officials of the Union, was a telegram sent to the lodge, which, with
slight verbal variation, has formed the model of all sent since under
the same circumstances. It read as follows:--"Do go to work. You must
know you are wrong. You will get no support. Liable to punishment. Do
return." For sending that message Mr Crawford was subject to some very
scurrilous remarks at the meetings which were held in connection with
the strike. These remarks called forth a public reply. In the press of
that day is found a letter which contains an unflinching and manly
statement of the facts of the case: the cause of the strike, the
illegal position of the men, and an extenuation of the action of
himself and his colleagues. I quote the concluding words. After
pointing out how expeditious the agents had been in their attendance
to the matter in dispute, how they (the men) were striking against
their own agreement, how he had been vilified, and how his views were
still unchanged, he wrote:
The report of yesterday's proceedings at Seaham Colliery has not
changed my views on this matter. I repeat it, the men are in the
wrong, and even liable to punishment. A miner characterised the
telegram as an insult to the men at that colliery. Of this I have not
the slightest doubt. I have recently been accused of both insults and
incivility; and why? Because, as in the case of Seaham, my opinion
has been asked, or advice sought, and where such opinion or advice
has been adverse to their own preconceived ideas of right or wrong,
and they have been told so decisively but courteously, then I became
uncivil! These are the men who can prate about liberty of speech and
freedom of action, and yet, because they are supposed to subscribe
their mite towards a person's maintenance,--every penny of which is
doubly worked for,--would only allow his tongue to utter words in
accordance with their own crude and contracted views, even though
such words were a mere utterance of the most glaring untruths, and a
flagrant violation of all the rules now in operation as between
masters and servants in their respective relations to each other. I
willingly admit that these are but a small minority among the 30,000
members now composing our Association. From the men I have received
the utmost consideration, demonstrating by their conduct, that they
will give to those whom they employ that treatment which they would
like to receive from those by whom they themselves are employed. I
commenced my present agency amongst the miners of Durham on May 16th,
1870. From then, till now, I have done my utmost to protect and
further their interests in a fair and equitable manner. Where I have
deemed the doings of owners or agents to be wrong, I have not been
slow to condemn them, and what I have done will do again; and where I
have found the workmen to be wrong, I have pursued the same course,
unhesitatingly making known my views without the slightest
hesitation. If any man or number of men are mean and cowardly enough
to think that I shall sit and become a mere machine of repetition, I
beg to clearly intimate that they are sadly mistaken. I shall retain
my individuality intact, holding myself free to unreservedly express
my opinion of all matters which in any way may effect the welfare of
our Association, being always willing to retrace my steps, if shown
wherein I am wrong; but holding on, amid the folly of fools and the
abuse of knaves, if convinced that I am right. And in conclusion,
allow me to say that, if such doings are not in keeping with those
of the men, the sooner I am replaced the better.
A Council meeting was held on the 25th of May in the Town Hall,
Durham. The only thing of note was a proposition for the establishment
of an institution for the benefit of old men. Nothing definite was
done in the matter. After discussing it the Council decided to refer
the matter to the Executive Committee, with instructions to draw up a
plan or plans to be submitted to the county for acceptance or
rejection. In this we have the germ which eventually developed,
through the Permanent Relief Fund, into the Superannuation Fund, which
has been such a blessing to hundreds of aged miners in the northern
counties.
On Saturday, June 1st, an important conference was held between the
coal owners and a deputation of representatives of the Association.
The deputation consisted of J. Forman (President), W. Crawford
(Secretary), W. H. Patterson (Agent), N. Wilkinson (Treasurer), T.
Mitcheson, Coundon, M. Thompson, Murton, G. Jackson, and H. Davison,
Thornley. The first question was the dispute at Seaham and the night
shift in general. There was a long discussion, and eventually the
employers promised not to commence any more night-shift pits unless it
were a case of absolute necessity. The conference next turned its
attention to the first rank for pony putters. The proposal of the men
was that the distance should be 100 yards. It will be as well to say
here that afterwards the distance was fixed at that number of yards.
The next subject was as to how many tubs should constitute a score.
There was no uniformity in the county. Although twenty of anything is
generally reckoned a score, yet at some collieries it was as high as
twenty-five. The object was to reduce it to twenty, and the deputation
was willing to rearrange the prices wherever the number was reduced.
The owners thought it unwise to alter the arrangements, and suggested
an adjournment, which was agreed to.
The last question was the arrangement of a uniform time for the
foreshift men to go down. The custom varied; at some places it was as
early as one or two in the morning. The hour named by the
representatives of the workmen was from four o'clock. The employers
had no very strong objection, except that of interfering with other
classes of labour--such as cokemen, waiters-on, and others who would
have to commence later, and therefore be later at work. The deputation
replied by instancing the Peases firm, where the system had been
introduced and was working satisfactorily. The employers asked for
time to consult the trade, and promised to inform the coal trade how
emphatic the workmen were in their desire for the change.
THE FIRST GALA ON THE RACE-COURSE, DURHAM
Beyond this gala, which may be truly classed as the first, there will
not be any need to mention the yearly gatherings in this history. Its
importance compels notice. Important it was, for two reasons--first,
its place in the series; and second, because of the public feeling,
and in many quarters fear, which was felt as to the consequence of
bringing such a large number of the miners and massing them in the
city. As showing the state of feeling I will insert a portion of an
article which appeared in _The Durham Chronicle_ for Friday, June
14th, 1872.
The coming demonstration has occasioned not a few timid residents
much uneasiness during the past few days, on account, as they
imagine, of the extreme likelihood of the affair resulting in a scene
of riot and disorder, and two or three nervous females in business in
the town have so far given way to their fears that they have actually
consulted their friends as to the propriety of closing their shops in
order to protect their persons and property from "those horrid
pitmen!" Even the borough magistrates, too, seem to have had an idea
that the dog-fighting and pitch-and-toss portion of the mining
community was going to be introduced into the city by the approaching
gathering, for they declined when first requested to grant the usual
licences to the proprietors of the refreshment booths. A full meeting
of the borough magistrates was, however, subsequently held, and the
Bench after hearing a statement from Mr Crawford, the principal agent
of the Durham Miners' Association, relative to the object of the
miners in assembling together agreed to issue the required
certificates. For our own part, we have not the slightest doubt of
the proceedings being characterised by anything but the best of
feeling and order on the part of the men taking part in the
demonstration, which we are sure is intended to partake more of the
character of a monster "outing" of a class of men whose only desire
is to discuss amongst themselves the best means of improving, in a
rational and legal manner, their condition, rather than an assemblage
of either political or social conspirators and agitators. Almost the
worst contingency, however, has been anticipated, as there will be a
force of 40 policemen on the ground, the expense of the attendance of
20 of whom will be borne by the Miners' Association, whilst the
remuneration of the remaining 20 will be defrayed from the funds of
the borough watch rate.
In addition to this, many tradesmen barricaded their shop windows, and
an urgent request was made to the Mayor to have soldiers in readiness.
Mr J. Fowler stood in defence. His reply was characteristic, but
correct: "I know the pitmen better than you, and there is no fear." He
was borne out by the proceedings, which were in the highest degree
satisfactory. The first part of the procession came in at 7.30 A.M.,
and from first to last the most complete good order obtained. There
were in all 180 collieries present--the membership of the Association
being 32,000. The speakers were A. M'Donald, then President of the
National Association of Miners; W. Brown, Stafford; and T. Burt,
Northumberland. The local speakers were W. Crawford, W. H. Patterson,
H. Davison (Thornley), N. Wilkinson, T. Mitcheson, G. ("General")
Jackson, T. Ramsey, and W. Askew. The following resolutions were
submitted:--
1. The change which during the past twelve months has taken place in
the position of the Durham Miners' Association, both numerically and
financially, ought to be encouraging to all who take an interest in
its welfare. During that period differences, as in other places,
have arisen; but, so far, they have been managed without a single pit
having been stopped, or the loss of any work whatever. This is a
condition of things which, taken all together, ought to give the
utmost satisfaction to all parties concerned.
2. This meeting begs to utter its indignant protest against the
action of the Select Committee in the way they have amended the
Payment of Wages Bill. It at the same time most earnestly calls upon
Government to restore it to its original form by amendment whilst it
is under the consideration of the committee of the whole House. It
further begs to state that no measure will be satisfactory to the
miners of the county of Durham that does not contain payment of wages
weekly without any reduction whatever.
3. That this meeting also has learnt with surprise that it has been
stated that the miners of Durham do not want weekly payment of their
wages, and that they are not aggrieved with the present reduction.
They beg to give the statement, by whomsoever made, an unqualified
denial.
4. This meeting likewise looks upon the Criminal Law Amendment Act of
1871 as an insult to the working classes of this country. It at the
same time pledges itself to every legal means to have the law
repealed or so modified as that all classes in the country will be
alike in the eye of the law.
5. That this meeting regards arbitration as a logical way of settling
those differences which in trade necessarily arise between employers
and employed. Arbitration recognises the right of both parties to put
forth views, and leads to examination or investigation, which tends
to avoid strikes and lockouts, with all their commercial ruin and
social misery. It has now for a short time been in operation amongst
the miners of Durham, and we are able to speak to beneficial
results; and we most heartily wish to have a continuance and
extension of the principle.
6. That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be sent to the Prime
Minister and Home Secretary.
With this all too brief reference we must leave this, our first
race-course gathering. If anyone be desirous of reading a very full
description of the collieries attending, with their numbers on the
books, the banners with their inscriptions and designs, and the
speeches, let him refer to _The Durham Chronicle_ for June 21st of
that year. Suffice it here to say that the day was all that could be
desired. The old city was enlivened and its trade enhanced. The great
crowd came and went in good order. The fears of the fearful were shown
to be groundless, and the good behaviour initiated that day, amid the
firing of the cannons in Wharton Park, has never varied up to the last
of this series of gatherings. The cannons were fired at the expense of
T. Ramsey.
THE SECOND ADVANCE IN WAGES
On Friday, the 12th of July 1872, a meeting took place between the
employers' and workmen's representatives. The meeting was arranged in
response to a request for an advance of fifteen per cent. on the rate
of wages. Mr H. Taylor occupied the chair. The deputation was headed
by Mr W. Crawford. At the outset of the meeting the owners complained
that the men were neglecting work to a very great extent, causing a
diminution in the output of not less than twenty per cent. as compared
with the previous twelve months. Statistics showed that the average
working time of the hewers was not more than eight days per fortnight.
That entailed heavy loss on the owners, and while such neglect of work
continued they could not grant the advance asked for, and they
suggested the propriety of having a clause inserted in all agreements,
that the men should be compelled to work at least thirty-five hours
per week before claiming the highest price paid at the colliery. That
meant the system of bonus money paid at many collieries, and the
deputation emphatically refused it, and said they were not asking
because of the state of trade only, but because of the very low
condition of their wages which had obtained in Durham for so long, and
which they hoped to raise, even if trade became depressed. The
deputation was asked to retire, and on their return were handed the
following resolution:--
The Association [Owners'] has decided to give 10 per cent. advance to
all underground workmen, including banking-out men; but excepting
pony putters, who are to be dealt with after the putting question has
been settled in Northumberland; and 7½ per cent. to the whole of
the above-ground labour; enginemen, both above and below ground, to
be excepted. This advance to be on present prices, and to date from
the pay commencing nearest the first day of August.
This offer was brought before a special Council meeting held on
Saturday, the 13th, Mr John Forman presiding. The report of the
meeting with the employers was given by Mr Crawford, who went very
fully into the reasons why the advance of fifteen per cent. was
claimed. The Council adopted the following series of resolutions:--
1. That in the opinion of this meeting we are more than justified in
asking the 15 per cent. on present prices, which is being sought by
our Association. There never was a time when the price of coals
approximated to what they are at the present time, and in justice we
believe that we ought to fully share in that increase and increasing
prosperity. On the 8th day of the present month the following are
quotations from the London Coal Market:--Kelloe, 26s. 3d.; South
Hetton and Lambton, 27s.; and Hetton, 27s. 6d.
Having seen coals sold in the same market for as little as 13s. per
ton, or more than cent. per cent. less than now, we certainly
conclude that we are more than justified in seeking 6d. or even 1s.
out of 14s. or 15s. This being so, we abide by the 15 per cent. now
being asked for all classes of workmen, above and below ground.
2. That the owners be requested to meet our deputation on Friday next
for the purpose of reconsidering the 15 per cent. advance, or if
possible on a more early day.
3. That this meeting deplores the oft-repeated statement of coal
owners and others relative to the amount of work at present lost by
the miners in the county of Durham. We cannot with our present
knowledge admit the accuracy of these statements, but believe, on the
contrary, that such statements are very greatly overdrawn, and thus
an entire false impression is being conveyed to the public mind, and
a positive injury done to a large body of men. We have again and
again declared that in our opinion men ought to attend their work as
regularly as possible, believing that to do so is for the benefit of
themselves as well as the employers, and we again urge our members to
be as regular as possible in their attendance at work, so as alike to
benefit themselves and deprive all parties from so maligning them.
The adjourned meeting with the owners took place on Friday, July 19th,
when Mr H. Taylor again occupied the chair. The owners repeated their
complaint about the loss of work, and asked whether the deputation
were willing to give any guarantee that the men would in future work
more regularly. They could not give such a guarantee, but said their
Council meeting had agreed to recommend the men to work as regularly
as possible. With this assurance the owners then handed the following
resolution to the deputation:--
We have decided to give 15 per cent. advance to all underground
workmen--including banking-out men--except pony putters (who are to
be dealt with after the putting question has been settled in
Northumberland), and 10 per cent. to the whole of the above-ground
workmen, enginemen (both above and below) excepted. This advance to
be on present prices, and to date from pays commencing nearest to
Monday the 22nd and Monday the 29th of July.
The deputation were not satisfied with the reservation as to the
putters, and after some further discussion it was agreed to make the
advance applicable to them as to the other underground workmen.
FORMATION OF JOINT COMMITTEE
It will be interesting to give this important step in detail. It was
first mentioned in connection with certain meetings which were held
mainly on the wages question or the abolition of the yearly bond.
While discussing these matters Mr Crawford, on behalf of the
deputation, mentioned the advisability of forming a committee of six
on either side to consider local disputes and changes in wages. The
first formal action taken by the employers was on July 12th, 1872,
when the following resolution was adopted at their meeting:--
JOINT COMMITTEE.--Mr Crawford was also informed that on the motion of
Mr Lindsay Wood, seconded by Mr Hunter, a Committee consisting of the
following gentlemen:--Hugh Taylor, W. Stobart, W. Hunter, C. Berkley,
R. F. Matthews and Lindsay Wood had been appointed to meet a
Committee from the Miners' Union, to draw up rules for guiding the
Association in receiving demands from the workmen.
It was arranged with Mr Crawford, that the Committee from the Miners'
Union should meet the above-formed Committee at 10.30 on Friday, the
19th inst.
The suggested meeting was held on 19th July, when the following
recommendation was agreed to:--
JOINT COMMITTEE.--It was agreed to recommend--That six members of
each Association should meet every fortnight and discuss all demands
except cases of consideration in temporary bad places, the
consideration to be given in such places to be settled from fortnight
to fortnight by the agents of the collieries affected. All demands to
come through Mr Crawford, who is to give the agents of the colliery
and the Secretary of this Association, at least three clear days'
notice of the nature of the demands that it is intended to prefer at
the next meeting.
As a result of this recommendation a meeting was held on the 2nd of
August, and the first code of rules was arranged. The names of the
parties at the meeting are in the following list:--
_Owners_
Hugh Taylor.
W. Stobart.
Lindsay Wood.
John Taylor.
J. B. Simpson.
C. Berkley.
P. Cooper.
W. Hunter.
R. F. Matthews.
T. T. Smith.
_Workmen_
W. Crawford.
W. H. Patterson.
N. Wilkinson.
J. Jackson.
J. Forman.
T. Mitcheson.
R. B. Sanderson occupied the chair. The following rules were agreed
to:--
The object of the Committee shall be to arbitrate, appoint
arbitrators, or otherwise settle all questions (except such as may be
termed county questions or questions affecting the general trade)
relating to matters of wages, practices or working, or any other
subject which may arise from time to time at any particular colliery,
and which shall be referred to the consideration of the Committee by
the parties concerned. The Committee shall have full power to settle
all disputes, and their decision shall be final and binding upon all
parties in such manner as the Committee may direct.
The Committee shall consist of six representatives chosen by the
Miners' Union and six representatives chosen by the Coal Owners'
Association.
At meetings of this Committee it shall be deemed that there shall be
no quorum unless at least three members of each Association be
present.
Each meeting shall nominate its own chairman, who shall have no
casting vote. In case of equality of votes upon any question, it
shall be referred to two arbitrators, one to be chosen by the members
of each Association present at the meeting. These arbitrators to
appoint an umpire in the usual way.
Each party to pay its own expenses. The expenses of the umpire to be
borne equally by the two Associations.
Should any alteration of or addition to these rules be desired,
notice of such change shall be given at the meeting previous to its
discussion.
If any member of the Committee is directly interested in any question
under discussion, he shall abstain from voting, and a member of the
opposite party shall also abstain from voting.
When any subject is to be considered by the Committee, the Secretary
of the Association by whom it is brought forward shall give notice
thereof to the Secretary of the other Association, at least three
clear days before the meeting at which it is to be considered.
The Committee to meet every alternate Friday at half-past eleven
o'clock.
The first meeting of Joint Committee was held on 16th August. The
members were:
_Owners_
R. B. Sanderson, Chairman.
C. Berkley.
J. B. Simpson.
J. Taylor.
P. Cooper.
R. F. Matthews.
_Workmen_
W. Crawford.
W. H. Patterson.
J. Forman.
N. Wilkinson.
J. Jackson.
T. Mitcheson.
There were in all six cases, which, with their decisions, are as
follows:--
_August 16th, 1872._
MURTON (_Stonemen_).--Demand for an advance of from 6d. to 8d. per
day. To stand over for a fortnight to ascertain the average wages of
the district.
OAKENSHAW.--Demand for 1s. per score on the broken and a sliding
scale similar to that in the whole. The 1s. per score in the broken
was granted to date from (uncertain?).
The sliding scale was waived by Mr Crawford and his Committee.
SEAHAM.--Mr Matthews' report objected to,--referred, together with a
question of removing bottom coal (Mr T. Taylor was chosen arbitrator
by the Association); any concessions made by the arbitrators to date
from Monday the 19th August.
ETHERLEY.--Complaint that the banksmen and others have not received
the different advances granted by the Association. Mr Lishman was
desired to carry out the resolutions of the Association in their
entirety.
SOUTH DERWENT.--Complaint that the deputies have not got the 20 per
cent. advance. Mr Dickenson, having stated the circumstances of the
case and the wages paid, the complaint was withdrawn; it being
considered that the deputies are fully in the receipt of the advances
decided upon.
WARDLEY.--Longwall skirting.--This turned upon the question as to
whether it was intended by the arbitrators to include skirting in
their award of the 25th March 1872, but it was decided that it was
not so included, and that 8d. per yard extra should be given for
skirting.
SHIFTERS' WAGES.--Demand withdrawn.
RAMBLE.--To be considered at the next meeting.
It was agreed that full particulars of subjects to be discussed
before the meeting should be given at least three clear days before
the meeting.
THE MINES REGULATION ACT
In the session of 1871 a Mines Bill was under discussion, but was not
carried through its various stages. It was again introduced in the
session of 1872, and for a long time its fate was uncertain. Men from
all the districts were up lobbying on behalf of the Bill. Mr Crawford
was sent from Durham. A Council meeting was held on Saturday, 27th
July. While the meeting was in progress a telegram was received from
Mr Crawford as follows:--