Page "Robert Applegarth" Paragraph 6

Under Applegarth's leadership, the ASCJ's membership increased from 1000 in 1862 to over 10, 000 in 1870, and accumulated funds of over £ 17, 000.

During the Royal Commission on Trade Unions ( 1867 ), Applegarth vigorously advocated the benefits of New Model Unionism to the committee, answering a total of 633 questions, and was generally regarded as the most impressive pro-trade union witness.

Applegarth campaigned for the pro-trade unionist minority report of the commission to be accepted by Gladstone's Liberal government, leading to the Trade Union Act of 1871.

In May of the same year he was offered a position on the Royal Commission on Contagious Diseases, which he took despite the protests of the ASCJ, leading him to resign from his position as general secretary.

At around this time he joined the Working Men's Committee for Promoting the Separation of Church and State along with Potter and George Howell.