Mexborough & Swinton Times, January 9, 1903
Important Developments
Whilst the miners and their families were, for the moment, merely thinking of immediate needs, the great force – Capital – which they were fighting, was pursuing a set policy towards a definite end, and although the devastating eviction weapon was still at work the main issues of the struggle was still exercising the minds of officials in responsible positions.
Yesterday it became known that the Denaby and Cadeby Main Collieries, Ltd in connection with their action against the Yorkshire Miners Association, in similar lines to the action in the notorious Taff Vale case, had issued writs upon Mr John Nolan (delegate for the Denaby men’s branch to the Association) Mr Harry Humphries (of the Cadeby men’s branch), the writ being served by a clerk to Mr Baddeley, solicitor, of Doncaster.
By this action at the very time evictions were being carried out, it is evident the Colliery Company are every bit as determined as the men
NOT TO BE BEATEN
and it is indeed sad and pitiable that the contending forces cannot cry “enough”and cease this lamentable and industry crippling war. We – along with thousands of others – will fall rather have seen the thing definitely settled, once and for all before the events of the present we came into force, and even now, before the situation – bad enough already – grows were; we would again earnestly appeal that the issues at stake can be referred to
A CONCILIATION BOARD
ere the flight of time has a still sadder story to tell.
Instead of an industrial community, living comfortably at Denaby, they now remains, but a shadow of the substance, and the long lines of tenderness houses was cause great anxiety to the Denaby tradesmen; whilst the district as a whole is stubbornly feeling the loss of a circulation of money to the value of thousands every week.
Nor is this all, for although we have purposely refrained from dwelling too largely on the sad side of the picture, we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that a continuation of the struggle may be responsible for perils always attendant on extreme worry and privation.
On the best it is time the thing was over, for it has already run further and hit harder than we like to think of. The bone of contention may be big, but the consequences are fast accumulating gigantic proportions.
At present they once united people are scattered far and wide, for many women and children and gone to relations homes in other counties, whilst Mexborough and neighbouring places and now a larger population than appears in the last census returns.
Regarding the tents, up to the present. A couple have been erected in Mexborough, one near the Masons arms, and the other near Sparrow Barracks. A couple of large marquees or in the vicinity of the Conisbrough Working Men’s Club, and when these are finished properly fitting up the men will make the best of “roughing it.”