Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 October 1893
Meeting of Denaby Main Miners
On Saturday morning a crowded miners’ meeting was held.
The Chairman said they were met to consider their position, and it was for them to say whether they were still determined to continue the struggle. A twelve weeks’ strike was no new thing for them at Denaby. Eight years ago they multiplied twelve by three, but he hoped they would not do that on this occasion.
A miner wanted to know if the man or men were present that Mr. Pope had referred to in his letter that had earned 16d. per day.
(A voice: “He meant a week.”)
He thought that was more like it. He had never received anything like that, and was in what was called a good place. If the packing had been paid for instead of having to do it for nothing their earnings might have been more than what they were. Even then they would not have reached the price Mr. Pope had quoted. He knew there were scores of young men from 18 to 21 years of age that were working at Denaby for 2s. 6d. per day, the 40 per cent. included.
(“Shame.”)
Did Mr. Pope tell the public this? No. What he wanted to do was to cut off the public sympathy, and be able to starve them to submission. The men believed they were in the right in resisting the reduction.
A resolution to this effect was unanimously carried.