Year: 1870

The last issue of The Iron Workers Journal, a
monthly English periodical in the interest OF
the trade, brings us a sketch of woman who
fills the old idea Of a wife-an idea which the
ladies have lately thrust so vehemently into
the background, though men are ObStinately
apt to remember that it was in the capacity OF
a help-meet only that her Maker mentioned
her before her creation to Adam. The woman
in question is the wife of John Kane, prac-
teal workman, Secretary of the National
Amalgamated Iron-W Workers, and Operative
Secretary to the North of England Board of
Cancellation and Arbitration. This man, who
is apparently endowed with dOgged will to
support great shrewdness and kindly good
sense, has made himself for twenty-eight years
peacemaker and medium between his fellow
workmen and their employers. The workmen
for long time knew no other means of OBJ
tanning their rights than by starvation strikes,
which ended as often in defeat as victory. De-
feat meant death, and victory meant perma-
nent enmity and desire for revenge between
the capitalist and laborer, which brought them
face to face like two chained dogs longing to
grapple at each others throats. The idea of
Boards of Cancellation and Arbitration occur
red to this man Kane, who suffered the usual
fate of refOrmers, and was branded for years
by both parties as traitor to each, turned
out of employment by the master and out of
the Trade Unions by the men. His wife saws |:
"There were strikes here and strikes there;
"misery and want on all sides where formerly
"were peace and plenty. This man emerged
from the quiet of his home only to try and
"teach his fellow wOrkmen q safer and better
"way to settle their disputes. There was not
zone proprietor of newspaper in this district
"who ever objected to open his columns to the
ISLANDERS heaped on his head. IcOuld not
" see why we had to be the scapegoats for the
NOrth.r


In spite of all this contumely and persecu-
ton, however, Kane persevered until he has
established General Boards of Arbitration for
the whole nation, and Subsidiary Boards for
the North of England and in Scotland. In all
this struggle of lifetime "a struggle for one
of the wisest and most Christian aims) his wife
has been his faithful coadjutor sustaining his
tagging courage, aiding him by her pen, and,
when the end was gained, assisting him in the
direction and management of the large bodies
over which he had supervision. "If there be
anything" says The Spectator, short of the
management of the affairs of the nation at
Large that demands real craftsmanship, it is
"the government of one of our large Trade
" Societies as it is carried on by their Secre-
:" "taries OF other permanent officers


A strike at the Biochairn works in last April
caused deadlock in the trade for about six
weeks. Great suffering followed. Mr.. Kane
submitted, on behalf of the men, seven propo-
sltions to the employers, which we quote for
the benefit of our own malcOntent workmen:


Isl The B0chairn men agree to resume work, and
the employers to withdraw the lock decree at


2d' The men at each work TO make out statement
In writing as to the nature and character Of their claims
and to submit the to their respective employers,
with each workman's name attached thereto.


81 That there shall be representative meeting OF
masters and men, consisting OF one workman and one
employer from each work. to meet in Glasgow, to
Investigate the points In dispute and far rs possible
by oonoiliatory means to settle the


"4th That both parties shall agree TO submit to an
independent referee any question which may be left un
decided by the meeting


9th That both parties shall pledge themselves to 40
cept the decision Of the referee final for specified
period Of time.


9th That during tho Investigation Of the dsputes now