Mexborough and Swinton Times, January 21
The Second Meeting.
On Wednesday morning a second meeting of the miners was held at the Masons arms, the room being crowded.
One of the deputation, who was deputed to wait upon the manager respecting the “packing” said he reported the resolution passed unanimously on the previous day, this, that the men would not return to work unless this was allowed them as hitherto, and Mr Warburton replied, “Then you may consider I have no men.”
The deputation waited for about 10 min without anything else being said. The manager then stated that he had nothing else to say to them and they withdrew. Just before they left him, he sent word by someone that all coal was to be stopped from going out.
A miner: Is it to be understood that coal is to be stopped from everyone living at the place?
A reply in the affirmative was given.
The Chairman said the delegate appointed to attend the council at Rotherham would now tell them what transpired there relative to Denaby.
The Delegate reported that the Liability At was the first question discussed. It was unanimously decided that the miners in the district do not contract themselves out of the Act, but that they stand by it. Whe council consider that they are Denaby were now on strike, and they agreed to support them to the upmost (loud cheers).
The Council said there had been sufficient reductions at Denaby Main, and they would not allow anything more to be deducted from the men’s wages. (Cheers). The time had come for advances; they would not allow reductions (hear, hear). The men were to stick out, knowing that they would receive the support of the district. They were to receive strike pay from that day. Mr Chappell would meet a deputation that afternoon.
The Chairman thought the report of the delegate was very satisfactory. He should like to hear any remarks from those present.
A Miner observed that some men were working, and he would propose that they stop all such.
The chairman said they had to suffer reductions through men running to work and keeping others out. If all would act in concert and keep out together, the sooner the pit would again be open to them. (Hear, hear). He did not think it would be wise to pass a resolution compelling those who went to work to leave it.
A Miner: “Let’s do the same as they are doing in Lancashire.”
The Chairman: No, that will not do.
A Miner suggested that any resolution they would like to pass should be left until the meeting to be held later on.
It was proposed, and agreed to that the meeting be adjourned until four o’clock
A Miner: I will move that. Mr Chappell and the deputation who wait upon the manager telling we are determined to have the 5%, which we conceded, returned.
Another Miner: I will move that no one goes to work until we all return.
This was seconded.
The Chairman suggested that the motion be altered a little, and that it read, “that we try to use our endeavours to persuade them to cease work,”
A Miner said at Barnsley the men were asking for a 10% advance.
Another Miner: we must leave that until we get the 5% returned. (Hear, hear).
A question was asked if, supposing the men who went to work were persuaded not to do so, would they receive any support, that was if they were not in the Union?
It was stated that they would have to stand a chance. The same as other men in the district.
The meeting was then adjourned