Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 31 October 1902
Denaby and Cadeby Strike
Resolution to Approach the Management
Storming Meeting of the Men
The Committee Criticised
After being without a meeting for six weeks the men affected by the strike at the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries were called together to transact Association business, and to hear the views of the strike committee on the dispute, the stoppage resulting from which has now extended to the 18th week.
The proceedings at times were of a stormy character, and there were several exciting incidents. The meeting was held in the large club room attached to the station Hotel, Conisbrough, and the place was packed to the doors, they are also being a few were unable to obtain admission.
Mr Phil Humphreys, president of the Cadeby branch of the Yorkshire miners Association, occupied the chair, and was supported by members of the joint committee. Immediately upon the Chairman declared the meeting home a man at the back of the room called out: “I move that we go outside.” – The proposition was seconded.
The Chairman: The meeting has been called in here, and it will have to be in here. It has been specially called a near full financial members.
Here in the manner called out: “I shall move that we hold the meeting here.”
Another Miner said the Denaby men ought to meet at their end of the Cadeby men at theirs.
Mr F Croft (the chairman of the Denaby branch) we are not going to be divided. We came out together and we ought to go in together. (Loud applause.) You are not going to rule this meeting. We are going to prove ourselves in every description, and if the men say we go outside we go; but if they say we stop, we stop in.
Mr G Jones: I’m not going to be led by the nose.
Mr G H Hirst, the secretary of the Cadeby branch, rose to make an explanation. He said the meeting was called for one specific reason, and that was to transact business connected with the society, which ought not to be transacted outside. In my opinion I think we ought all this meeting in this room, and anything they may be in any man’s mind don’t let us go and fall out over it, but let us discuss the question in an amicable manner. (Applause).
The Chairman: continuing his opening remarks, said he was sorry to say they had had to break the resolution passed last meeting that they would not call another joint meeting until “this man down here” sent for them, but there were some grievances which were not the fault of the committee and with which they are not been able to deal with, and they had been forced to call a meeting. He like every man to keep quiet, and if any man in the audience wanted to get up and speak they will give him a hearing, and every man that wanted to speak let him speak to all the meeting, and not to his neighbours just around him.
Mr G Smith, the secretary of the Denaby branch, then read the minutes of the last meeting of the executive of the society at Barnsley.
Mr G H Hirst called attention to minute 21, which stated that according to the rules of the Association strike, and lockout pay could not be paid to men who were ill. He pointed out that there was no rule which said they should not be paid.
The meeting unanimously adopted a resolution instructing the secretary of the two branches to write to the” of the Association, with a view to having this matter placed on the agenda for the next Council meeting for consideration.
Mr F Croft then addressed the meeting. He said he was pleased to meet the men, through having a larger banking account. (Laughter.) He was away from home last week end on important business, and when he got a newspaper on Monday morning the first thing he saw was the remarks of Mr Gichard, solicitor to the colliery company made at Doncaster Police Court. The statements were false. The first thing Mr Gichard said was that he had opened a shop, which was in a flourishing condition. (Laughter.) He had never opened a shop in his life. When he was living she was selling a bit of spice or anything like that. Before he came out that morning he asked how much she had taken in the last two days and she said “five pence halfpenny.” That was the shop which was in a flourishing condition. (Laughter.) Three different deputies have been to inspect the window, and the remark they made was that it was not worth mentioning there.
Mr Gichard also said a very peculiar thing, which was entirely false. With regard to Spain because she to there being a shop, that was true; anybody could go and see it. They could another appoint another deputation go and see it if they chose. But with regard to the other statement by Mr Gichard, he could prove to them that he had never, within the last 18 months, put a halfpenny in the bank. Two or three years ago, if you had a shilling or 2 to spare he took care of it, which was the duty of every working man to do when he was working. If they could only say two or three shillings a week he would do good at such times as those. But 18 months ago he had a few shillings in the Post Office, and a few in the Barnsley Co-operative Society, but he was sorry to say – and he could prove it – that he had to draw from the Barnsley Co-op, and he could show it. If they went to the copy society will tell them what he had drawn out since the strike commenced.
Continuing, Mr Croft said: This kind of thing is not very nice, but you need not wonder at it and we have rats amongst us. These rats are crawling about, and they run into a hole when the dog comes. (Hear, hear, and applause.) Why? Because they are frightened. I can face any man on God’s earth with regard to the banking account, the shop and the struggle. He added that he had met the committee and discuss the things. He wanted to contradict it in the press, but was advised to wait a day or two, but if he was spared until Thursday he would send a contradiction of Mr Gichard’s statement to all the world. The committee had passed a resolution that he was to go on with the case to the bitter end. (Applause.) He knew what they had to contend with. If they would be men and never mind what was said about him on the committee, those kind of things would not go on. He could face any man in regard to Denaby and Cadeby on any point whatever. He and his colleagues had tried to do their best for the men on every point. He wanted the meeting to pass a resolution to back him out, and that will show to the world that he was not guilty. He could prove to the world that everything that Mr Gichard said was a confounded life. He had told them before that he would be the first Monday will come to for the £6. After he left home on Saturday they came for the furniture or the money which they were going to have, but they had none. (Applause.)
During the last few weeks there have been “An Old Butty Man” writing to the papers. He was in that room. (Laughter stop) they had no doubt seen the contradiction to “An Old Butty Man” by “A Miner.” As soon as “An Old Butty Man” would put his name to his letter “A Miner” would sign his name. Newspaper correspondents never did any good in a strike. At Mexborough the shopkeeper said to him, “Croft, Keep Calm!” (Laughter.)
Well up to that date and ever been the best thing that had been done. If they could hold out until the end of the year he had not the least doubt that the strike pay would be 14 shillings a week instead of 9s.
It was said, in a letter to the “Mexborough Times” that Mr Chambers and never been approached in the right manner. He contradicted that. As he had explained many and many a time, then asked Mr Chambers before they entered upon the struggle to consider their grievances. On 12 November, two years ago, in Bank of Mr Chambers, and told him they had not come to pressing, but would allow him a week or two or a month to consider; when he turned round and said, “I shall not consider anything,” what were they to do? They had done it. (A voice: “We have done what we ought to do.”) Yes, and let them stand like the brave, with a face to the fall. (Applause.)
The man that said they had never approached Mr Chambers in the way they ought to have done was telling a lie. (A voice: who is “An Old Butty Man?) He did not want them to go away from the meeting and say they did not want a settlement. They did want to settlement, but never any more the same as they came out. (A voice: You have been beaten twice; you won’t let them beat you this time). Let them fight it to the end. (Applause.) He wanted them, if they thought they ought to do, to pass a resolution asking Mr Chambers to again meet a deputation. He thought they ought to do, ensure the public; it would do everyone of them good. (A voice: I will make a proposition that we seek out to the New Year.) (Loud applause.) The public were crying out both to aim and Nolan. Try once more and then they would see what sort of a gentleman he was. (A voice: We are not trying out.)
There was a rat or two running about, and it will shock to these rats that they were doing what was honest and fair to the world and to the men. It would do no harm, but good. Treats people in Mexborough said quote Try once more, and then we shall be perfectly satisfied. If you want me you in a fair way then we will support you better than we have in the past.”
Proceeding Mr Croft assured the men that nothing will be done in the way of a settlement without bringing it before the men.
A resolution was moved and seconded from the audience, that the men support Mr Croft in the matter of the allegations made by Mr Gichard.
Mr W M Berry (who stood near the platform): I move an amendment that there is no resolution put at this meeting until every man has had a chance to speak, and that it be put at the latter end. We can have the resolutions one by one.
The remark was received with loud and continue booing, and someone said, “Chuck him through the window.”
The Chairman: Before we put that, this man worked at Manvers Main last.
Again there was interruption, and booing, followed by cries of “Order, order!”
Mr Nolan: With regard to this gentleman in the corner – – –
A voice: “Send him out”; follow by uproar and interruption, the chairman calling out, “Order! Please give order.”
Mr J Nolan: This man worked black sheep when we came out.
A Voice: “Out with him, and renewed cries of “order! order! order!
Mr Nolan: I have something more to tell you about him yet if you will only wait. This man left Denaby and Cadeby, went to work at Manvers, and he has come back, and he is on our funds. As he any rights to be on? (Cries of No, No) Well he ought to go outside. (Renewed booing, and a cry of “Get Out.”)
Mr Cross said the man had had to go away from members.
The Chairman: I ask you to leave the room.
Mr Croft: Get outside.
Mr Berry again endeavoured to speak, but his remarks could not be heard above the instruction.
Mr Nolan: Go before they send you out. Go on lad.
The Chairman: Allow this man to go through.
Mr Berry: Will you allow me to say one word. (Renewed booing).
The audience then divided, making a passage from Mr Berry, who had continue perfectly cool and collected, to make his way to the door, which he did amid some noise.
The Chairman: There’s resolution moved and seconded that we spoke Croft in his case. Is there any amendment?
The resolution was unanimously adopted.
A resolution was then moved and seconded that the two secondaries be asked to write to Mr Chambers, requesting an interview.
Mr Ben Gething said he wished to move an amendment. Seeing that the public were complaining about the present committee, and the manager would not meet a deputation from the present committee – “A voice: “Will he see anybody else,” and renewed interruption.)
The Chairman: Give every man a proper hearing.
Mr Ben Gething: it is nothing to be awkward at. I move that we write to him asking him if he will meet an independent deputation from the men, to discuss the point, and see what they can get outside out of him, and the two met the men and explain to them. (A voice: We are not having that)
The amendment was seconded, and both amendment and resolution were put to the meeting, but only a few hands were held up for the amendment, and the resolution was carried by a very large majority.
Mr Croft: I thank you for passing that resolution. It will do you three times more good than anything that has been done since you have been out. If Mr Chambers won’t meet us tomorrow morning what I wish you then? Let the case stand until he will meet us? (Cries of “Yes.”) Continuing, Mr Croft spoke of the probability of increased financial support, and he said an endeavour will be made to get a double week’s pay, so that they could have an extra feed for Christmas, and he hoped every man would have a barrel of beer in the house, and a piece of beef. (Laughter and applause.)
At this point, Mr T Jones, who was sitting in the body of the meeting, Rose, and said: I always thought I was living in a free country. (A voice: so tha are) I am very sorry to say that when a man gets up he is not allowed the freedom which we reckon to recognise throughout the length and breadth of England. Now a man has not a shadow of a chance. (Here again there was interruption, amidst which the speaker resumed his seat.)
Mr G H Hirst said as far as he was concerned he did not wish to interrupt any man, but when they found they had men who came to nothing else but to upset, with a view of trying to make a breakaway on the same terms as they came out (a voice: “Turn them out.”) Continuing, Mr Hirst said if the worst came in regard to the payment of the £6 pounds, his £6 would be there with any other man in the room. (Hear, hear.)
In regard to the remarks of Mr Gichard, they had no need to go further than say that Mr Gichard was with the colliery. On the other hand, the chairman, and the majority of the magistrates were Miss with Mr Chambers and the company, and there was no doubt that the magistrates and falling with anything that Mr Gichard suggested on behalf of the company. The men knew the colliery company, and knew that there was nothing for them too bad to do, and if they could only get at the people and treat with the new deputation of the parson, the vicar, Father) J Southsea let whatever back about Kavanagh, they would do so. What would they look like as a body of men if they allowed outsiders to come in and interfere?
He thought they would be well qualified, and had enough common sense to fight their own battle. (Loud applause.) They knew what the battle was for. He wanted a price list which every man can understand. (Applause.) Was it likely the men would meet on a good Sunday morning, set the wheels at best without giving the legal 14 days notice, stand three weeks without pay, if there were no grievances? When he asked people that, they turned round and said “No, we don’t think the men would be so foolish as that.” if they went back on the old terms, thinking that Mr Chambers will be prepared to negotiate with them afterwards, they would make a big mistake. Speaking of the attitude Mr Chambers had adopted. Mr Hirst quoted the following letter that was received from Mr Chambers by Mr Cowey:
“Dear Sir, I regret that owing to my absence from home your letter did not reach me until today. In reply, I have always been willing to meet deputation, with or without a union official, with a view to arrange amicable settlements of disputes. At the moment, however, there is no dispute between the Denaby and Cadeby Main Colliery and their men. The miners lately in the employ of the company left their work without giving notice, and are therefore not now in the company service. If they are re-engaged the discussion of any matters with which they are dissatisfied can be dealt with in the usual manner.”
They were all aware what the usual manner had been. On trifling matters, Mr Chambers always met them amicably, but if it had come to a question of any particular item on the price list, Mr Chambers Mr Chambers had not been prepared to treat a deputation with the same manliness that he ought to have treated them, and tried to come to an amicable understanding on different points, which he knew perfectly well there were grievances existing. The present position was different than in 1885, when the men had no union pay as they had now. They did not want to bully-rag Mr Chambers, but there was no doubt that he/she did not meet them before Christmas, and tried to come to some amicable understanding, they would run a long way into next summer. (Applause.)
Mr Fred Wright here began a criticism of the action of the committee in regard to the expenditure of the strike fund. In the first place he asked for information as to the number of full financial members on the books of each branch receiving lockout pay. Mr Hayes said that counting to half members as one full member and Cadeby 784 men on the same basis Mr Smith said that at Denaby they had 1110 full members making a total of 1890. Mr Wright then proceeded to comment in detail on the weekly balance sheet and can tended that the expenses in connection with the fund ought to be reduced. The audience listened for a considerable time with good humoured toleration, with now and again a disparaging remark. Mr Wright said he and his brother had gone into the figures, and had been before the committee, who passed a resolution to allowing see all bills and accounts, but as they had not acted upon that he had brought the matter up there. He also complained that the amount shown as having being expended in stationery and printing. He was not complaining, he said, of the way the committee and acting in regard to sticking out and fighting a battle, but he thought the men ought to know more about the expenditure of the funds. Speaking of what committees might do if they were not watched, he said: They can do just as they like; I have been on the committee myself, and I know. (Loud laughter.) Little later he suggested that the meeting should appoint four men, along with himself and his brother see that things were just and right. The suggestion will also receive a laughter, the men apparently growing impatient.
Mr GH Hirst, in reply to Mr Wright, explained items he had refer to on the balance sheet, and he said he did not think either of the treasurers of the committee will be fined ashore anything in their books. In regard to the statement about committee men buying pigs, he would like to say that last Saturday morning, when he had been to cash some money orders at the Post Office, he met a man who was on strike, but who was not a member of the committee, and the man asked him if he could change him a 5 pound note, as he wanted to buy some pigs. He gave the man change and was pleased to know that he could afford to buy pigs. As to Mr Wright and his brother seeing the book, no such resolution been passed by the committee; if anybody was appointed go through the books they ought to be appointed at that meeting. (Applause.) He thought the treasurers would try to give every information possible on any item that might be asked about.
Mr Fred Wright spoke of the practice of the committee paying themselves for four work done, and he concluded: We should pay them, and not let them pay themselves. As long as ever we allow this sort of thing to be done they are paid well. I was always paid well. (Loud and continued laughter.)
Mr J Nolan spoke in reply to Mr Wright, and made some scathing remarks as to Mr Wright’s conduct in certain matters. He claimed that by members of the committee attending at different collieries, and addressed the men a considerable amount of money had been raised for their support. In the case of Hickleton Colliery, for instance, when one of their collectors decamped with £13 3s 9d, a bad impression was created, and he and Harry Harry Humphreys had to attend and show that the men in Denaby and Cadeby were really representing. On attending at Hickleton, he got 2/6 a week. Continuing, he said that men who wrote letters to the paper ought in all fairness to attach their proper names. They did not know whether the writers were workmen of colliery officials, but they did know that some workmen and colliery officials had been drafted letters to send to the “Times” to try to do the committee as much harm as possible.
Mr Harry Humphreys (the delegate for Cadeby) said it had been reported that Cadeby men were going to break away from the Denaby men, and also that the Cadeby men had no grievance. To his mind Cadeby had grievances, but if they had not the presence of the men at that meeting so that they were willing to stand by Denaby in whatever they did. (Applause.) There were grievances in regard to the prices at Cadeby. Men who wrote to the paper were only expressing their own personal opinion, and not the opinion of the majority of men. (Hear, hear.)
Mr John George Berry, who was accorded a respectful hearing, spoke of the rumours that had been in circulation respecting the action of the committee, and suggested that the best way to meet such rumours would be to appoint a committee of investigation, to consist of six men from the meeting, none of whom had charge of the collecting book. The committee could report to the next mass meeting of the men, and if they found anything wrong should say so, and if they found things right they should say so. He moved a resolution to that effect.
Mr Fred Wright seconded the resolution which seemed to me with general approval, members of the present committee also given it their support. The following were elected by show of hands is an investigation committee: Messrs Jim Cunniffe, Fred Wright, and John George Berry (representing Cadeby), and Harry Baker, Ben Gething and E. Blunt (representing Denaby.)
The “old resolution” that the men would remain on strike until they got their grievances remedied, was afterwards unanimously adopted.