Engines and Men/Chapter 11

by John R. Raynes

Chapter XI

 

The Twentieth Century—A Veteran's Visit—American Engines—Death of Mr. Sunter—A Notable Loss—Mr. Fox Elected General Secretary—The Important Year 1903—Mr. Parfitt Appointed Organiser—Centralisation of Funds—Labour Representation—The Federation Scheme—Its History.

 

We have emerged, then, into the twentieth century, after a long and varied run through the nineteenth, and we find that after twenty years of effort the Society is consolidating its position and increasing its strength, it never had called, and did not for eleven years subsequently call, a general strike of its members, but it was all the time preparing for such an emergency, and was also week by week distributing its helpful benefits to needy members. When! was starting this chapter. Henry Shuttleworth came to see me. He was first Vice-Chairman of the Society in 1881, the second to sign the register on the opening night of the Leeds branch, and the second to occupy the position of Chairman of the Executive. When he came to see me, at my request, he was a white-haired veteran of eighty years, but still hearty. We talked over the first twenty years of adventure, and then looked at the present position. He contrasted the early days with the present, and declared the progress to be wonderful and simply amazing. He was very proud of it, and when I showed him the first minute book, containing much of his own writing in the first years, his face beamed with pleasure. He quite thought all those old records were lost for ever, and beyond all recovery.

 

Mr. Albert Fox,

General Secretary 1901 to 1914.

Let us, however, return to the advent of the new century, for we have yet a long way to go. The boom of big and yet bigger locomotives continued, and the Midland and Great Northern were ordering consignments of new giants from the Baldwin works in America. Men became smaller by comparison with the vibrating monsters they drove, but they kept a sure and steady hand in control. The Lancashire & Yorkshire led the way for a time in big engines, with the gigantic ten-wheeled four-coupled express engines of the "1400" class, and next came the great "2001" class of the North Eastern Railway. The Midland and Great Northern were installing the "Mogul "freight engines, and there was talk of one running in America which in itself weighed over 103 tons. "What are we coming to?" men asked, and all the time the companies said they were unable to concede the ten hours day and still adhere to the working conditions of 1890. Footplate men were seeking other work at 5s, a week less wages because the chances of promotion became so remote. The Railway Nationalisation League, as it was then called, was active in advocating State railways, and in America the big private companies had so standardised parts that they were building locomotives in the massed style which they applied to sewing machines.

Automatic couplings, to make shunting and transit safer, were being discussed, and a Bill to make them compulsory was introduced, but withdrawn because the companies took strong objection to the expense involved. The South African War was proceeding, and a number of our members were out there driving, having engines fitted with pump and hose to draw water from streams within reach during their long veldt journeys. A corps of railway engineers left Crewe on October 9th, 1899, to undertake railway work in South Africa, many of whom were members of our Crewe branch. The great feature of the years 1900-1905 was keen interest in the mechanical side of railways, especially of engines, just as the great feature of to-day is the keen interest in the human side of railway working.

Theophilus T. Millman, of Tondu branch, was Chairman of the 1899 Triennial Conference which had decided in favour of the conference with the A.S.R.S. on Federation, and the project had only just been shelved when Taff Vale sprang into prominence again, the third time within a decade. Letters, telegrams, and resolutions poured into the Executive, which did not authorise a strike of the system, but the men came out without the consent of the Executive, and without taking a vote of the members. It was agreed to allow out-of-work pay in accordance with Rule 28 to all affected." but we cannot, as responsible officers of the Society, sanction a violation of the rules." The payments made came to £351, and at the close of the strike the company sued the signalmen for damages, which the A.S.R.S. had to pay on their behalf. This Taff Vale judgment became an important incident in trade union history, and it was only put right in 1906 by an alteration of the law, which safeguarded the right to strike. The Society resolved that: "In the event of other railways ordering our members to do work on the Taff Vale, we are prepared to support such members as per rule if they refuse to do so. We may withdraw our members from any company which may enforce men to go on the Taff Vale." At the close of the strike the Executive complimented the General Secretary upon his prudence during the strike.

October of 1900 was significant for the telegram from the Executive to the A.S.R.S. congratulating them on the return of Richard Bell for Derby, the first working railwayman to enter Parliament. In the same month a levy was made upon branches to meet the extraordinary costs on the Sick Fund, Openshaw calling for £90 and Sheffield for £70 help from the General Fund. The total calls of branches on Head Office in that epidemic were £312. A plebiscite of members was taken on the proposed appointment of an Organising Secretary, and the votes recorded were: For 2,171, against 230. The votes of one branch (Neath) were disqualified because they were all filled up by one person. As the vote was regarded as insufficient, it was resolved to take no further steps until the next Conference.

The year 1901 brought a notable and serious loss to the Society in the death of its first effective General Secretary. T. G. Sunter. He duly recorded the minutes at the Executive meeting on June 29th, and none thought then he was so near the end of his splendid activities. "Take him for all in all, he was a man; we shall never see his like again." could truly be said of him. He had for nearly sixteen years been a quiet and unobtrusive pilot of the Society's affairs, always generous, open-hearted, and fatherly. Only a few members had any idea of his illness when the following notice, in black borders, appeared in the "Journal" of October:

 

In Memoriam.

 

---

 

Death of T. G. Sunter, Esq., General Secretary.

 

Fellow-Members,

 

It is my most painful duty to inform you that our worthy and respected General Secretary passed away from this mortal flesh about 2 p.m.. September 20th, 1901, after a somewhat lengthy illness. Whilst I am sincerely grieved to have this painful duty to perform, I feel grateful that I have been privileged to work as a subordinate official under such a conscientious, sympathetic General Secretary, and that my experience of him as an adviser and co-worker and fellow-member is such that I can safely say: "He was a man who always endeavoured to do to others as he would they should do unto him."

We have lost an officer we can ill afford to lose, one whose place will be difficult to fill, always engaged in the welfare of our Society and its members, in its highest and noblest sense. His dealings always above suspicion, his accounts always correct, a virtue in itself.

He was ever ready with kindly advice and assistance to those in need. Outside his own particular sphere of occupation, as Editor and manager of the "Journal" he had always endeavoured to allow a fair field and no favour, always allowing fair criticism, consistent with protecting his correspondents from placing themselves within the grasp of the law. I believe he lived amongst us conscious of the welcome fact that he had made no enemies. And now, what can I say more to adorn a life many of us would do well to copy?

I extend to his family, on behalf of the Executive Council and the whole of our members, our sincere sympathy in this their irreparable loss, and trust they will be enabled to look to the Giver of all Good for solace in this great affliction. Truly indeed, God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. May we each so live as to be ready when the summons comes to us. He was laid to rest in the Cemetery, Beeston Hill, on Tuesday, September 24th, amidst every token of respect by his sorrowing relatives and friends.

I remain, yours fraternally,

A. Fox, Chairman.

 

Mr. Sunter was born at Halton, near Leeds, in 1847, and entered the service of the Midland Railway in 1864, as cleaner. By gradual promotion he became a driver of the best main line express passenger trains, and was driving for sixteen years. He was a splendid servant to the company and loyal colleague to his mates. It is reputed of him that he was always prompt, but never hurried away, becoming a valued adviser to his friends. He was one of the first members of the Society, and was an Executive member in its earliest days. He was General Secretary in 1885, when the membership was 1,073, and the funds £5,767. He saw and guided its growth until, in December, 1900, there were 10,000 members and £88,862 in funds. His best work was done silently, and he had no love of limelight. Once he discovered a discrepancy in his accounts of over £100, and without any hesitation called in a firm of chartered accountants to take over the books and find what was wrong. They soon located the error, and all was well, but the Executive complimented him upon his prompt action, and decided to pay the special audit fee. Sunter was kind as a father to many of the young men about him, and resolutions of genuine sorrow and condolence poured in from branches. The Leeds No. 1 branch promoted a fund for placing a suitable memorial stone at the grave, and the idea was supported by the Executive and many branches. The granite stone erected bears the following inscription:—

 

In Memory of

Thomas. G. Sunter,

Born April 30th, 1847.
Died September 20th, 1901.

 

Erected by subscription of the Members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, for faithful service rendered as General Secretary for 16 years.

"The world has lost a man, but his memory lives."

 

At the funeral, which took place on September 24th, the bearers were Messrs. Clarke, of Stratford branch; Evans, of Sheffield; J. Fearnley and G. Hall, York; C. Hoyle and A. Pickersgill, Ardsley; A. Lofthouse, M. J. Dickinson, C. Shaw, S. Dean, W. Goldthorpe, and G. H. Sidebottom acted as marshals to the long procession, and wreaths were sent by the Executive Council and by the following branches:-Leeds No. 1, Sheffield, Paddington, Newport, Mexboro', Hulme, Southampton, Ardsley, and Cardiff No. 2. When the committee met in October of 1901, Mr. H. Shuttleworth, as Assistant Secretary, recorded the minutes, and it was resolved: "We, as a Committee, are perfectly satisfied with the way in which the business of the Society has been carried out during the illness of our late General Secretary, and our best thanks are due to Messrs. Fox and Shuttleworth on these and other matters, and for the funeral arrangements for our departed friend." At the same meeting the following telegram was received from the A.S.R.S.: "My Congress adopted unanimously the following resolution in reference to the sad death of Mr. Sunter: 'That this conference of delegates regret the death of Mr. Sunter, General Secretary of the Associated Society of Engineers and Firemen, and desire to convey our condolence to Mrs. Sunter and family, and our sincere sympathy with the Executive Committee and members in the sad loss they have sustained.—Bell.'" To this the following reply was sent: "Executive highly appreciate expression of sympathy. Will convey to Mrs. Sunter and family your vote of condolence."

On October 4th it was resolved that applications for the position of General Secretary be invited from branches, every member to have the opportunity of being nominated for the position, but it is recommended that applicants should not be more than 45 years of age, voting to be by majority on a ballot of members. The Chairman of the Executive was made responsible for office administration in the interval. Voting papers were to be returned by December 3rd and counted on December 8th. The voting resulted as follows:—Baldwin, 29; Drummond, 106: Dickinson, 58; Fox, 1,860; Harrison, 66; Long, 31; Morse, 496; Parfitt, 1,536; Reed, 84; Vaughan, 103. There were five spoilt papers, making a total of 4,374. It was moved that a second ballot be ordered between Messrs. Fox and Parfitt, but another resolution was carried to take legal advice. As a result it was decided on December 9th: "That it be declared that A. Fox is elected General Secretary, and a circular sent to branches declaring same." This circular was issued by Mr. Shuttleworth, and quite a storm was provoked thereby. Mr. Parfitt issued a personal circular to branches, dated December 24th, 1901, protesting against the decision on the following grounds:—

1.—General Rule 11 states that the General Secretary shall be elected by a majority of the votes of the whole of the members.

2.—The Executive toned down the general rule by passing a resolution that the General Secretary should be elected by a majority of the votes cast. These totalled 4,369, out of 10,000 members, and Mr. Fox's votes numbered 1,860.

3.—The members and myself have a right to demand a second ballot, and I have demanded this from the Executive Council, as the candidate who secured the next highest number of votes."

The controversy continued for some weeks, being reflected in the "Journal" and in branch minutes, but no delegate meeting was called and no variation was made in the appointment. By the authority of the Executive, Mr. Fox took hold of direction, and a new era had opened out with the year 1902. In March, Mr. John Drummond was elected as Executive Council member in succession to Mr. Fox, and Mr. J. A. Hawkins was elected Chairman, with Mr. T. T. Millman as Vice-Chairman. It was decided in that month that permission be given to the Lancashire delegates to meet once a year, on a Sunday, for the exchange of opinion on Society matters, and that their railway fares be paid by the Executive. In that decision we seem to recognise the inception of the District Council idea. In June of the same year it was decided to recommend that membership be opened to engine cleaners, and that a Triennial Conference be held in 1903 for the alteration of rules. It was decided to communicate the fact of Mr. Sunter's death to both the American Brotherhoods in letters of fraternal greetings. There was considcrable discussion in 1902 on the formation of a Labour newspaper, and the Executive decided in favour of supporting one, either daily or weekly, and deemed such a project fit to be placed on the agenda of the T.U.C. Another important decision of the year was to affiliate with the Labour Representation Committee, and to contemplate a Parliamentary candidate.

The year 1903 was responsible for considerable advance. It saw the rules altered, it saw the appointment of an organiser, the addition of cleaners to the membership, the centralisation of funds, and the rendering of assistance in the formation of such a society in South Africa. The Triennial Conference took place in May, met for the first time by the new General Secretary, and it was decided by 61 votes to 2 that an organising secretary be appointed, The candidates nominated were Messrs. Parfitt, Millman, Drummond, Thirtle and Vaughan, and on the second ballot Messrs. Parfitt and Millman were left in the final contest. On the third vote Mr. Parfitt received 38 votes, against Mr. Millman's 25, Mr. Parfitt, it might be added, being President of the Conference for the second time. The delegates widened the rules to admit cleaners and electric trainmen, on a resolution moved by Swansea. It was the same branch which moved an alteration to Rule 2, to add levies to contributions, and to add the words:—

 

"And by representation in the House of Commons, to be paid for by levy, not exceeding 1s. per member per annum, and from the Protection Fund."

 

Several branches advocated, as an alternative, that a levy would lead to grumbling and protest, and the Protection Fund ought to be utilised. Darlington, for example, doubted the legality of making a levy for Parliamentary purposes, but it was said that if the rule passed the Registrar it became law. The subject was keenly discussed on three days of the Conference. There was considerable applause when eventually it was decided, by 35nbvotes to 24. to establish the political levy. The salary of the General Secretary having been raised from £4 to £5 weekly, Conference turned attention to the Centralisation of Funds, proposed by Mr. Drummond on behalf of the Executive. It aimed, he said, at simplicity, economy and efficiency; it would save branch secretaries much elaborate book-keeping, and always keep the Head Office informed of the state of branches. At that time there was £4,908 lying in branch funds, which, if centralised and invested at 4 per cent. would bring in £160 a year. The Taff Vale action, too, had shown how necessary it was to control the funds. Cases of defaulting secretaries and confusion of branch books would be scarce in future. The resolution was accepted, and a sub-committee appointed to draft a scheme.

This sub-committee brought forward on the following day a scheme of ten clauses, which is virtually the scheme now in operation.

Its provisions, in summary, were:—

1.—All moneys or securities to be forwarded to the General Office forthwith.

2.—Branch secretaries to collect and remit contributions and fees.

 

Present-day Emblem.

3.—The contributions to be apportioned to the respective funds by the General Secretary.

4—Members claiming sick pay must furnish General Secretary with medical certificate of illness and of recovery.

5.—Sick pay to be forwarded direct to the member concerned.

6.—Members must make application to the branch for any other benefits, for branch decision and payment.

7.—All such benefits to be paid by General Office to branch secretaries.

Under the system in operation before the adoption of the above, branch secretaries had to enter details on a very large sheet, apportioning the contributions to the different funds. Their task was laborious, and only part of the funds came to Head Office. It was possible for a defiant secretary to sign an illegal payment of strike pay, and although that never happened, the danger to the whole Society was sufficiently proved by Taff Vale.

For several reasons it might be said that 1903 saw the birth of the Society in its modern form, with a real Head Office, with an organiser, with a Parliamentary fund, with a widened membership, and with delegates present, like J. Bromley, Geo. Wride, and several others, who were destined to have very close contact with its larger growth and development in the next twenty years on the lines now adopted.

The Conference was preceded by a further discussion between the A.S.R.S. and the A.S.L.E. & F., on the Scheme of Federation, shelved since the year 1900, and this is an appropriate position to introduce the scheme in full:—

Scheme of Federation

between

The Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers And Firemen and The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Adopted at a Conference held in the Trades and Labour Hall, Leeds, May 18th, 1903.

Clause A.

 

Any movement affecting all grades or locomotive men only must receive the sanction of the Executive Committees of both Societies, and be conducted under the joint control of the two General Secretaries, each Society bearing the personal expenses of its own delegates, but all other expenses to be borne proportionately."

 

Clause B.

 

All programmes for improved conditions for locomotivemen shall be drawn up at joint meetings of that grade, and submitted for the approval of the Executive Committee of each Society. If approved, the movement shall have the full support of each Society, as laid down in Clause A.

 

Clause C.

 

Programmes for improved conditions for grades other than locomotivemen shall be subject to the approval of the Executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants only, but copies shall afterwards be forwarded to the Executive of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, and that Society shall be informed of the progress made before its support shall be solicited.

 

Clause D.

 

For the purpose of giving effect to Clause E, a Joint Committee shall be formed consisting of five members of the A.S.R.S. and five members of the A.S.L.E. & F., who shall be elected by the respective bodies each year, and the General Secretaries of the two Societies. The Joint Committee shall elect a Chairman at the first meeting, the Chairman to be allowed to vote as an ordinary member of the Committee. The two General Secretaries shall act as Joint Secretaries, and shall not be allowed to vote.

 

Clause E.

 

Should a movement which has been sanctioned in accordance with Clauses A, B and C be unsuccessful in obtaining the conditions asked for, and if it is found necessary to further press the demands by a withdrawal of labour, then the Joint Committee shall be summoned together, and the whole of the facts and circumstances placed before them; and if 75 per cent, of the Joint Committee, by their votes, recommend the withdrawal of labour, the two Executive Committees must meet jointly to finally decide, and if a strike is resolved upon, it shall then be the paramount duty of each Society to do all in its power to bring the dispute to a successful issue.

 

Clause F.

 

In the event of a strike sanctioned in accordance with Clause E. affecting locomotivemen only, each Society shall pay strike allowance to its own members; all other expenses to be borne jointly. A strike in support of one or all grades other than locomotivemen will mean that each Society shall pay strike allowance to its own members, but all other expenses shall be borne by the A.S.R.S.

 

Clause G.

 

All demands and programmes submitted to the companies affecting locomotivemen only, or in cases where locomotivemen are concerned in a movement with other grades, shall be signed by the General Secretaries of the two Societies. Demands or programmes in which locomotivemen are not included, shall be signed by the General Secretary of the A.S.R.S. only. In all cases where an offer of arbitration is being made, or notices of a strike given to a company or companies, such documents shall be signed by both General Secretaries, whether locomotivemen are concerned or not. In all local grievances the members of both Societies should act together, and in appointing deputations, committees, etc., to wait upon superintendents or directors to watch over the interests of locomotivemen generally, such committees shall, as far as possible, consist of an equal number of men who are members of their respective Societies.

 

Clause H.

 

Movements sanctioned or commenced by either Society before the formation of the Federation shall not be subject to the above rules, excepting Clauses E and F.

 

Clause I.

 

No agreement entered into at this Conference shall be binding until it has been submitted to the Societies and voted on. If the voting is successful, then the agreement shall be signed by the General Secretaries of both Societies.

 

Clause J.

 

A combined meeting of the Executives must be held once in every twelve months, to discuss and decide on the policy to be pursued on points both labour and political, and members of both Societies shall be at liberty, on production of Branch Cards, to enter either Branch-room in any town, and to take part in any discussion appertaining to labour or politics.

Richard Bell, M.P.,
Albert Fox,
Joint Secretaries.

Mr. W. G. Loraine had presided at the Conference referred to, held at the invitation of the A.S.R.S. Neither side had any fixed proposals, and the A.S.R.S. sought amalgamation, which the Associated could not discuss. The 1900 Scheme of Federation was the basis of discussion, and adopted with slight alterations. It would be advantageous to trace a little further the history of this movement now. On May 10th of 1904 a joint meeting of the two E.C.'s was held to consider a national programme, and it was thought advisable to refer it to a joint meeting of loco, men, for them to elect delegates to a conference summoned to draft such a programme. On October 9th of the same year a joint meeting of the two E.C.'s was held under Clause J of the Federation Scheme. There was discussion and resolutions on organising loco. men, a national programme, and on the Enginemen's Certificate Bill, which Mr. Fox was taking a close interest in. On April 11th and 12th of 1905 the suggested joint conference of delegates from both societies took place, and drew up a national programme. On November 23rd of 1906 came another joint meeting of the E.C.'s, the two items put down for discussion by the A.S.R.S. being the discussion in the A.S.L.E. & F. Conference, and the pamphlet issued by the General Secretary, "Items of Interest," consisting of a series of quotations of a militant and critical type, which Mr. Bell characterised as libellous, untruthful and malicious." The A.S.L.E. & F. members left the room, and proceedings terminated. Mr. Fox later declined to sign the printed report owing to alterations having been made in previous reports after he had signed. The conditions of the Scheme of Federation had, it was complained, been ignored by the A.S.R.S. in several matters.

In January of 1907 the A.S.R.S. declined an invitation to co-operate with a conference of A.S.L.E. & F. members to draw up a national programme, but agreed it was time something was done. It is almost pathetic to notice that in the N.E.R. arbitration proceedings before Lord James of Hereford, Mr. Bell submitted, by way of an alternative to the guaranteed week, that the men should be allowed to live further away, and to carry on any other business they desired. In October of the same year a conference of the five railway societies was held to discuss federation of the whole, as a result of a resolution passed at the A.G.M. of the Pointsmen's and Signalmen's Society, and arranged by that Society. Mr. Bell then said by letter that he could not see how a Federation scheme could work between any two societies catering for the same employees, and agreed to send Mr. Williams with a watching brief. All the Societies at that conference were agreed upon enforcing their demand for recognition by the railway companies. A resolution was carried embodying the principle of Federation of all railway trade unions, and a committee of two members from each Society was elected to draw up a scheme. There, for the present, I am obliged to leave the history of a movement which is neither complete nor satisfactory.