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Miners Meeting at Silverdale 1873
Researched by John Lumsdon
On Tuesday evening 18th March 1873 a crowded meeting was held in the Temperance Hall to listen to addresses from Mr. Lloyd Jones and Mr. Brown, miners’ agent. Mr. H.B. Hollis occupied the chair, and opening the meeting said he was glad to met so many there and felt great pleasure in presiding, especially as the meeting was of such an interesting character. Working men and the public at large were interested, and upon some things required to be enlightened.
We shall (said the chairman) hear something about the men on strike in South Wales, for reports have been circulated of a wrong character, and men are apt to form erroneous opinions on such reports, and therefore it is necessary to have such meetings as these to show where those statements are false, and for the placing of the thing in its right colour. To assist one another when masters try to trample upon us is what we combine for.
We do not wish to take any advantage of our employers, but they wish to keep us in our place, and we wish to keep them in theirs. I am glad working men are looking into the state of trade now more than they used to do, and do not allow others to think for them, but think for themselves and are not (allowing the expression) led about like you may have seen a bear about the streets with a string, thinking of nothing but something to do and something to eat.
Men now require their employers to pay them about what is fair, according to the state of trade, and the more working men look into these things the more the more they will be able to command this. It has sometimes been the case that the men have tried to carry their point, whether right or wrong; but that time has gone by, and I think it would be well if employers would study a portion of scripture that “forbids the brute to by muzzled while treading out the corn,” and if this was the case, why should a man not enjoy the fruits of his labour, and why should he not have a fair remuneration for his labour.
Mr. Brow on rising to address the meeting, said; Mr. Chairman and fellow-men I shall not trouble you much tonight, as you have heard me many times before, while very few of you have had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Jones and therefore it would ill become me to take up much of your time. But this much I say that we have now entered upon a very peculiar and important stage of our history. It is now a good while since I first spoke at Silverdale, and at the time it was often asked and often wondered whether the miners of North Staffordshire would be united or not;
but I think judging by appearances and from what I know, that our friends influences has outweighed the influence of our enemies, and now I believe that this district is the best district in the Amalgamated Association of Miners. I have many times told you that it was an easy thing to become a member of the union, when such a little would keep you a financial member; but I have also told you that we have special levies to pay, but with a very few exceptions we have got along alright, and gone on very, very well.
Since the commencement of this year the North Staffordshire District has paid its levies in a most cheerful manner. But we must never have levelling down, but at all time try to level up. Those poor men in Wales have had to suffer very much this winter. Most of the strikes that I have had to do with have happened in the summer, when men could go haymaking or something of that sort, and when fuel was not needed and it took less to keep them. But these men in Wales have had to feel the frost and that with little food; but to the present time they have borne it well, and kept within the pale of the law. They have been well advised, and have taken good advice. When a man can see his wife and children starving and not violate the laws, I will tell you that is something good in him, something noble in men like that; and these poor miners are just about stepping out of this trouble with the flag of victory flying. But it is one thing to get our ground and another to keep it; but I am glad to find that, as far as they have power, they will keep their wages up to what they should be.
An employer said to me lately in this district, “By all means keep up the Association, and keep all the members you can, for the coal has been too low, and the coal-owners and coal -getters have been too low; and if you keep up the union it will regulate both us and the trade;” and I said, “We have found out that good wages and shorter hours are compatible with our tastes and that if trade turns I am sure that we should never allow our wages to go down.” Some think we are unreasonable, and why? The reason is because we have sold our labour too cheap. We have had no time for the cultivation of our minds until about 12 or 14 months ago, but e have felt such a benefit from these short hours that it will take a long pull to bring us back to the long hours and short wages.Since I have been in the district coal has gone up 200% and we well know where the masters are and where we are, and they will have to come down a long way before they get down to us. It takes united action to do the work and every man should be what he professes. Have we any here that are not union men, they have never been members? As a friend I would say: “Have you ever sent any deputations to Stoke to meet the masters?” Why, they would not own you, they would ask who you represent and you would represent the society of non-society men. Some of you know everything around the district, every shaft, every hill, every dale, every seam of coal and every brook, but did you ever know a body of twelve men meet the masters at Stoke before?
But my dear friends, when men are united in heart and mind, we can meet our employers on equal ground; and those men that went to Stoke felt that they were as good as the masters, and though not having a bag of gold at their back, they had thousands of true hearts behind them.
Allow me, on behalf of the men in Wales to thank all that have paid their levies so cheerfully; and if there is any who have not paid them, let me say I pity them, and if you are going to receive an advance of wages you are going to “ reap where you have not sown,” and to reap what really does not belong to you, and you must feel that you receive it either with a trembling hand or else you have more impudence than I gave you credit for.
Mr. Jones next addressed the meeting and said: - Gentlemen, you have heard from Mr. Brown and many reasons given why you should be members of the union, and he has shown you many of the advantages arising from being members of it. But I wish to show you a form of the question you will have to consider before you can stand for your rights.
The condition of labouring men has been, for centuries almost, a condition of serfdom, with the masters paying such an amount of wages as they thought proper. For the men were in the powers of the employers and had to take whatever they choose to give them, and thus the condition of labour has been one of depression, even when there was pretty constant employment.
But as soon as ever machinery was brought into operation, and a surplus of labour was always in the market; and it was only when a surplus of labour was demanded that working man could get something like what they were entitled to. And we find that the law operated to keep men in this condition. Laws were passed in England to prevent men in different towns corresponding with each other, and to prevent combinations of men, for the purpose of getting more wages, and asserting their rights with their employers. And these things prevented men from improving their position, just at a time when they should have had the advantage, instead of which they were oblige to receive such wages as enabled them only to live from week to week, and thus making them wealth makers for the masters.
Now the repeal of the combination laws took place in the beginning of the last century. Although during the time that this was in operation they were not suppressed, men united together in the dark, and bind themselves by oaths and threats of violence. But now you have got the means of legally associating. Mr. Gladstone, in Liverpool the other day, said that more wealth had been made in this country during the present century than had been made in all the centuries previously and until this century, the country had consumed nearly all she made, but now you open mines, you dig coal, you make the iron, which is again made into everything that can be used and the fibres and silk, and whatever is grown all over the world is brought here and manufactured, and then sent to all the ends of the earth until every possible production is bought and poured into the rich lap of this country.
I do not address you as working men; but, should you not question your position when you are denied what is requisite to make you a happy citizen. Are we not bound to see that the Government of our county should give us a fair share of the benefit of everything and that we should submit to law we should gain more than we part with. If we have raggedness, poverty, and panic among us and if we have to have pauper houses that cost so much, should we not say to our governors that we will co-operate with you in the formation of just laws. But then we must have sustenance which we should have, and that we need. It is your duty in reference to your Government, as a thing not to be disregarded, when you speak out of knowledge of what is justice in law; and when you speak from that attitude, they will see that the mere jugglery of Government must cease, and that all that labour must have the means of living honestly and comfortably.
Now you want more wages and there is plenty that think that 4s 6d a day is sufficient for a collier to receive. Now, does anyone know what the profit of a master is? No; but when you ask for 6d more they think you are imposing upon them, and the cry is that you now “work so little and get so much.” But who are those to speak in such manner, and that they are shocked at the aggressions of working men? They are people that never do anything. They come and go like sunshine; but they never go into the mine and get the coal. No, you must do everything that they want and ask them to do nothing. Then why do they take such an opposite view? Because the men in former days were serfs, and had to do what their masters wished; and the fag end of that law is the law between master and servant with regard to breach of contract. Now political economists tell us that labour is capital, and yet it is written in a book published on the South Wales strike that the union is making men insubordinate. Why? Because you do not allow them to put their hands into your pocket and take what they like, without asking you about it, you are insubordinate.
Now gentlemen, need I say your position is a very important one, and that you can get a fair share of the profits made in the market. You may tell what a royalty is what the cost of labour is, you know the cost of getting a ton of coal to the pit bank, and then calculate its net value, and when the masters place their hands upon 5s from the public purse, you place yours upon two of it, and say this is my share. For in every sense of the term you are a partner in the affair. And you have a right to it that he cannot refuse.
When a market is going up it is impossible for them to strike against you; for the time cannot go back, and when things are bad they put you on short time, were as when they are brisk they are not able to take the time. And that is the very moment they will not attack you. Now I am the last man in the world that would like either master or man to lose his capital and I say when you engage to do a good day’s work you ought to do it, and not lose your time in a frivolous way. Nor, should you anymore do your employer an injury that you should revive one. But the first thing to see that you have the power to stop any injury being done to you.
Now the first commencement of the union is small and local, and afterwards you have the Amalgamation. And when an injury is done Silverdale it is felt in Wales, in Durham and elsewhere, and all feel that an injury is done to their interests. If an employer takes all the profit, what does he do with it? He gets enormously rich, and lavishes upon himself all manner of luxuries perhaps. Well now, no body begrudges the man his wealth, and all that we complain of is the increasing poverty. Suppose that a portion of such wealth had been in the hands of working men, and would have flown through the land doing well. And if double the money was spent by the working man that there is, it would be a double blessing. For the best spent money is that which the working man spends. Why should not a man possess all that makes a man respectable and a gentleman? Depend upon it the humblest occupation a man can be engaged in is honourable when done in an honest manner. Raise your own self respect, and when that is done depend upon it there will be a true Christian civilisation in the land.
Mr. Brown, in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Lloyd Jones, said he hoped that during the summer months they would be able to have him again. The motion was seconded by Mr. William Lawton who intimated that Mr. Lloyd Jones would be a very eligible candidate for Parliament. The motion was put and carried with great zest. A vote of thanks was also moved by Mr. Lawton and seconded by Mr. Higginson, to Mr. Brown, after a vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close.