ABSTRACT
Somuchwillenablethereadertounderstandthehopesandfears whichagitatedtheRochdaleFlannelWeavers'Committee,when theyappointedtheirdeputationtowaituponthemasters."Who shallgo1"Nosoonerwasthisquestionputthantheloudest oratorswerehushed.Criesof"Wewillneversubmit"-"Wewill seewhetherthemastersaretohaveittheirownwayforever,' etc.,etc.,etc.-wereatoncesilenced.Fiveminutesagoeverybody wasforward-nobodywasforwardnow.Asintheoldfable,all themiceagreedthatthecatoughttobebelled,butwhowastobell thecat1ThecollectivewisdomoftheParliamentofmicefound thataperplexingquestion.Hasthereaderseenapopularpolitical meetingwhensomegrandquestionofpartypowerhadtobe discussed1Howdefiantranthespeeches!howmilitantwasthe enthusiasm!Patriotismseemedtobeturningupitssleeves,and thecountryabouttobesavedthatnight.Ofasuddensome pmcticalfellow,whohasseenthatkindofthingbefore,suggests thatthedeliveranceofthecountrywillinvolvesomelittleaffairof subscriptions-andproposesatoncetocirculatealist.Thesudden descentofthepolice,noradischargeofarmsfromtheChelsea Pensioners,wouldnotproducesodecorousasilence,norsomiracul-
ous a satisfaction with things as they are, as this little step. An effect something like this is produced in a Trades' Committee, when the test question is put, "Who will go on the deputation 1" The men knew that they should not be di1·ectly dismissed from their employ, but indirectly their fate would probably be sealed. The first fault-the first accidental neglect of duty-would be the pretex of dismissal. Like the archbishop in "Gil Bias," who dismissed his critic-not on account of his candour ; his grace esteemed him for that-but he preferred a young man with a little more judgment. So the employer has no abstract objection to the workman seeking to better his condition-he rather applauds that kind of thing-he merely disputes the special method taken to accomplish it. The reader, therefore, understands why our Committee suddenly paused when a mouse was wanted to bell the cat. Some masters-indeed many masters-are as considerate, as self-sacrificing, as any workmen are, and they often incur risks and losses to keep their people in employ, which their people never know, and, in many cases, would not appreciate if they did. Many Trades' Unionists are ignorant, inconsiderate, and perversely antagonistic. It would be equally false to condemn all masters as to praise all men. But afte1 all allowances are made, the men have the worst of it. They make things bad for themselves and for their masters by their want of knowledge. If they do not form some kind of Trades' Union the31 cannot save their wages, and if they do form Unions they cannot save themselves. Industry in England is a chopping machine, and the poor man is always under the knife.
