The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-13 00:00:00

THE MINERS' STRIKE.

A mass meeting of miners was held on Wednes-
day in the Salvation Army Barracks, Cradley
Heath; a miner presiding.
Mr. B. Winwood, agent, addressing the meeting,
pointed out that the action of the masters at the
meeting held in Birmingham on Tuesday had only
made the men more determined than ever to resist
the reduction, and he had no doubt it would gam
for them a larger amount of sympathy and support
from the general public. He was pleased to say
that the men who resumed work on Tuesday, under
the impression that the dispute would be settled
by the Court of Appeal, had turned out again. He
earnestly hoped that the strike would be conducted
on the line previously adopted.
Resolutions were then passed to continue the
strike, and calling upon the men at work at the
old rate of wages to cease work.
On Thursday morning a mass meeting of colliers
was held on the Old Barracks ground, Netherton,
near Dudley. There were about 2,000 persons
present, including a fair sprinkling of women.—Mr.
Hill, a member of the Dudley Town Council. oe-
cupied the chair, and said the excitement of the
past two days, owing to the masters' greediness, had
caused him some illness, and he had seen visions of
blood sucking wasters and starving miners with
famishing wives and children (Applause.) He had
been asked to put suggestions before the men, but he
had consulted others, whose judgment he respected,
and they had asked him to let them alone, because it
was a pity that after the men had suffered so long
that they should in any way recede from the posi-
tion they had taken up. No concessions would
satisfy the greedy animals called the masters.
(Hear, hear.)—Mr. Southall said the struggle be-
came more and more painful, for it seemed to him
that the destiny of the whole of the colliers of that
di•trict lay in the hands of one or two men who
ought to be gentlemen, but who said the wages re-
duction must be forced whatever happened. (Play
on for ever.) On that side of the district there was
a feeling that all should play, and that opinion had
been always held, but on the West Bromwich side
there was a different opinion. At a meeting at
Quarry Bank, on the previous night, it had been
agreed that the men at work at the old rate of wages
should give notice on Satur'ay for an advance
of 4d. per day. ("Hear, hear," and cheers.) The
battle had to go on to ti e bitter end, and the men
at work ought to do all in their power to assist the
men who were at play. (Aep eine.) The only
way for the men to succeed was by eombnation,
ant he urged his hearers to do all in their power
to secure the principle. On the speaker's motion a
vote of thanks was passed to the writer of an article
in an evening paper of the previous day.—Mr. Win-
wood then stated that the Rev. t. 2,1 Leach had
promised to attend future meetings of the men.
(Applause.) For his own part he was against any
concession in the present struggle, for the battle
must be fought and won, because it was one for
bread and fur life. ("Hear, hesr,'' ani cheers) Mr.
Winwood denied that he had adviFed the men to
come out. Certain coalmastel a had tried to handle
him as to-his detriment, but it was a lie that he had
told the men to come eel without notice. He had
net done so, but the noble mining managers and
coaluiteecrs had never any compunction in trying
to fasten accusatioLs on hill,. There were white
slaves in England, and there were nigger-drivers in
the country in the shape of coalmn.sters whom he
named, whose necks wanted betiding to the same
yoke thAt they put ou the men. One of them had
said that when the strike was over he would :take
the beer and coal from the men, but he (the speaker)
might tell that gentleman that the men would fight
to the death for the privileges they had had for so
many years, (Applause.) In conclusion Mr. Win-
wood asked the men to continue the st-uggle, for
they were at the winning point. (Continued ap-
plause.)—Mr. Hill then condemned the action of Mr.
Bassano in speaking so strongly against the poor
starving men, and counselled the men not to put a
stick in the hands of the masters by taking money
instead of coal. Let them have the coal at home.
Even if they could not use it they could sell it, and
SO benefit. But by taking trion,y instead they gave
the masters a chance of re4ricit he wages, and s)
securing the coal for nothing. ("Rear, hear," and
applause.)—lt was then moved, seconded, and
carried with applause, "That the men at work at
the o'd rate of wages give notice for an advance of
4d. I,r day :on Saturday the 13th :inst." It
was • agreed with enthusiasm "to play on," every
hand being held up in favour of the resolution,—
The meeting concluded with a vcte of thanks to
Councillor Hill.—Mr. Winwood said there would be
no more mass meetings for the present.

'ADVICE TO DYSEPTICS."—Symptoms of Dyspepsia
and Indigestion, with special advice as to dict.—This little
pamphlet appeals forcibly to those who have allowed the
palate to decide everything for them, and have paid the in
ovitable penalty of their follv."— Globe. Sent for one stamp
M. RICHARDS, Publisher, 92, Oreat Russel Street,
London.

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