58 POLITICAL ECONOMY 



and the number out of employment in each place, with the amount 

 of relief distributed from the funds of the union. The decisions 

 of the executive council and resolutions of branches are also 

 printed. A number of the circular or report issued by the 

 Amalgamated Joiners and Carpenters, taken at hazard, contains, 

 besides the above official matters, an account of the presentation 

 of a testimonial to a gentleman who had rendered assistance in 

 courts of arbitration ; a suggestion that technical education 

 might prove one of the benefits of trade-unions, with a resolu- 

 tion of the executive council in support of the suggestion ; 

 a report of a speech by Mr. Grenfell, M.P., on trade-unions, 

 urging the stock doctrines of political economy ; a portion of a 

 paper on trade societies and co-operative production, by Mr. 

 Ludlow ; some short account of co-operation in America ; re- 

 ports of the proceedings at branch anniversaries, with the 

 accompaniments of loyal toasts, evergreens, and allegorical de- 

 signs, such as Justice trampling outrage under foot, and holding 

 a balance with a scale on which the word ' Arbitration ' is 

 inscribed. Next comes a letter from the operative bricklayers 

 of Burslem, who mean well, though the style of their secretary 

 is cloudy. He says of trade-unions : 



Although they may in some instances have exceeded the bounds 

 of discretion, and perhaps acted tyrannically, yet, as a body of men, 

 they must execrate the conduct of such officials as those of Sheffield 

 and Manchester, believing that education (compulsory or otherwise) 

 would have prevented such a state of things as witness those trades 

 where the greatest amount of it exists. 



Inarticulate this, but good. The report concludes with an open 

 column, containing letters from their members. One letter sug- 

 gests a plan for a co-operative society ; one advocates a reform 

 in the method of voting ; and one calls for a trade directory. 

 We are tempted to give this last letter in extenso. The style of 

 the joiner differs considerably from that of the bricklayer. 



BROTHER MEMBERS, At a time when trade is generally in a 

 very depressed state throughout the country, it may not altogether 

 be out of place to consider whether we cannot afford some additional 

 facilities to those of our members who are unfortunately compelled 

 to search for employment. 



