STONEMASONS' STRIKE IN YORKSHIRE.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 301, 7 September 1860, Page 4

STONEMASONS' STRIKE IN YORKSHIRE.

The Odd Fellows of Shrewsbury have set a good example to other associations of working men, by amending one of their rules, to the effect that " no member shall be allowed a card (being a passport'for him to claim assistance in any district) who has lost his employment through engaging in a strike or turn-out for wages." The enforcement of this rule will, perhaps, teach a useful, if a painful lesson to some misguided men, who have permitted themselves to be deluded by the sophistical arguments, aud vigorous oratory of trade agitators. We wish that some of the Yorkshire associations would similarly exert themselves to warn their fellow-workmen against the ruinous consequences of a strike. We are truly sorry to see that the masons of Bradford and Halifax are now " standing out." In the former town the men have demanded a reduction of their hours of labour, from 57^ to 51^ hours per week. This exceeds even the nine hours movement, of which we hear so much in London. The masters offered an increase of a shilling a week in wages, but the offer was refused; and now we have the painful spectacle of about 400 skilled artisans, most of whom, we suppose, have families depending upon them, refusing work altogether rather than work more than 8| hours a day, and taking advantage of a time when several large works are in hand, whioh their employers are bound under penalties to fiuish by a certain time, to enforce their demands. The largest employers resist the demand; though some of the smaller masters are disposed to give in. A long contest will doubtless ensue; and the result may be safely predicted. The masters have capital, and can hold out. The.men have none, and sooner or later will give in. Other trades will he appealed to for support; and men laboring hard to support themselves and those belonging to them, will stint themselves of necessary comforts to support a body of men, able to work, with plenty of work ready to their hand, yet who object to work for more than 8| hours a day. The workhouses will be crowded with women and children, the relieving officers will be besieged by poor starved creatures, whose natural supporters feel it to be their duty to complain of an amount of labor which strong, energetic, willing men would look upon as light work indeed. There is always an amount of self-denial and consistency among meo on strike, which excites enough respect to make it difficult to speak as we feel we should; but we ask them in all friendship, is it manly thus to refuse a not immoderate amount of labor ? to profess a fear of work, which coming from strong working men is almost ridiculous, and quite contemptible ? Why, active lads will work longer, and take pleasure in their labor, with no injury to health and with plenty of time for recreation. Weak %omen make light of employment which taxes their energies for'more than the nine hours of which Yorkshire masons are afraid. . We hope sincerely that the old spirit of Englishmen is not declining; that the honest workman, proud of his strength and endurance, his activity and skill, is not degenerating . into an idler, glad of an excuse to avoid fair labor. Let it be remembered that increased wages were offered, and refused. Not more money, but less work, was demanded, and entire idleness, actual starvation, preferred to an amount of labor which thousands of workmen in this metropolis would treat as a trifling matter. We ask again, is this manly ? Good work is waiting to be done, town-halls, schools, mills to be built; good money is to be had for good work; and yet 400 Yorkshire masons prefer to idle about the streets, to " loaf," as the Americans say, at the doors of beer-shops and houses of call, or live on the alms of their fellow-workers, and believe that they are more independent and honest—more manly and respectable—than if they set to work to earn money for themselves. Some o! the smaller masters are willing to concede the point. But why ? Because, in all probability, delay in executing their contracts will be the ruin of them. If even the penalties are not pressed for, their small capital is sunk in the undertaking; and if the return is delayed, bankruptcy is the next step. Is it honest on tbe part of the men to place their employers in this position ? When will that elementary truth be understood that the interests of the employer and employed are identical ? Certainly not while men turn out, as at Halifax, because the ■" black sheep," or non-unionists, are employed; not while honest, fair labor is grudged, as at Bradford. We do entreat the men, in true kindness, to let their own common sense influence them instead of the false, pernicious theories of trade agitators, who themselves never lose, but rather gain, by longsustained strikes. Fear of work never yet made a successful man. Good, honest English " pluck,'l pride in the performance of honest hard work, is the finest characteristic of all morally brave men, whether they work with the head or the hand. Here are a few lines from a capital song by Charles Mackay, a good and true writer, which are worth reading :— - " Who lags for dread of daily work, And his appointed task would shirk, Commits a folly and a crime ; A soulless slave— A paltry knave— A clog upon the wheels of time. With work to do and store of health, The man's unworthy to' be free, Who will not give That he may live, His daily toil for daily fee. . . . Who toil as every man should toil, For fair reward, erect and free, TKese are the men— The best of men—. •; ' These are the men we mean to be." —Dispatch.