Leeds Mercury – Monday 17 April 1893
Labour Demonstration At Mexborough
The Glass Trade Dispute
A demonstration took place on Saturday under the auspices of the Mexborough and District Federated Trades Council. About 5,000 persons took part in the proceedings, whose object was to express sympathy with and promise support of the glass-blowers and the Hull dock labourers. There was a procession, headed by bands and banners, and the Manvers Main, Denaby Main, Wath Main, and Thrybergh Hall miners, as well as the glass-blowers and potters of the district, took part in it.
At night a mass meeting was held, presided over by Mr. J. J. Baker, president of the council. Amongst the speakers was Mr. A. Greenwood, the secretary of the Glass-blowers’ Society. He said the “silver lining” could at last be seen to the cloud hanging over that trade, and he was hoping that to-day would see a settlement of the dispute. If not, he was determined to go on in the interests of the men, who were as firm as ever, and he would even take trips to America and to France and Germany to get the needful funds for the families of the men out of work. He said the blame rested solely on the shoulders of the masters, who ought to be better organised with a view to getting a proper return for their outlay.
Mr. W. Parrott, of Barnsley (Yorkshire Miners), said that the principal manufacturers were sick and tired of the dispute, and intended to resume work at once.
Mr. A. Chappell, President of the Barnsley Trades Council; Mr. H. Sanders, of Rotherham, secretary of the National Stove-grate Workers; Councillor C. Hobson, President of the Sheffield Trades Council; Mr. A. F. Bedford (Barnsley), and others also addressed the meeting.