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North Staffs Annual Demonstration in Longton Park.
1910 Researched by John Lumsdon

The miners’ annual demonstration took place in Queen’s Park Longton on Monday afternoon. The weather was somewhat cold and rain threatened andthis accounted for the attendance being somewhat less than previous years. Speeches were delivered from two platforms, the speakers including Mr. Enoch Edwards, M.P. Mr. A. Stanley M.P. Mr. J. Ramsay Macdonald, Mr. Phillip Snowden, M.P. Mr. John Ward M.P. and Mr. W. Johnson M.P.

In the course of his speech Mr, Mr. Enoch Edwards referred to the local disturbances in the district on his question of boys’ wages. He said that more than once they had tried to impress upon the employers of this district the advisability of having some complete scale of Boys’ wages and that would be submitted to their delegate meeting tomorrow. They were communicating with the coal owners of the district with a view to holding a general meeting to see if they could put this question of boys’ wages on a satisfactory basis without risking the loss and turmoil of pits having to be shut down in order to call attention to this grievance.

Mr. Edwards also mentioned that he had today been to see an invention of an employee of Mr. Frank Rigby, of Longton. The invention would, it was believed, do away with the terrific risk of injury to the men in the cage in case of an over winding or rope breaking. The invention would no doubt be considered by the Commission which has under consideration inventions to minimise risks of accidents to miners.

The Resolution

The following resolution was put and carried by both platforms;

“That this annual demonstration of the North Stafford Federation rejoices at the success of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain and urges all miners locally to join their Federation. We heartily support the Federation in seeking an Amended Mines Regulations Act; the appointment of more inspectors, with a view to greater safety in our mines; an amended Old Age Pensioners Bill, reducing the age limit and removing the pauper disqualification; a Bill to prevent evictions during strikes; and pledges to support the Labour party to deal with the right of trade unions to contribute to Labour members; and to seek throughout the Federation to raise the basis or standard of all boy labour.

The annual demonstration organised by the North Staffordshire Miners’ Federation was this year held in Longton Park. For the two previous years Trentham Park had been selected, but on Monday afternoon Queen’s Park Longton was revisited. The natural beauties of the delightful grounds were much admired, by the miners’ who, with their wives and families, probably numbered 10.000.

Boating on the lake, as well as the “Wakes” and other imported amusements provided plenty of enjoyment of a varied character for the visitors. There were concerts by the old Artillery Military Band, at intervals and dancing was an amusement which the majority indulged. Three bands provided the music for dancing.On the specially erected stage there were variety entertainments given, under the direction of Messrs Bros, of Burslem, who were also the caterers. The Fun-Fair was generously patronised and together there was such a plethora of attractions that all seemed to enjoy themselves to the full.

As was the case last year, the weather was very threatening and this no doubt accounted to some extent for a falling off in the attendance. The North Staffordshire Railway Co. Provided a number of special trains which brought miners’ and their wives and families from all parts of North Staffordshire. Some of these trains, however, were less crowded than was the case last year, but when all had assembled in Queen’s Park; the scene was one of great animation. Most of those present walked in procession from Longton station to the Park, to the strains of three bands and headed by the banner of the Federation. These bands, the Longton District, Audley Mission and Norton brass bands, subsequently played for dancing.

In case of emergency, there was an ambulance tent on the ground. This was presented by Halmerend and District Division, of the North Staffordshire Corps of the St. John Ambulance Brigade and was under the charge of First Officer F. Hancock, Sergeant Scrivens, Corporal Scrivens and Corporal Guest.

As usual the proceedings opened with speeches from the two platforms, the speakers including, several well known Labour M.P.s. The bandstand was utilised as the principle platform, and in another part of the grounds was a temporarily erected structure. Around each platform there was a large concourse of people when the bands ceased playing and the time for speech making arrived.

At No. 1 Platform

Mr. Enoch Edwards M.P. and the Labour Movement

Also present were Mr. Albert Stanley M.P. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald M.P. Mr. W. Latham, Mr. Thomas Young, Mr. John Parfitt (Treasurer of the District) and Mr. Harper Parker.

The chairman in his opening remarks, expressed his regret at being absent, the first time for forty years, at the demonstration last year and said how glad he was to be present that day, and to see some old friends and some new ones. That was the demonstration of the North Stafford Miners.

They met to demonstrate the principles of a great Federation, principles that were now accepted, adopted and embodied in a great trade by a great people and principles which he thought he might say were universally respected. The progress of that Federation was most interesting.

In its early days its progress was not very rapid, but during recent years the men of England, Scotland and Wales had enrolled under its banner and they had now 600.000 financial members contributing to that great union.

There were men in North Staffordshire who were not members of the Federation. There were members in all counties who were not members, but he believed there was a larger ratio in North Staffordshire than was in many counties. (Shame)He hoped they would “wedge” all the men who were not in, instead of crying shame there, let them do it quietly at the pit until they had affected this reform, and had induced those who were outside the Federation, to come in.

The Importance of Combination

Because everybody realised in these days that the surest weapon in the hands of the workmen and the best way to fix up the bargains and contracts, was to do it through one great union. Without that union they were powerless, but with a great combination they would be able to make better bargains and better terms and they would be able to make the industry they were associated with all the pleasanter.Miners would always be associated with an amount of risk and an amount of danger. They were reminded year by year of the seriousness of the calling they followed.

With all that had been done, all that was being done and all that was to be done to reduce the loss of life to a minimum, the death toll was a very serious matter indeed. It was not only a question of such disasters as had shocked them at Whitehaven. It was the daily toll that was paid in the industry, the ones and twos and threes, the widows and orphans that were quietly left here and there, that the country did not seemed to realise.

It required a sudden shock like Whitehaven before the populace of this country realised the enormity of the risk and the danger that the miners lived and worked under.However the miners know all about it and they were seeking through the union to get incorporated laws which would tend to lessen as far as human experience and human judgement was capable of lessening the number of disasters. Let him suggest to them that when all had been done, it would be largely a question that they themselves as pitmen would be called upon to exercise a very careful vigilance so that this terrible death roll might be reduced as time went on.

The Aim of then Labour Party

The great aim and purpose of the Labour Party, Mr. Edwards, continued was to make the common lot of everyone better and happier. Their methods of doing that work may not be the methods of everybody, but he knew and he spoke with some knowledge, that at the bottom the main purpose was to exercise all the power of the great unions throughout the country to make the lot of the workmen better, to make the lot of the women and children better and if possible to exterminate the ugly aspects of poverty, and bring about a better state of things.

They made no apology for attempting to make this old world, with all its faults, something like the world they had been taught to look to when they had finished with his one. He was old fashioned enough to believe that it was quite useful to try and make this world something like the other world they hoped t get to. Rather than longing too anxiously for a better world let them set to work to get this one better. Whatever forms their resolution might take, that was the object. The object so far as that platform was concerned and so far as the Miners Federation was concerned, was to make the labour of man so recognised that he should be able, out of his labour to live a more decent life, to acquire more of the comforts of life and there were plenty of comforts, only, unfortunately for lack of means, they seemed far removed from many of the toiling classes of men.

He thought all of them in North Staffordshire agreed with this and also agreed with the various points mentioned in the resolution. And in order to give effect to the desires and their aspirations they would put in force various things in which they believed.In the first place they believed that if more mines inspectors were appointed, men who understood mines, they would have taken a long step towards reducing the number of accidents.

Hence they submitted to that meeting. He himself had tried to say that in another place and he had ventured to suggest the same thing on the Royal Commission on Accidents.The man who today devoted all his energies and all his skill to saving human life was among the savers of this world and the man who was seeking to do it and the man who was seeking to do it in the mines of this country would deserve and would receive the gratitude and thanks of women and children who were in the unfortunate position of forever hanging over them the dread that something might happen to Daddy before he came home again.They invited all the members to become members of the union to help them carry out this policy. Those who were already members should plead with their fellows and should get them to realise that there was the only means whereby they could raise the condition of everybody.

The Question of Boys Wages

In the resolution, Mr. Edwards said they were making some reference to the question of boys’ wages.

He understood from Mr. Finney that there was some local disturbance in the district on that question. More than once they had tried to impress upon the employers in the district the desirability of having some complete scale for Boys wages. They would be submitted to the delegates the following day.

They were communicating with the colliery owners of the district for a joint meeting to if they could not put this question of lads’ wages on a satisfactory basis without risking the loss and turmoil of pits being shut down in order to call attention to this grievance. It was not a creditable thing to either workmen or Employers that pits must be brought to a standstill before real grievances were recognised and the sooner this was put upon a basis whereby they could fix a boys wages and age at starting and go though until became a young man the better. There ought to be no difficulty in doing that for every pit throughout the district.

The Resolution

Mr. William Latham, C.C. submitted the following resolution:

“That this annual demonstration of the North Stafford Miners Federation rejoices at the success of the Miners Federation of Great Britain, and urges all miners locally to join their Federation. We heartily support the Federation in seeking an amended Mines Regulation Act; an amended Old Age Pensions Bill, reducing the age limit and removing the pauper disqualification; a Bill to prevent evictions during strikes;

And pledges to support the Labour Party in dealing with the right of trade unions to contribute to Labour members; and to seek throughout the Federation to raise the basis or standards of all boy labour.

Mr. Latham recalled that he was in at the birth of the Federation and he remembered much of the criticism then levelled at them. Some talked about the old Amalgamation of Miners and some talked about the National Miners Union. They first said they could not float the Federation and if they did get it floated, it would not ride the wave.

That reminded him of the story of the old lady who went to see the launch of the Great Eastern. When she saw the great structure she said, “It will never get into the water”. When they were getting it in the water she said; “it will sink”.

When it rode the waves she said; “They will never start it”. And when the great boat started she said; “Good Heavens they will never stop it”.

Among all that pessimism they had launched the Great Eastern they had launched their great Federation. He hoped they would follow the command their captain had given them that day.

Mr. Thomas Young

Mr. Young seconded and spoke of the need for every miner, man and boy joining the Federation. The only remedy for the liabilities under which they labour is in strong organisation. Thanks to the Federation and organised labour; the status of the miner has been so raised that there is no comparison between the miners’ present lot and his lot 40 or 50 years ago.

By the co-operation of labour, every item on that programme could be accomplished. The future of the miner today is was in his organisation. A miners’ first duty when he received his wages, was to pay his union money. He was free to confess that the lads had a grievance in some parts of the district. Thirty years ago when he occupied a position underground, there were lads of 13 were receiving 1s 6p per day, and there were today some lads of 14 receiving very little more. But he appealed to the lads to give their leaders a fair opportunity. He acknowledged that there was a certain amount of parental duty from them to advise the lads as to the best course to take. He did not believe in stopping any pulley wheel without the legal side of the question being adhered to. Let them give the proper 14 days notice, so that their leaders might have a chance of settling things amicably. By their co-operation and their combined efforts they would get all that was reasonable and just. The stronger you are, the stronger your leaders are. Be true to your leaders and our efforts will terminate successfully.

Mr. Stanley M.P.

Mr. Stanley was next to speaking to the resolution. He said it was very happy to remember that notwithstanding all the appalling dangers which surrounded the trade in which they were engaged, so many of them with their wives and sweet hearts were able to take part once more in their annual demonstration.

The joy of this occasion was more than added to that day owing to the fact that they had again got with them their leader Enoch Edwards.They knew he had had a hard time of it last year, some of them though he was going to slip though their fingers. Mr. Stanley said, he knew their leaders and he knew with what loyalty their head had guided them for the last 30 or 35 years, and if any settlement could be found that was beneficial to the lads and honourable to the employers he knew it would be found by Mr. Edwards.

They had heard from his lips that day once again the old genuine ring and He (Mr. Stanley) with all reverence, God would spare him many years to hold the reins of that great Federation.

A Great Federation

Mr. Edwards had talked to them about the magnitude of their Federation and he, (Mr. Stanley) did not believe their membership on the books at the present moment was far short of three quarters of a million of men and lads. If anyone in that crowd would like the responsibility of leading and guiding and moulding that Federation, he dare say that Mr. Edwards would be willing that he should have the job and try.