Blandford, Wimborne and Poole Telegram. — 1875-01-15 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

CAPITAL AND LAB-01M.  Now we come to this great question, that I think legislation will never solve—that of Capital and Labour. I think no Act of Parliament will regulate that. I have talked on this before, and many here have heard me speak on this great question. People are talking of all sorts of things; but I fall back upon what I said, and say again—Capital and Labour must be regulated by two things, Supply and Deuland—(hear, hear). We have seen demands made by the labouring classes in the great manufacturing districts ;they demanded increase of wages, and when they saw the times were ripe for it, they pushed their demand, I am glad to say very properly and very justly—(hear). The only capital a labouring man has are his bone and sinew, and he is entitled to make the most of them—(hear, hear). lam very glad to say they had union among themselves—(applause); they saw that union is strength, and they have by union increased their wages • they have shared in the prosperity of the country, and I am delighted at it—(great applause). But whilst we are talking on the matter, let us see the working of it the other way. It was only yesterday morning we saw what might have been a very serious thing, the strike in South Wales, had come to an end—(hear). It is the masters' time now; there are ups and downs of trade. When there was such a great demand for iron and coal, these men put in their claims for an additional 10 percent., and next month for 10 per cent. more, and then for another 10 per cent. There was room for the demands, the manufacturers were able to give them. Now you come to the downs. Those great coal-owners found the trade was leaving them, and they were obliged to reduce 10 per cent., then another 10 per cent, and only yesterday another 10 per cent. lam glad the men were able to see the necessity of the reduction. That strike would have thrown out of employ 15,000 people; but they were wise enough to learn for themselves the state of the trade —(hear, hear). Delegates were sent out: I am not going to say that these delegates —far be it from me— I am not going to say that the union wanted these men to commit suicide by striking. I just put the report into my pocket to read, because it shows what an enormous change has come over the labouring classes; they met together for the strike, and they left the meetings with loud huzzas that they were able to go back to work at the reduction—Oscar, hear). It is very gratifying that they got a knowledge of the situation, and it speaks wonders for these people that they were wise enough to accept it But their tune will come again, and I hope very soon— (applause). But it shows what benefits they are even now enjoying, for wages now are 25 per cent, higher even with the reduction of 30 per cent., than they were five years ago, so it shows what benefits they were enjoying—(hear, 'hear). When you come to think that emigration to some extent is stopped ; Ouch has been the welfare of the great bulk of this labouring population that we even have the tide of emigration in a measure flowing back to us ; but notwithstanding this ebb tide of immigration there has been no class of labour but what has been in full work, and with good pay. I suppose at no period was the prosperity of the working classes higher. When have they had greater opportunities of enjoying what are called' the good things of this life," than within the last seven years )(hear). Now there is to be, they say, legislation on-this question of capital and labour; but I think, when you look at it as I do, you will say the mere action of supply and demand will meet it all. If a man wants a thing, he must pay for it what it is worth, and if a man wants to sell a thing, he must sell it for what he can get— (applause).