Another Meeting Of The Men

A further meeting of the strikers was held on Monday adjoining the Station Hotel, Conisbrough. Mr. Phil Humphries presided, supported by Mr. F. Croft, Mr. G. H. Hirst, Mr. H. Humphries, and others.

The chairman said they had met to see how many of their flock had left and returned to work, and he was surprised at men running away when they were getting a matter of 14s. a week. It was the Cadeby men that were beating them with their “good ’uns.” But the reason of a man having a good job was no reason for breaking away. He had a good job when the strike broke out, but he was steadily determined to stand by his fellow men until the end. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. F. Croft said they would understand the position he was in that morning, and as he had said in the committee room, he would like to empty himself, but under the circumstances he was under a certain amount of restriction. He said shame upon the men who had left them. It was not because they had not been supported. (A voice: “They have their own man.”)

The miners of Yorkshire had stood loyally by them without a murmur, and he was only sorry to say a few of their number were betraying the confidence their fellow miners were reposing in them. He was only sorry to say they were not fighting one party alone, but they had three parties to fight.

The chairman had cried shame upon those Cadeby men who had gone back to work, but he said “Shame upon those Denaby men who had gone to work at Cadeby.” (Hear, hear.) He was thankful they had heeded his advice, and had not interfered with anyone, and thus they had kept out of the hands of the police, and if they waited for Fred Croft to tell them to resume work on the old system they would not work just yet. (Hear, hear.)

He had the same opinion that day as on the day they decided in that croft to put down the pits. When they were in the King’s Court nothing was said about the bag-dirt and stoppages; it was simply the 10 per cent., and it appeared that the truth was not to stand, but lies. But on the morrow he hoped the truth would come forward, and he would then assuredly be amongst them again very soon.

He hoped they would above all look after the women and children. (Hear, hear.) As to their future action, he asked them to use their own judgment, and those who were disposed to go back to work he hoped they would have the courage to vote so.

Mr. H. Humphries next addressed the meeting, urging the men to consider their position. They knew their position when they knew for a fact that men were coming from all parts of the country to work at the pits, but it was rather curious that some of these strangers were being sent up the “drift” district at the Denaby pits, where the bag-dirt was so prominent, but they were being placed in those parts of the pits where the coal was easiest to get.

They had policemen at the stations who watched the arrival of every train and every man who arrived, who appeared to be a workman, they were “at him” to take him over to sign. But he could not see why they should be upset because a few of the old hands were breaking away, and he was of the same opinion as his colleagues, and if they waited for him to advise them to resume work they would not go to work just yet.

He hoped they would not be led by the nose by any man, and if they desired to return to work he hoped they would say so. (Hear, hear)

Mr. G. H. Hirst said he had had it brought to his notice that morning that nobody left in the district feared meetings. (A voice: “They haven’t all gone.”)

So far as the situation was concerned he thought it was as it was on the 28th June, and it had never been brought to his knowledge that any of their grievances had been remedied, and before ever they entertained any idea of resuming work they ought to be allowed the opportunity of an interview with Mr. Chambers on those grievances. (Hear, hear.)

Some people kept saying they ought to return to work, and some had gone to work on June 28th, but matters, the men, got a piece of business, and until they told him to drop it he never would, and he thought he had done his duty to those who employed him. If his employers thought it to return to work he was prepared to return with them, and again be their workman; that is, if the colliery company would allow him on their premises.

But men kept coming to their meetings and saying their grievances had not been remedied, and yet when they went away from the meeting they said, “What does thou think about the situation now? Ah think we ought to go back to work.”

At the meeting they had had on Friday there were some such men present, and when asked if they intended to go back to work they answered in the negative, yet directly they got their “nipsey” money they went to sign on. (A voice: “Shame on ’em.”)

He earnestly hoped that every man would vote conscientiously—not to vote to stand firm if they thought they ought to return to work—and if they thought they ought to return to work he hoped they would have the courage to say so, and whatever the resolution was he was prepared to abide by it. (Hear, hear.)

A resolution to stand firm was unanimously agreed upon.