know what they are elected for? His colleagues in the representation of the county suspect that his peculiar views are not altogether due to a desire for the public interest. At any rate, it is due to himself that he should speak out and explain how it is that he supports a system which, according to his own showing, is doing so much to cripple the industries of the county of which we wish him to be an honoured member.  Mr. Capstick, of Hadfield, sends us a letter which we insert this week criticising our remarks of a fortnight ago on the duties of organised workmen. As a perusal of his letter will show, Mr. Cap. stick has entirely missed the point of our argument. He asserts in effect that Mr. Broadhurst ought to be condemned for his conduct in supporting Mr. Brunner's candidature for Northwich. Whether Mr. Broadhurst did right on that or any other occasion has nothing whatever to do with our argument. What we contended for then, and do now, is unity •amongst the Workers. If either by legislation or any other means they are to obtain all we believe they are entitled to, this is the rock on which they must plant their feet. But unity cannot be maintained unless the opinions of the majority are to rule. When, after a fair discussion, a certain course is decided on, it is simply committing suicide for a section to split off frqrn any organisa.