The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-29
ENGLAND'S GREAT STRIKE.
THE MISERY OF TEE MINERS IN
DURHAM COUNTY.

DOhhAm COONIls
The Result OF the rrotractea Struggle n
. Free Trade Country-Days or Mourp-
Ing Isstead OF Holidays Starvation
Faced by Many Famiiies-Mines Ruined
II Is now At time to study tho great
strike OF the coal miners in Durham
county. England. a FREQ trade country The
protraoted struggle was ended only a month
ago Owing to a falling of in the demand for
steel and iron. and articles manufactured
from those metals. the steel and iron works OF
England restricted their output considerably
In 1891. Tho great decrease In the trade with
South America, especially. injured the iron
and steel business OF Great Britain severely,
As many works were shut down. and others
were going on in small way only. the de-
mand for coal fell off to large extent. The
stock OF coal Increased to large proper
tons. and. consequently prices went down.
Tho Miners Federation OF Great Britain. fore
seeing that IL the mine owners profits wore
decreased their wages would be reduced, de-
clded to stop work for q fortnight so as to lot
the accumulated stock be sold of. They
looked upon this cessation OF work as holt
day. not figuring that the effect would be only
temporary. while it would also iniure other
workmen in allied trades. The Federation in
cuded the miners OF Yorkshire. Lancashire,
North and South Stnfrordshire. Dcrbyshire,
Monmouthshirc. and Cumberland. and was
expecting COOPERATION from Scotland. The
strike accomplished nothing moro than to
POSTPONE the inevitable reduction OF wages.
while 1t forced up the prices OF coal only to the
small consumers in London and elsewhere.
who could buy only by tho hundred weight.
Tho corporations having warning had pur.
chased enough to outlast the strike.
The strike Of the Durham miners who were
l,.,l J,I IN <ha EoIa tai
dent OF the Federation strike. but it was begun
at the same time. Ono hundred and ninety
thousand miners wore affected by the strike
OF the Federation, and 81, 600 by tho strike in
Durham county. where 2l6 colieries were
operated by SO firms or individuals. Among
the latter were Lord Durham and Lord Lon
donderry. Tho strike OF the Federation. or, as
they termed 1t, their holiday lasted only a
fortnight. But their unwise stoppaCe OF
great industry resulted in permanent
loss OF employment for some. and caused
much misery and suffering for the un-
fortunates who had no savings to
rely upon. The Durham strike lasted
eleven weeks. 1t plunged the strikers and
their families into the most terrible misery.
many Of the feeber women and children dying
Of deprivation. The suffering was SO appal
ing that. although the strike. especially tn Q
prolongation OF 1t. was due entirely to the un-
thetio Britons were induced to contribute to a
fund for the aid OF the sick and starving. The
strikers finally had to accept worse terms
than they had refused at first. and fully 10000
Of Thorn were shut out permanently.
The strikers had had plenty Of time to con-
slider the conditions before they made their
move Their union. known as the Durham
Coal Miners Association. had been recog-
nized since 1871 by tho Durham Coal Owners
49, hrl
settled by conferences between tho latter and
scommittee Of the union known as the FEEDER
alton Board. sliding scale OF wages was
adopted in 1877. which was based on q relation
assumed to exist between prices actually
realized for coal at the entrance to
the mines and wages earned by per-
sons engaged in raising the coal; The
1889. and the employers gave the, men tho
i9llowing advaneess; od Ten per cent. to take
sset from D March 3 1906 y ssn Ter c tao
vsTsd om shnss rns to
shiIlings pence: sccoEa dim to the work per;
reached its highest point, and thereafter it
beg began to DECREASE steadily ai In April 1901:
Re head OF 1e
union. that. owing to dull trade and low prices.
daced. and asked for nesting Of the Wages wa e
committees Of tho Coal Owners Association
ana the Miners ASSOCIATION.
held on 1851 oi"sf he @ners has
there was any cause for reducing wages and
vsneed: The cwnors said that they would ,i
officially ascertain tho existing and prospec-
ss htffh ey did s nesS they ~oSd
submit to Arbitration: No further action was
whish i wa" vas dssIa5ea that Tic eTstns wasss
ascertainment OF the selling prices for the
quarter ending Sept. 80 showed results cor,
the standard, Tins owners asserted that their
position was 10 per cent. wor SO then at CORE
te ySas r odhsy
ton n the wages equal to 10 per cent. and in
leave the question to arbitration. The miners
Esplied that tbs they would consider the subject
aud the men refused 70 accept reduction or
submit to arbitration. The owners asked them
sulsy On Fss the miner sHt eo o%1 n" tee
rssplird tn, that the subject had Deen submitted to
h re- union nss ana the mebers had baoted
t tStrd a.ui f. I Is the
union. The mon rejected the three prop
99s sadota;on on Eoh - the c9Hl Owners
settlement WAS not reached within fortnight
from Feb. ~ the existing relations between
cations rs met again Ihr owners then agreed
nt.,
an immediate reduction Of , per ceut.. with an ]
additional reduction OF pcr cent, on May ].
The leaders OF the miners submitted these
proposals t. tho men. but they rejected them
IN spite OF tho advice uf the leaders. Thoy
held mass meetin. on March and alopted
those resolutions:
That this mass meetinS representing the district of
The county OF Durham. believes tha thu c0cry
ers demand fer reduction II WAGES Is Uhcallcd for
and tnat as wor4nten and tue producer, OF narL.t
able commodity, AMI having the selling
or the article produced We nrniy Iefusr submit
any reduction Whatever. an l. further that
recosnz. ANY derre'Ni" IN iIc coal trade.
that, no matter wha. oNcrtureS com. from the
ers OF any decision that may BE- arrived at the
question of reduction We seek al council
Ing with view 10 stopping the PITS the county
along with the Naipnn Federal ION tor a fortnight.
. That this meeting advises the the county at
the next ballot to vote 70 10 have
accord with tho Durham Miners Association.
The mine owners and Consumers throughout |
England felt very unoasy. and feared serious |
Consequences. The owners had weakened |
themselves by asking for u greater reduction |
than they we're lnsll y willing to accept. Some
o. the mines, were likely t" be noodcd il not |
the services Of the deputlcs who had chargn of |