Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/57

 Honour where honour is due. There has never been a more courageous and dignified defence of the strike weapon than that written by Mr. Evans. The difficulty lay in moulding the opinion of his: scattered and mixed membership. The proposal was to levy for a special strike fund, and it materially affected the character of the society. "If levied," said Mr. Evans, "it must be obligatory on each and everyone." It was proposed, as an inducement to halting members, to set aside any sum above £5,000 for pension benefits. The £5,000 strike fund was very small, but it would represent a more vigorous policy in the future, to fix a fair standard day's work of eight hours for every man, six days weekly, and Sunday work to count as overtime. The proposal, however, did not commend itself to members, and "The Times" rejoiced that "The A.S.R.S. will have nothing to do with strikes in any case." They were merely repeating the chairman of the Liverpool Conference in 1878. What was it caused the Committee to send out a special circular on May 21st of 1880, which said:—

"'The Executive of the A.S.R.S. take this opportunity of assuring the members and railwaymen generally that after the annual meeting in October the A.S, will secure for them every possible protection that other societies profess to be provided for, and with greater advantage to them.'"

What caused it? It was the birth of the Associated, and the circular was the first note of that relentless opposition so long continued. By November of 1879 it was reported: "The G.W, drivers are forming a contingency fund, and there are signs that the drivers on other lines would gladly see some national fund established which would give to the men material as well as moral force in contention with the companies." The enginemen and firemen of the Midland district held a meeting on November 9th, 1879, and arrived at a determination to form a national union. There was discussion in several centres of a National Society for Locomotive Enginemen and Firemen, and, apprehensive of what actually happened, the E.C. of the A.S.R.S. "Resolved that a circular be