Mexborough & Swinton Times, July 15th, 1892
Miner’s Demonstration
The demonstration of miners at the South Yorkshire city last Saturday was a memorable affair amid the turmoil of the general election.
Although the huge gathering was not quite so numerically conspicuous as the one which assembled in Barnsley, it was nevertheless a very formidable display, about 50,000 miners, and their wives being computed to be present.
Mexboro’, Denaby, Kilnhurst, Wath, Wombwell, Darfield, and Hoyland of course loyally sent their thousands, and in this part of the country, miners are as true to their flourishing association as any of the delvers in the kingdom.
Speaking at Wath last Thursday, Mr. BAKER had a fear lest the ” turn-out should not be sufficiently put, chiefly on account of the alteration in the time of the trains from what had been previously announced, and this did account for the absence of some men, the trains on the Midland line having disappeared an hour earlier than had been expected. The chief idea in holding the demonstration scented to be “to gives the masters to understand no wage reduction would be permitted bythe men ” for, as spoken at the Manvers Main meeting remarked, ” many of the owners are red-hot for reductions.”
Undoubtedly a cloud seems to be hanging over the coal trade, as testified by the difficulty often experienced by deputations to officials and by a variety of petty grievances which arise; but it is to be hoped this unsatisfactory status quo will prove only of short duration, especially seeing that the coal trade generally shows no falling off to any appreciable extent.
The people of Wakefield were quite struck with the grand display made by the lodge banners —some costing as much as £70—few were better than those of the lodges in the Mexboro’ district—and the men were given a cordial welcome to the city by the MAYOR.
Everything possible was done to make the miners enjoy their outing—excepting by Jupiter Pluviiis, who was in a very bad mood—and the throwing open of the various Nonconformist schools for tea was an excellent arrangement. That the Yorkshire Miners’ Association still flourishes, financially and numerically, was testified by the excellent report of Mr. JOHN FRITH , who for so many years past ham had the manipulation of the figures under his control, and who has grown grey in the service of the miners.
Fancy an annual income at the rate of £60,000 a year! This is the highest sum ever reached in the history of the association, and is highly creditable to the members. The society has as much as £122,404 invested where good returns can be expected and, added to the property belonging to the Union, the total worth is £131.967. which is certainly enough to provoke applause.
The Durham miners have benefited by the prosperity of the Yorkshire association, the sum of £12,250 having been sent to the distressed families, and £5,729 has been forwarded to the men in Cumberland.
We were pleased to see that an important resolution was placed in the hands of Mr. JOHN DIXON, end congratulate him on the cordiality of his reception. We join in the general expression of regret at the continued indisposition of Mr. PICKARD and hope he may soon be quite convalescent.
We understand that Mr. COWLEY is to be in Mexborough to address a meeting in a few days.