Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 5, 1902
Mass Meeting of the Men
The Men Full of Fight
Yesterday (Thursday) morning, at 11 o’clock, yet another mass meeting was held by the men in the Masons’ Arms Yard, Mexboro’, Mr. F. Croft (chairman of the Denaby Main branch of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association), in the chair, being supported by Messrs. J. Nolan, A. Dickinson, P. and H. Humphries, G. Smith (secretary of the Denaby branch), and G. H. Hirst (secretary of the Cadeby branch).
It was a scene, striking in the extreme, the speakers taking up their position on a frost-whitened waggon, whilst the throng of workers that constituted the audience had determination writ large on their faces, the eager and nipping air of winter being softened by a glare of golden glory from a sun that smiled on the meeting hour. And it was an hour – an hour full of importance to the men, who throughout the proceedings never once let excitement get the better of their judgement, and their attitude, as a whole, during the long-drawn out struggle, has been restrained and patient to a highly commendable degree.
The Chairman, In opening, said the meeting was to be but short, and so it proved, but it was one in which the leaders struck a note of fighting encouragement, and promised that the interests of the men would never be lost sight of. His starting sentence: “Fellow workmen, this is the 23rd week of our struggle,” evoked an appreciative cheer, illustrative of the dogged character of the contestants. He continued that since their last meeting they had heard many rumours circulated, but he had before told them never to believe anything they heard, for when anything of importance transpired they would be at once acquainted with it.
(Applause.)
Rumours had been going up and down that their pay would be stopped this week – (laughter) – but as far as the committee was concerned, they had had no intimation of such a step.
(Applause.)
If it was stopped it would be a bad thing for Denaby and Cadeby, but the working men of Yorkshire would not allow its withdrawal for long, for they had the sympathy of all the Yorkshire miners, who thoroughly upheld them in the struggle. He was pleased to say in respect of payment that they were in a better position, for at a meeting of neighbouring collieries it was decided that instead of paying sixpence a week they had risen it to a shilling a week.
(Applause.)
There never was such a time, and during their stand of 23 weeks they had behaved like men, and proved themselves such to the country and to the world. It would make no difference whether the struggle continued another 23 weeks, or another two years; he believed the men would still continue to act as men, because they had right on their side.
(Applause.)
Their attitude they would maintain even if they had to face the hardships of ’85, when some of the men got 12 and 18 months, and died a little while after coming home again. With a few more words of hearty encouragement, he called on
Mr. G. Smith, who delivered a rousing speech, straight from the start, right to the end, said some of them had no doubt heard that their strike pay had been stopped, and of writs having been served on their officers, restraining the Barnsley officials from further strike payment, .but if such had been the case no doubt the officials of the local branches would have heard of it. This was the action of one person, although, no doubt he had many behind him, and his name was Bill Harry Howden.
(Hisses and derisive calls) a “rat”.
Whilst they were doing their very best for their own just interests, “that creature creeping on the face of the earth” had injured their cause.
(Groans and hisses.)
This last week this “Harry” was living in Denaby, but now, on enquiries, it was found he was living at 4, Liverpool Street, London. He was the instrument used for the issue of a writ against the association, restraining them from paying strike money to the men. That they all knew, and did not deny it, but it did not say their association was liable to obey the injunction and the liability would have to be proved.
(Cheers.)
It seemed a curious thing that this man (Howden) was fought for by the men, and that he should return thanks by falling to a low degree, turn traitor, and become an Informer. (A voice: “Shame on the blackguard.”) They all knew him; he was Bill Harry Howden, a pit shaftsman. At this point a veritable storm of execration broke out, and at the conclusion the speaker proceeded to read correspondence and the minutes of the Barnsley meeting. Proceeding, he said that Mr. Parrott had been instructed to write and ask Mr. Chambers to meet their delegates, and he had, as a consequence, last in getting Mr. Chambers’ consent, and a meeting had been arranged for three o’clock at the Victoria Station Hotel, Sheffield, and they would have to elect four delegates from each branch for that meeting. That was a change, indeed – (Applause) – for the very latest telegram previous to that from Mr. Chambers absolutely declined a meeting, and it was for them to elect the delegates. Boasting was no good, but in gaining a promised meeting they had scored a point, in the face of all Mr. Chambers’s refusals to meet them.
(Applause.)
During his speech, Mr. Smith also read a letter from Mr. Parrott, dated Dec. 3rd, as follows:
“Dear Sir. I have succeeded at last in getting Mr. Chambers to consent to meet Mr. Cowey and myself, with a few of your men, on Friday afternoon at three o’clock at the Victoria Station Hotel, Sheffield, as you will see by the enclosed copy of the telegram. Please send four of each branch to meet us. Yours truly W. Parrott.”
The telegram was to the effect that Mr. Chambers had no objection to members of the committee being present at the interview.
The Chairman said they had heard the report and minutes, and he might say, regarding the deputation, that in all fairness they must select four men from each branch. Whatever was done would not be authorised until it had come back to the body of men for approval.
(Hear, hear.)
It was not the delegates but the men with which the final decision would rest. The men would do their duty, and they need not be frightened, for although there were two sides to this question, the men themselves would ultimately decide. In reply to a question whether the delegates would have an interview with Messrs. Parrott and Cowey, the chairman replied that they would meet them half an hour previous to the meeting.
The election of delegates was then proceeded with, and Messrs. Nolan, Croft, G. Smith and J. Barnes, were elected to represent the Denaby branch. For the Cadeby branch Messrs. Casey, H. and P. Humphries, H. Hirst, and A. Dickinson were nominated, but the former withdrawing the last-named four were declared chosen – a forest of hands approving in each instance.
Mr. J. Nolan who, like the previous speakers, had a warm reception, next addressed the meeting, and at once expressed his repugnance at the action of Harry Holden, and said if the strike had not done anything good to the majority of them, there was no doubt it had done good to the “informer,” who had lived in a nice little cottage at Denaby and had now moved to London.
(Growls.)
He was not the only one in the writ business, and the speaker spoke in terms of disgust at his “traitorous conduct,” saying he was merely a tool of the Coal Owners’ Association and the Denaby Main Colliery, and after such conduct it was no wonder that some of the men at Denaby and Cadeby had bought pigs whilst out on strike. He hoped after Howden had done with his dirty work that the Coalowners’ Association would treat him as they had done others who had acted in a similar way.
(Applause.)
Notwithstanding the injunction, he said, the Council had decided to continue the strike payments and to fight this great question out as long as they had a penny left.
(Roars of applause.)
They were awaiting developments, but on the advice of their solicitors and barristers they had decided to pay.
(Applause.)
Proceeding, he referred to the conditions they were fighting for, and urged that they only wanted justice, saying he hoped and trusted that the soft place shown by the chairman of the branch last Saturday would be shown by Mr. Chambers at the meeting today (Friday). It was decided to oppose the application for ejectment orders on the suffrages of the women and children. Four of their representatives went to Doncaster last Saturday and instructed Mr. Andrews to oppose it, and after doing all he could with Mr. Gichard he persuaded him that as the evictions, if granted, would fall on Christmas week – a time of good will amongst all people – it would be a fitting step to ask for an adjournment of the application, and this was granted, although the company was strongly represented by the clerks, etc., ready to give evidence. After the case he (the speaker) asked the solicitor to come out to pay him his fee, and although it was a guinea, he nly took 10s. 6d., giving him back the other 10s. 6d. for their funds.
(Applause.)
It was the first time he had had any business with Mr. Andrews, and from what he had seen of him, he had no doubt he was prepared to effectively state his facts in opposition to the ejectment orders.
(Applause.)
Referring to Mr. Parrott, he said he had as much respect for him as anyone, but after his nice little innocent speech Howden had got the thread to go to London and commence this action. Had the officials come down at the beginning of the strike and told them they were wrong, they would have returned to work and put up with the consequences.
Mr. H. Humphries next delivered a stirring statement, and then
Mr. G. H. Hurst faced the audience, and paid a tribute to the Urban District Council of Mexboro’ for sending a deputation to Mr. Chambers and trying to get him to meet the men.
(Applause.)
He (the speaker) might say in the first place that that deputation was met in a very cordial manner, but Mr. Chambers went so far as to tell them it was an utter impossibility to arrange a meeting. Further efforts were made to effect a meeting. Mr. Parrott received a letter from Mr. Chambers, as intimated in the following letter:
“Miners’ Offices, Barnsley, Nov. 27th, 1902
Dear Sir. I am enclosing Mr. Chambers’ reply to your letter to me on Monday afternoon last, when I enclosed the resolution that was agreed upon at the big meeting at Conisboro’. Please read it to your committee, and let us know what they think of it. We cannot see what good a deputation will do if the price list, or some of the items in the price list, are not allowed to be discussed.
Yours truly W. Parrott.”
The enclosed letter from Mr. Chambers was as follows:
“ November 26th, 1902.
Dear Sir. I am in receipt of your letter of the 24th. I have always been ready and willing to meet a deputation from the men when they were in the company’s employ, but I must refer you to my letter of the 6th inst., in which I informed you that I could not meet any deputation for the purpose of discussing any alterations in the existing price list of the company. If, therefore, I met another deputation, it would have to be clearly understood at the onset that the colliery price list would not form a subject of discussion. I am, yours truly.
WH Chambers.”
Continuing, he said they had gained one thing, and that was the decision of Mr. Chambers to again meet a deputation. Referring to Howden, he said he had no character, and dealing with the rumour he said as yet the Association had not decided to cease the strike pay.
(Applause.)
That they had had traitors in the camp had been proved up to the hilt.
(Hear, hear)
but he hoped they would continue fighting, and that they would be successful in the end.
(Applause.)
The Chairman said they wanted a resolution, and ultimately one was passed, confirming the previous resolutions.
The meeting then dispersed.