The meeting held on the 23rd of April had a very full programme of business. The county was called upon to deal with another serious strike at Wearmouth, and the support of the men severely taxed the energies of the Union. A great deal depended upon the result of that contest. The business part of the meeting, apart from Wearmouth, was the appointment of a secretary and extra agents. The points under consideration were the number to be appointed, whether they should be in districts or be centralised, and what should be the salary. The decision was there should be two agents, and the salary 27s. 6d. per week, with house and firing. With respect to the secretary, it was resolved to appoint one—the choice in this, as in the agents, being left to a subsequent meeting.
On the 7th of May a full detailed list of the collieries and members was given, which it may be interesting to set forth.
| Name of Colliery | Number of Members | Income for Month |
|---|---|---|
| Trimdon | 165½ | £8 5 6 |
| Trimdon Grange | 64½ | 3 4 6 |
| Shiney Row | 62 | 3 2 0 |
| Philadelphia | 40 | 2 0 0 |
| Murton | 342½ | 17 4 6 |
| Ludworth | 32 | 0 16 0 |
| South Hetton | 90 | 3 18 0 |
| Whitworth | 107 | 5 7 0 |
| Addison | 120 | 5 12 0 |
| Norwood | 33 | 1 11 0 |
| Evenwood | 63 | 2 1 0 |
| Shildon Lodge | 41 | 2 1 0 |
| Page Bank | 28 | 0 14 0 |
| Black Boy | 77 | 5 3 0 |
| Tudhoe | 120 | 6 0 0 |
| Adelaide | 90 | 4 15 0 |
| Thornley | 230 | 11 10 0 |
| Heworth | 70 | 3 10 0 |
| Seaham | 150 | 4 3 0 |
| Felling | 20 | 1 0 0 |
| Quarrington Hill and Coxhoe | 52 | 2 11 6 |
| Derwent | 174 | 4 7 0 |
The appointment of agents and secretary was then taken, the following being the result:—
As agents, Mr Munson, Philadelphia; Mr Crawford Bedlington, and Mr J. Richardson; the secretary being A. Cairns, Thornley. Mr Richardson was assigned to North East, Mr Crawford, Central, and Mr Munson, South-West. Each district to have a sub-delegate meeting, Birtley, Thornley and Bishop Auckland being the places of meeting.
Mr Crawford was not long in the county before he began to make himself felt, and let the people know he was around, as the Yankee would say. In The Durham Chronicle for the 3rd of June 1870 there is a very striking letter in his best style. Those of us who knew him are well aware what his best meant in 1870. He was writing in defence of Trades Unions—some writers had been speaking about the "terrible tyranny" of these unions. He turned on them, and showed that, "if there were tyranny anywhere, it lay on the side of the employers, and that the workmen were at all times inclined to act in a right and courteous manner. Still, while they so act, they have to be utterly and fiercely condemned, and the employing class applauded and eulogised for acting in a manner diametrically opposite, and about as near an approximation to truth and right, as are the North and South Poles. This seems a most anomalous condition of things, that with one class right should be called wrong, while with an opposite class that which is really wrong should be called right. But I have no hesitation in saying that, if the doings of working men's associations be closely and impartially sought into, it will be found that, instead of any of their members receiving full licence to do as they like, every action is closely watched, and not over-considerately examined, and that, if there be a fault, it often is in the executive power pressing rather too hardly any portion of their fellows who may wish to seek for an amelioration of their wrongs. Let the general public examine both the origin and mode of conducting our trade disputes, and, as a rule, it will be found that, instead of the toiling population deserving their unsparing contumely, the employing class are alone the undivided cause of these struggles, and the course they generally afterwards pursue ought to call forth the bitterest indignation, and often does beget in the heart of the working men a feeling of dislike and disregard not unmixed with contempt."
At the meeting held on the 4th of June a fourth district was formed. It was called the South-Western, and Mr Patterson was appointed agent to it. As a further consequence of this additional district the Executive Committee was increased from seven to nine, the wages of the agents being fixed at 25s. 6d. and expenses. At this meeting we have the first safeguarding rule against collieries striking illegally:
"That any colliery coming out on strike in an unconstitutional way be not allowed any support from the Central Fund, or have their case considered at the Central Board."
The next delegate meeting was held on the 30th of July. There was an attendance of thirty-two delegates. The only matters needing a place in our history were the appointment of another agent or assistant, and an increase in the wages of the agents. It was decided to appoint "Tommy Ramsey," and his wage to be 28s. per week. The wage of the other agents was fixed at 25s. per week, with 10s. travelling expenses and 5s. per week house rent. These sums to include all expenses within their respective districts.
