Mexborough and Swinton Times March 6, 1915
After the war
Conisborough workers attitude
The annual meeting. Of the Conisborough branch of the Workers Union was held in the Eagle and Child Hotel, Conisborough, on Saturday evening.
The speechmaking was preceded by a tea at which about 50 sat down to a substantial repast.
Mr. Geo. Hedworth presided and he was supported by councillor G. Tap of Manchester, and Councillor L. Kerry of Braithwell.
The chairman said that he rather regretted the small attendance, but it must be taken, into consideration that since the war broke out fully 80 members of their union had joined his Majesty’s forces. According to the Sec’s report in December 1913, the union had a membership of 281 in December 1914 and membership of 547, and with a large membership as that one could not feel gratified at the number present at that gathering. So far the war had claimed one victim from their branch and the thought that he would be expressing the sentiments of the whole of the members present he said he sincerely hope that the rest of their comrade would return unscathed from the campaign. Referring to their position after the war the speaker stated that there would then be considerable amount of work for them to do. Their chief duty would be the renewal of their war against capitalism – a war that would be fought to the bitter end, and it be held every member present to return its interest in the union, so as to keep them use to full pitch though in the future.
“Antagonism inevitable”
Mr Geo Titt, City Councillor, Manchester, then adjust the gathering. He stated that it was six or seven years since last he visited their branch, and at the same time the membership was considerably smaller than it was at the present time he was exceptionally pleased to hear of the progress of their branch during the last few years. But he thought that the grey unrest in the country during the last 34 years had been in a large measure responsible for a great deal of the progress during that time.
There was a lot of people who feared the great unrest, but the speaker said he could only see good accruing from it. Their union had always held and championed the petitions of the “Cinderellas” of the working classes, namely, the lowest paid, and they always would do.
Referring to the position of the skilled workmen, Councillor Titt went on to say that progress made by machinery had been so rapid of late that the skilled workmen had seized to exist as he did a few years ago. At the advancement of machinery went on the unskilled workman would be in a position to demand the same wage as the skilled workman. T hat was altogether and unfair state of affairs, and it should be the work of that union to take a hand in the matter and to put the skilled workers and unskilled worker on a fair basis. Speaking of the positions of the worker and the master the speaker said that underlying all outside appearances there must always be a spirit of antagonism between the employer and the employed. The employer was out to make profit and in second place in order to make that profit he was trying to buy his labour as cheaply as possible. On the other hand, the worker must sell his labour as dearly as he could. The question was; “How would the worker sell his labour to the best advantage to himself and his master.” A worker must demand a wage sufficient for him to obtain without skinting himself in any way, the necessaries of life.
After The War.
Continuing the speaker said that at present the country was passing through a great crisis and while that crisis existed there workers must give the country their every support. When that was finished the workers would engage in a war which, though not a bloody war like the present, would be equally serious – a war against the capitalists of the country, and that way would be permanent ones so long as the present attitude of the capitalists was the working classes was maintained.
There would always be industrial unrest until the employer’s realised that the workers must have higher wages so as to cope with their rapidly increasing prices of foodstuffs and general necessaries of life. After every war there was always a period of “slump” and the slumping trade would inevitably follow the present war. It had always been a police of the capitalist class to take advantage of a period of bad trade and to take away what concessions they had obtained during the period of good trade, and so the same war would have to be fought.
Their employers would experience a period of heavy loss in trade and increased duration, and in other ways the money would be taken out of their pocket, and they would naturally try to up themselves for increased tax in trying to get more work for less wage than the worker was getting at the present time.
In conclusion, Councillor Titt said the future of the workers was fraught with grave danger, and the worker must so consolidate themselves and get themselves up perfectly organised so as to be in the position to reject any proposals of the employers which would be unsatisfactory and perhaps disastrous to the cause of the workers (Applause).