an autobiography-第71章
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machine tools。 To do this required little exertion of muscular force； but only observant attention。 The machine tools did all the working （for the thinking had been embodied in them beforehand）； and they turned out all manner of geometrical forms with the utmost correctness。 This sort of training educated the faculties of the lads； and trained their ideas to the perception of exactness of form； at the same time that it gave them an intimate acquaintance with the nature of the materials employed in mechanical structures。 The rapidity with which they thus acquired the efficiency of thoroughly practical mechanics was surprising。
As the lads grew in strength they were promoted to the higher classes of work。 We gave to the foreman of each department the right to recommend to a special rise of wages any lad who showed an extra intelligent earnestness and assiduity in superintending his machine。 This produced an active spirit of emulation； which not only advanced their efficiency but relieved the foreman from a source of irritation in the discharge of his duties。 I have already referred to the subject in a former portion of this narrative； but it cannot be too strongly urged upon the attention of proprietors of mechanical works。 Besides making first…rate workmen； this method prevents the lads from getting into habits of workshop dishonesty； i。e。 〃skulking；〃 and other annoyances。
My system of non…binding of apprentices was the 〃perfect cure；〃 if I may so speak。 All that existed between us was mutual satisfaction with each other； and that alone proved from first to last in every respect a perfect bond。
So completely were the workmen in attendance on self…acting machines relieved from the necessity of labour； that many of the employers； to keep the men from falling asleep； allowed them to attend to other machines within their powers of superintendence。 This kept them fully awake。 The workmen cheerfully acquiesced in this arrangement； as a relief from tedium； and especially when a shilling extra was added to their wages for each additional machine。 All went well for a time； for men as well as masters。 But now came the difficulty。 The system was opposed to the rules of the Trades' Union。 Their committee held that setting one man to superintend more than one machine was keeping out of employment some other man who ought to be employed。 And yet； at the time that the objection was made； such persons were not to be had。 The increased demand for skilled labour had employed every spare workman。
Nevertheless the system； in the eyes of the Union； 〃must be put down。〃 The demand was made that every machine must have a Union man to superintend it； and that he must be paid the full Union regulation wages。 All labourers and lads were to be discharged； and Union men employed in their places。 As the times were good； and the workshops were full of orders； it was thought by the Union that the time had come to put the matter to the test。 The campaign was opened by the organisation of a powerful body； entitled 〃The Amalgamated Society of Mechanical Engineers。〃 It included every class of workmen employed in the tradeironfounders； turners； fitters； erectors； pattern…makers； and such like。 All were invited to make common cause against the employers。
In order to make a conspicuous demonstration of their power； the Council of the Union first attacked the extensive firm of Platt Brothers； Oldham。 The Council sent them a mandate to discharge all their labourers or other 〃illegal hands〃 from their worksall who were employed in superintending their vast assortment of machinery and to fill their places with 〃legal mechanics〃 at the then regulation wages。 The plan of the Union was to attack the employers one by one to call out the hands of one particular workshop until the employers were subdued and obeyed the commands of the Union； and then to attack another employer in the same way。 The sagacity of this policy very much resembled that of the ostrich； which hides its head in hole and thinks it is concealed。 The employers knew the drift of the policy； and took steps to circumvent it。
A mutual defence association was formed； and a decree was issued that； unless the demand of the Council against Platt's factory was withdrawn by a certain day； every employer would at once close his concern。 The Union； nevertheless； stuck to their gunsbut only for a time。 A strike took place。 The works of some of the most extensive employers of labour were closed。 Everything was paralysed for a time； the men went about with their hands in their pockets； while the women and children at home were wanting food。 After a few weeks the funds of the Amalgamated Society became so reduced that the men gradually retired from the contest。 Meanwhile； such concerns as contrived to keep their workmen in full employmentof whom we were one made use of the occasion to act on the healthy system of what I have termed 〃Free trade in ability。〃 We added； so far as we could； to the number of intelligent labourers； advanced them to the places which the Unionist workmen had left at the order of their Council； and thus kept our men on full wages until the strike was over。 This was the last contest I had with Trades' Unions。 One of the results was that I largely increased the number of self…acting machines； and gave a still greater amount of employment to my unbound apprentices。 I placed myself in an almost impregnable position； and showed that I could conduct my business with full activity and increasing prosperity； and at the same time maintain good…feeling between employed and employer。
Another important point was this；that I always took care to make my foremen comfortable； and consequently loyal。 A great part of a man's success in business consists in his knowledge of character。 It is not so much what he himself does； as what he knows his heads of departments can do。 He must know them intimately； take cognisance of the leading points of their character； pick and choose from them； and set them to the work which they can most satisfactorily superintend。 Edward Tootal； of Manchester； said to me long before； 〃Never give your men cause to look over the hedge。〃 He meant that I should never give them any reason for looking for work elsewhere。 It was a wise saying； and I long remembered it。 I always endeavoured to make my men and foremen as satisfied as possible with their work； as well as with their remuneration。
I never had any cause to regret that I had struck out an independent course in managing the Bridgewater Foundry。 The works were always busy。 A cheerful sort of contentment and activity pervaded the entire establishment。 Our order…book continued to be filled with the most satisfactory class of entries。 The railway trucks in the yard； and the canal barges at the wharf； presented a busy scene； showing the influx of raw material and the output of finished work。 This happy state of affairs went on in its regular course without any special incident worthy of being mentioned。 The full and steady influx of prosperity that had been the result of many years of interesting toil and cheerful exertion； had caused the place to assume the aspect of a smoothly working self…acting machine。
Being blessed with a sound constitution； I was enabled to perform all my duties with hearty active good…will。 And as I had occasional journeys to make in connection with our affairs and interests； these formed a very interesting variety in the ordinary course of my daily work。 The intimate and friendly intercourse which I was so fortunate as to cultivate with the heads of the principal engineering firms of my time； kept me well posted up in all that was new and advanced in the way of improvements in mechanical processes。 I had at the same time many pleasant opportunities of making suggestions as to further improvements； some of which took root and yielded results of no small importance。 These visits to my friends were always acceptable； if I might judge from the hearty tone of welcome with which I was generally received。
I do not know what may be the case in other classes of businesses or professions； but as regards engineer mechanists and metal workers generally； there is an
