Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 02 March 1903

The Denaby Main Struggle

Situation More Perplexing
Interesting Correspondence
Company’s Pointed Letter

The situation of affairs at Denaby and Cadeby Main becomes more and more perplexing, and it is absolutely impossible for the general public to understand the exact position. That there is a serious conflict raging between the chief officials of the Miners’ Association at Barnsley and the local agitators grows more evident, and what the ultimate end will be is the one topic of discussion in the district.

It had been freely rumoured that important negotiations had been on the move for bringing about a settlement of the unfortunate and protracted dispute, and we are enabled to publish the following correspondence:—

Copy Telegram

Feb. 23rd, 1903.
To Chambers, Conisbrough, Rotherham.
Will you meet a deputation from our Council meeting, along with myself and Mr. Wadesworth, with a view to arranging for the men to resume work on old terms on an early date? Please wire reply.
—Pickard, Barnsley.

Copy Telegram

Feb. 24th.
To Pickard, Union Offices, Barnsley.
Am submitting proposal to my Board.
—Chambers.

Copy Telegram

Feb. 26th, 1903.
To Chambers, Conisbrough, Rotherham.
Have been waiting here since I received your telegram expecting an answer in reply to my telegram. Please be good enough to let me know if your Board have agreed to meet deputation or not.
—Pickard, Barnsley.

Copy Telegram

Feb. 26th, 1903.
To Pickard, Union Offices, Barnsley.
Am writing per this post.
—Chambers.

Copy Letter

Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries (Limited)
Denaby Main, Feb. 25, 1903.

Dear Sir,—I have submitted the inquiry contained in your telegram of the 24th to my Board, and in reply I am instructed to inform you that as the pits are open, and the company are signing on quite as fast as the company can find work for them, there is no reason for meeting any deputation.

My company hope to be able to find work for a considerable portion of our late workmen if they apply, but it must be definitely understood that there are a number of them who will not be re-engaged. I refer to those who have avowedly been doing their utmost to injure and destroy the mines by preventing men from working and from keeping the roads and ventilating furnaces clear.

And, moreover, it would be impossible to again employ those who have abused and assaulted the men now working, many of whom have stood loyally by the company since the commencement of the strike, as the company are determined to stand loyally by them now.
—I am, yours truly,
W. H. Chambers.

Reply

Miners’ Offices, Barnsley, Feb. 27, 1903.

Dear Sir,—I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter bearing date of the 25th, but it did not reach me until the 27th, and which you wired me on the 26th to say you were going to send by that post, but which only reached me this morning.

I can only say I am sorry at the tone of your letter and the contents generally. I only wish to remind you I acted on the advice of Mr. Justice Kennedy and Lord Justice Vaughan Williams in trying to bring about a resumption of work. That has been my endeavour from the day that the Justices advised the firm to resume work, and come to some arrangement.
—I am, yours truly,
Ben Pickard.

Another mass meeting of the men was held at Conisbrough yesterday morning, at which, it is understood, the foregoing correspondence was read. Members of the Press were again excluded, but this did not prevent the array of speakers from making unwarrantable attacks on the newspapers.

A resolution was moved by one of the local officials for the purpose of testing the meeting to the effect that they should all resume work, but although this met with a seconder it was severely ridiculed, and eventually, amid misplaced enthusiasm, the stereotyped resolution to “keep calm” and “play on” was passed.

It is stated that a movement is on foot for the return of the “nipsey money.” The men will again demonstrate to-day.