Part 25

We have placed their statues in a prominent position; but what do they mean to us? They are reminders of a state of things in a large part passed away, and as suggesters of a hope of a larger life in the future they contain a recognition and a resolve--a recognition of their work and a resolve to carry it forward: a recognition of the debt we owe to them, which can only be paid by service rendered to others. It is a debt which no statue, no matter how costly or lifelike, can liquidate. It can only be paid in kind. That is a truth we should not forget, but on all occasions give expression to. It is that expression which stamps real dignity upon the life of any man. Position, rank, title, wealth are all useless, for the true index is manliness and useful service. The true reformers have been (and are) men who assisted the good and resisted the evil, not simply because it would pay or bring preferment or popularity, but because they felt in their hearts the impulses (and compulsions, if you will) of duty. The love of man constrained them, and the imperative _I must_ forced them onward. The world's progress has not depended on the acts of the so-called great men, but on the endeavours and self-denials of men who were lost often amid the mists and struggles and poverty of life, and to whom its heavy burdens were not theoretical, but terribly near in their contact, and fearful in their weight and trial.

The deeds of the workers of the race are not recorded to decorate history, but for strengthening the generations to come. For such purpose has prominence been given here to our workers. "The measure of a nation's civilisation is the number of the brave men it has had, whose qualities have been harvested for children and youth." We have had our brave men. They did not live to themselves. In this we must be their imitators.

AU REVOIR

I have had many pleasant occupations in connection with our Association, and the writing of this outline of our history is not the least pleasing among them. It has taken much time, but the result has been (not to be burdensome, but) to impart a somewhat hurried and loose character to the writing, and perhaps some slight omissions of facts, not material to the general course of the history. It has been compiled in the rush of other matters, and in odd minutes as they offered themselves, but its purpose will be attained if a desire to form a closer acquaintance with our growth and transactions be provoked, especially in the minds of our young men, in the hope that they may be rooted and grounded in their faith in Trades Unionism. The dependence of the future is upon them. What is more important than for them to have a full knowledge of our policy and procedure?

The subject is to me of the most interesting nature. From start to finish it has been running the current of my own life, because in nearly all the incidents I have had some small share--as one in the ranks at first, and in these later years as one of the officials. I saw the start, have seen the growth, and feel proud of its position. With those who helped to form it I shared the evil speaking and unfair treatment when we made the attempt, and have never hesitated to be a partner in the blame and slanders which small-minded men have seen fit to bestow upon those who were doing their duty. The narrow mind always feels a pleasure in censuring others. I say nothing of the work which has been done except this: in all I have had any part in there has been pleasure, and none of the hireling waiting for the shadow of the day. I have shared the regrets of those who regretted the failures, and now I am thankful there is large room to rejoice over the progress made and the position attained. This feeling, you will permit me to say, is bound to be stronger in me than in most men. It is part of my life. Thirty-seven years is a long time. A man is a fool, or worse, if, living in contact with an institution (one in which he has lived and moved and had his being), it has not made more than a mechanical impression upon him. I have passed from youth to age in that contact. It commenced in the prime of manhood, and continues when life's day is declining, and the gathering shades indicate the sun has dipped far to the west, and to find myself in active service, even with the limited powers resulting from the weight of threescore years and ten, is the crown of my rejoicing.

I have been a long time the colleague of some of you. In the battle we have been shoulder to shoulder, and our hair has turned grey in the fight. We have been together in good and evil, for the web of our life has been of mingled yarn. Good and evil together have been mixed, but the good has predominated--how much we alone can tell. I rejoice with you that we have lived to see this day, and that we are still fighting the good fight, with the hopeful spirit, if the physical energies are less than when we commenced. There is a great distance between the point we have attained and the valley whence we started--a distance not measured by time. The true standard is an experience such as our life alone can supply.

My final word is to my young brothers. It is that of exhortation to appreciate not merely the conditions you enjoy, but the possibilities opened out to you. The thought of these should stir you up to the enjoyment of one and the use of the other. Believe me, about this I am very anxious, and shall rejoice if something in this book, or suggested by it, tends to stir you to good and profitable use of the facilities and time the Association has opened out to you. The opening out of these devolves upon you a twofold duty: to yourselves first, and then devoting yourselves to the improvement, solidifying, strengthening, and perfecting of the organisation. Let me quote a few words I have written to you before:

To omit the duty you owe to yourselves; to neglect the opportunities which are open to you; to think all of pleasure and sport, and nothing of mental culture; to leave the institutes which are opening out to you, with their libraries, and which with their stores of knowledge bring you into living, thoughtful contact with the mental giants of the race; to live only for present enjoyment, with no preparation for to-morrow, which will need and make demands upon you, is surely a lack of forethought, which is condemnable for two reasons, because it stunts your own nature (for no uneducated man is complete), and hinders your usefulness when matured manhood calls upon you to take your place in the affairs of your class and nation, to assist in the progress of one and the rectification of the national evils. Put not your trust in other people entirely; look not to some power outside yourselves to raise you higher in the social scale, whether it be parliamentary or otherwise. The most effective means for further progress lies in us. We want to be true to ourselves, resting not satisfied with foul conditions and surroundings nor ignorance. An educated people is a powerful people; for where is there a man who knows what is due to a man who will be satisfied with less than what a man requires and deserves?

These thoughts form the _raison-d'être_ of this history. The aim is to make it a reliable record of facts and an inspiration to those who read. There has been no attempt at literary display. There has been a desire to give prominence to the principles of the founders, and to urge adherence to them, for by them we have come, and by them we shall progress. Our course has been gradual, but it has been safe. We have a record of which all may justly feel proud. It has not been rushing nor spasmodic. In these ofttimes lies ruin, and this we have found when we as an Association have tried that method. Carefulness and caution are not cowardice. These feelings may not be heroic, but they have proved their fitness in the years that are gone. "Discretion is the better part of valour."

"More firm and sure the hand of courage strikes When it obeys the watchful eye of caution."

This was the leading feature of those who made our present possible. No one would dare charge them with lack of true heroism. Let me urge upon you the same spirit. The road may seem longer, and the processes more painful and slow, but these need not damp your spirits. They should brace you for the struggle, strengthen your purpose, fix more firmly your hopes, give you larger faith in the future, induce you to realise your place in life and not be drifters with the current. There are too many who are satisfied to merely exist. They have no aspiration nor ideal nor hope. No man has a right to pass through life indifferent to the wrongs around him. Two things we must avoid: impetuosity in associated work and stagnation in the individual life. Each life should be a clear current, invigorating, not a mere moral miasmatic pool, but cleansing, elevating, ennobling. There are three voices calling upon this generation: the past with the work done for us; the present with its demands upon our help for rectification; and the future with its possibilities of a better and purer life. There are many powers opened out to you, but there are three which stand out prominently: sobriety, education, association. These used, the darkness will disperse, the downtrodden be raised, and England made truly a home for her people. The continuous sunshine in which some dwell and the dark poverty in which thousands exist will be blended, every soul-enslaving fetter be bruised and broken and cast away, and the world be brighter for our living in it; and we, when called to our account, will feel cheered that we have done what we could to cast out the old and cruel conditions and ring in the Christ that is to be, when want and hunger shall be no more and that state which the rich provision in nature and the wonderful production around us provides for shall be realised.

APPENDIX I

THE GALAS, WITH THE DAY AND DATE UPON WHICH THEY WERE HELD

1871 Saturday, August 12th, at Wharton Park, Durham. 1872 " June 15th, on Race-course, Durham. 1873 " June 14th " " 1874 " August 15th " " 1875 " July 3rd " " 1876 Monday July 3rd " " 1877 " July 16th " " 1878 Saturday July 6th " " 1879 " July 5th " " 1880 " July 31st " " 1881 " July 30th " " 1882 " July 1st " " 1883 " July 14th " " 1884 " July 5th " " 1885 " July 25th " " 1886 " July 31st " " 1887 " July 23rd " " 1888 " July 14th " " 1889 " July 6th " " 1890 " July 12th " " 1891 " July 4th " " 1892 " July 23rd " " 1893 " July 29th " " 1894 " July 21st " " 1895 " July 27th " " 1896 " July 18th " " 1897 " July 24th " " 1898 " July 16th " " 1899 " July 22nd " " 1900 " July 28th " " 1901 " July 20th " " 1902 " July 26th " " 1903 " July 18th " " 1904 " July 23rd " " 1905 " July 29th " " 1906 " July 21st " "

APPENDIX II

CHANGES IN WAGES FROM 1872

Date of change Advance Reduction taking effect per cent. per cent.

February 1872 20 -- July 1872 15 -- February 1873 15 -- April 1874 -- 10 November 1874 -- 9 April 1875 -- 5 February 1876 -- 7 September 1876 -- 6 April 1877 -- 7½ May 1879 -- 8¾ July 1879 -- 1¼ December 1880 2½ -- April 1882 3¾ -- August 1882 -- 1¼ November 1882 1¼ -- February 1883 1¼ -- August 1884 -- 1¼ May 1885 -- 1¼ May 1886 -- 1¼ February 1888 1¼ -- May 1888 -- 1¼ August 1888 -- 1¼ November 1888 1¼ -- February 1889 1¼ -- August 1889 10 -- December 1889 10 -- March 3-10, 1890 5 -- December 29, 1890 5 -- January 5, 1891 -- -- June 1, 1892 -- 10 March 1893 -- 5 [1]October 16, 1893 5 -- May 6-13, 1895 -- 7½ October 7-14, 1895 -- 2½ August 14-21, 1897 2½ -- [2]May 16-23, 1898 2½ -- May 16-23, 1898 2½ -- Oct. 31-Nov. 7, 1898 2½ -- [3]April 17-24, 1899 2½ -- July 24-31, 1899 2½ -- November 6-13, 1899 3¾ -- February 12-19, 1900 5 -- May 14-21, 1900 7½ -- August 13-20, 1900 10 -- November 12-19, 1900 10 -- February 11-18, 1901 -- 1¼ May 13-20, 1901 -- 11¼ August 12-19, 1901 -- 7½ November 12-19, 1901 -- 5 February 17-24, 1902 -- 1¼ May 12-19, 1902 -- 2½ August 11-18, 1902 -- 2½ February 9-16, 1903 1¼ -- May 11-18, 1903 -- 1¼ August 10-17, 1903 -- 1¼ February 8-15, 1904 -- 1¼ May 16-23, 1904 -- 2½ November 7-14, 1904 -- 1¼ February 5-12, 1906 1¼ -- August 6-13, 1906 2½ -- November 12-19, 1906 1¼ --

[Footnote 1: Originally given as a temporary advance for six pays, afterwards converted into an ordinary advance.]

[Footnote 2: Originally given for six pays, afterwards continued for further period of six pays, and again extended until pays ending 15th and 22nd April 1899; it was then continued as an ordinary advance.]

[Footnote 3: Of this advance one and a quarter per cent. was given for seven pays, and afterwards merged in the ordinary percentage.]

APPENDIX III

Table showing the explosions and inundations, with the date and number of lives lost, since the beginning of 1869, in Durham, brought down to the end of 1906, with two statements on the dust theory by Mr J. Forman.

Lives lost 1869--May 25, Monkwearmouth 7 1871--October 25, Seaham 30 1878--July 6, Craghead exploded 4 1880--September 8, Seaham Colliery exploded 168 1882--February 16, Trimdon Colliery exploded 74 1882--April 18, Tudhoe exploded 36 1882--April 13, West Stanley exploded 13 1885--March 2, Usworth exploded 41 1885--June 3, Houghton-le-Spring 12 1885--December 2, Elemore 28 1889--November 2, Hebburn 6 1895--December 13, Eppleton 3 1896--April 13, Brancepeth A Pit 20 1897--May 6, East Hetton, inundation 10 1899--August 15, Brandon C Pit 6 1902--May 20, Deaf Hill 1 1903--November 16, Sacriston, inundation 3 1906--October 14, Wingate, explosion 24 1906--December 17, Urpeth Busty, explosion 4

A THEORY SHOWING HOW COAL DUST IS IGNITED AND EXPLODED IN A COAL MINE, MORE ESPECIALLY ON IN-TAKE AIR ROADS

In the first place, there must be a considerable quantity of very fine and dry coal dust in the immediate proximity of a shot when fired; and if the shot is a strong one the concussion will be very great.

This force, acting on the air, throws the finest particles of coal dust into the circulating current, in a finely divided state, with orbid motion, thereby causing each particle of coal dust to be surrounded with air, and these particles of dust in this condition coming in contact with the flame of a shot, are easily ignited.

At the moment of ignition the temperature of the particles of dust is low, but as the ignition extends to other particles, and they become ignited in quantity, the temperature rises, so that the motion of the heated particles becomes more rapid by expanding and compressing the air, until their velocity is so great that the temperature of the burning dust is raised to the temperature of gas flame, exploding the coal dust in its course.

At this high temperature, the expansion of the air will develop great force, which acting on the dust at rest, will whirl it into the air current, and this will be continued so long as there is a sufficient quantity of coal dust and air to feed the flame.

JOHN FORMAN.

* * * * *

To J. Wilson, Esq., Secretary to the Royal Commission on Explosions from Coal Dust in Mines.

Dear Sir,--In October 1871 an explosion occurred at Seaham Colliery, and my attention was called to it; and, after considering all the circumstances of the case, I eventually came to the conclusion that the shot fired by the two Simpsons ignited the coal dust and caused the explosion.

In September 1880 another explosion took place at Seaham Colliery. I went down the pit in the evening of the day of the explosion with Mr Stratton (the manager) and other Mining Engineers, and I remained at Seaham Colliery for 12 months, until the last body was found, and was, during that time, down the pit almost every day as an explorer. I also attended the inquest and gave evidence. I was satisfied from what I saw that the shot fired by Simpson and Brown ignited the coal dust and caused the explosion.

In February 1882 an explosion occurred at Trimdon Grange Colliery. I went down the pit and attended the inquest, and from what I saw and heard I concluded that the explosion was caused by a flushed kitty or straw at Maitland's shot firing a small quantity of fire-damp, which ignited the coal dust and caused the explosion.

In April 1882 an explosion occurred at West Stanley Colliery. I attended the inquest, and from what I could learn the shot fired by the two men (Douglas and Hutchinson) ignited a small portion of fire-damp, which fired the coal dust, and brought on an explosion.

In March 1885 an explosion happened at Usworth Colliery. I attended the inquest, and came to an opinion that the shot fired by the two men, named Brown, ignited the coal dust, which produced an explosion.

In December 1886 an explosion occurred at Elemore Colliery. I went down the pit and attended the inquest. I was satisfied, in my mind, that the shot fired by the three men (Johnson, Appleby and Luke) ignited the coal dust, thereby causing the explosion.--Yours, etc.

JOHN FORMAN.

_December 1886._

INDEX

A

Accountants, 128, 164, 314

Aftermath of 1892 strike, 245

Agents' districts, 23-24

Alteration of the "First Caller," 59, 337

Amicability in disputes, 340

Arbitration, Deputies', 170

-- earliest, 33

-- first general, 85, 103

-- second, 109

-- third, 113

-- fourth, 118

-- owners refuse, 152

-- working hours, 169

Armstrong, W., 103, 109

Attempts to form Union, 6

Average, county, 162

-- theoretical and real, 147

Award, 1879, _pro tem_., 157

-- J. R. Lyn's, 220

Awards, Lord Davey's, 1895, 267-269

Award, Lord Davey's, 1902, 319

B

Bank Holiday, 318

Banking account, 18

Benefits, reduction of, 199

Blagdon, Rev. M., 26

Bond, yearly, 17, 47, 49

Boys' wages, 309, 324

Broken price agreement, 325

Brown, W., 8, 35

Building, the, 16

Bunning, T. W., 47

Burt, T., 8, 20, 103, 182

C

Cairns, A., 23, 26, 32

"Caller, First," 59, 337

Candymen, 96

Cann, T. H., appointed treasurer, 276

Care for life, 341

Changes, 337

Checkweighmen, 73, 338

Clerk, first appointed, 105

Coal-drawing agreement, 323

Coal Owners' Association formed, 46

Coal Tax, 310

Commission, Royal, 86

Committee, 1879, 160

Compensation Act 1897, 291

Conciliation Board, 263

-- first members of, 266

-- renewed, 294, 331

Co-operative colliery, 90, 110

-- Committee, 110

County Council, 209

Crake, W., 7, 13

Crawford, W., 6, 9, 23, 26, 31, 33, 37, 103, 109

-- attack on, 80

-- censure on, 84

-- candidature of, 88

-- death of, 215

D

Dale, D., Sir, 103, 109, 157

Dark Days, 197

Deputies' basis wage fixed, 301

-- difference as to, 120

-- hours, 1870, 121

-- wage, 1870, 121

-- wage, 173

Derby, Lord, 160

Desire for better houses, 343

E

Educational benefit of Union, 340

Emigration, 131, 165

Employers' Liability Act, 172

Entrance fee, first, 18, 121

Equality, 339

Evictions, Wheatley Hill, 96

Ex-Committee condemned, 145

-- expelled, 114

-- rules, 114

F

Federation Board formed, 140

-- condemned, 145

-- first members of the, 141

Federation, Miners',

-- Durham miners and the, 251, 256

-- expulsion from the, 259

-- refuses Durham, 277

Fillers' agreement, 333

Firemen's week-end shifts, 316

Five days per week, 183

Forman, J., 36, 38, 103, 105, 119

-- death of, 302

Forsters', W. E., award, 109

Fowler, J., 61

Franchise Association, 88

-- extension of, 191

G

Gala, first, 31-34

-- first on the race-course, 59

Galbraith, S., appointed, 305

Golightly, W., 105

Gordon, W., 114, 118

Graham, Coroner, 298

Gurney's, Russell, award, 103

Guthrie, R., 207

H

Hall, the new, 82, 118

Hand putters' basis wage, 324

Heath, Mr, 337

Hewers' datal wage, 306

Homes, Aged Miners', 297

Hopwood's, C. H., award, 113

Hours arbitration, 132

Hours', arrangement, ten, 214, 217

-- eight, 199

-- ballot on, 248

-- second ballot on, 321

-- of boys, 32, 48, 74, 77, 83

Houses and house rent, 307

Housing condition, 104, 110

House, W., appointed to Joint Committee, 292

-- appointed President, 305

I

Imprisonment of Messrs Cann, Jones, and Forbes, 244

Increased knowledge of the miners, 343

Industrial Remuneration Conference, 190

Isaacs, Mr, 336

J

Johnson, J., appointed treasurer, 217

-- fin. secretary, 276

Johnson, Mr, and Gateshead, 328

Joint Committee, formation of, 66

-- first meeting, 69

-- suspended, 164, 329

Jones, L., 83, 103, 109, 119, 196

Judge, a, puzzled, 30

L

Labourers' basis wage, 306

Labour representation, 194, 326

Leaders, the first, 37

Lords, House of, 192

M

Macdonald, A., 17

-- death of, 180

Meynell, Mr E., 112, 335

-- award, 134

Miners' demand for trained miners, 90

-- International Congress, formed, 223

-- National Conference, 25, 124

-- Act 1861, 1

-- Act 1871, 71

-- Act 1872, 71, 72

N

Negotiations of 1890, 211

Notices given to enforce a reduction, 101

-- again given by owners, 107

O

O'Connor, Judge, 197, 335

Officers, first, 14

Opposition, 41, 42, 43, 44

P

Patterson, W. H., 8, 13, 26, 39, 113