Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 20 March 1903
The Denaby & Cadeby Dispute
The “Hour Glass” Running Down
Enthusiasm On The Wane
Strikers’ Struggle Abortive
Old Hands Going Back To Work
A meeting of the strikers was held in a field between the bridges near the Denaby colliery last Friday morning, when there was a large attendance. Mr. F. Croft presided, and was supported by the usual members of the committees. A large number of the miner’s wives were also in attendance, and took a lively interest in the proceedings, and when two resolutions to stand firm were submitted, they, along with their assistants, voted, so it is evident as yet, they, at any rate, do not agree with any unconditional surrender.
During the progress of the meeting a miner chanced on an apology from a fellow-miner whom, he alleged, had insulted him, and a rather heated discussion was proceeding, when the chairman intervened. Mr. Croft said that seeing what had happened during the last few days, when the bellman announced the meeting, they came no doubt curious as to what was the matter, and the majority of the men were led to believe that a settlement had been arrived at, but it was otherwise, so far as he could see, they were no nearer to a settlement than they were the day the men were stopped. His opinion was still the same as it was the day they stopped, and there was only one thing which troubled him, and that was with regard to the old hands who were creeping back to work. (A voice: “Shame on ’em.”)
If some of their old hands had refrained here they would probably have lasted through the summer, but they were far from used “giving up” for what they were, after all, only their rights. (Hear, hear.) The Central Committee were determined that only they could stick together, they would yet be able to get them £1 a week, out of what they were now getting. A few men had broken away, and had signed on with those who had come from a distance. “Shame upon them.” No class of men had ever been better supported than they at Denaby and Cadeby had been, and there were some amongst them who would remember that in the 1885 strike they had less money during the whole 24 weeks than they had for the week alone, so they thought they had little cause to grumble.
That was the manner in which they were being treated by their fellow-men, and yet when they were at work at Denaby and Cadeby they assisted to pay their levies towards the support of the men who were then on strike at other collieries. That was a fact, and yet those men were loyal by them, and were determined to support them at Denaby and Cadeby to enable them to fight their battle to the end.
They would remember the dispute at the Allwork pits over the numbering question. On that occasion they tried to get a compulsory levy at Denaby, and failed, and now those at Allwork said if they only carried it out they would pay their levy in support of the Denaby and Cadeby men. And yet some of them (the strikers) said the “nipsey” money was as good as any they would go and earn. (Voices: “Shame on ’em.”)
Some had already signed on, and amongst them was the late treasurer of the checkweigh fund, whom the men had assisted out of difficulty, and who was now returning thanks for their kindness. On the previous Monday some men had had the courage to get on the platform and voice their conscience with a proposal to return to work, and he gave those men every credit for their straightforwardness. It was better by far to do that than to be talking round street corners and in public-houses.
If any of those men who were so disposed would get up and voice their feelings there like that, he would do away with the statement that Croft, Hirst, Nolan, and party have told us to play on and keep calm. He had been told that several men intended to sign on after they had received their “nipsey” money that day, but if that were so, he hoped they would have the principle to leave their “nipsey” money in support of the women and children of those men who were determined to stand. (Hear, hear.)
He wanted to clear a certain matter up with regard to the tenancy of some property belonging to Mrs. Pettit, of Mexborough. Mrs. Pettit’s agent had given the tenant, who was a miner on strike with them, notice to quit. He had consulted Mrs. Pettit on the matter, and she had nearly burst into tears when she heard the facts of the case, and she said, “Tell your men that those people shall not leave my property until I order them to do so.” (Hear, hear.)
Any man present who wished to move a resolution to return to work could have the opportunity after the last speaker had finished, and he hoped every man present would give a true statement of his feelings. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. P. Humphries said he would like to have a word with some of those Cadeby men who had good jobs and who were not going to lose their jobs for Phil Humphries, Harry Humphries, Croft, Nolan, or anybody else. He wanted to tell them that those good jobs were taken up. Mr. G. H. Hirst, in the course of his remarks, said a few old hands were signing on with “those poor deceived people that were coming.”
At the invitation of some of the speakers at the last meeting three men between them proposed a resolution to return to work, and they had the pluck to put up their hands in support. They had seen that meeting who did not put up their hands to vote either way for or against, and they found out that there were bad times ahead for them, with no intention of returning to work, but the management had refused to sign them on.
He had two mates who had been refused, and he thought the best thing they could do was that when they went for their “nipsey” money that day they should refuse them. (Hear, hear and applause.) If there was any man in the company who wished to return to work, let him have the courage to vote to that effect, and they would then know how they were dealing.
People were going to him asking him to put an end to the strike, but he said he was prepared to end the strike when the men were. (Hear, hear.) From a statement that had reached him they found out that some alterations were being made at the Denaby pit, and therefore, if men could not get back to work there they were going to Cadeby and try to get into one of those good places.
A miner had stated to him that he got from 8s. 6d. per day upwards. As far as he was concerned, he was not going to hoodwink anybody. He had a good job before the strike, but he was not going back until they all went. (Hear, hear.) He hoped every man would vote conscientiously as to whether or not they should go back to work, and not hoodwink the committee as they had been hoodwinked. (Hear, hear.)
A miner proposed, and it was seconded, that “Seeing we are fighting our own society, the owners, and the colliery company, we make a general surrender.” An amendment from scores of men to “Stand firm” was also proposed. Seven voted for the resolution to return to work and the rest to “Stand firm.”