1913 is significant a year in the history of Cambridge town – and two very significant demonstrations took place that year. The first was the Women’s Suffrage demonstration that formed part of the national pilgrimage to London – and the largest such protest in Cambridge’s history. The previous weekend had an even bigger demonstration of trade unionists who were protesting about the grim living conditions in slumland Cambridge and of the condition of the working class in Cambridge.
What made the demonstration even larger than expected was the fact that the Conservative-controlled Cambridge Borough Council refused to give permission for a formal gathering on Parker’s Piece. Recalling that the population of the town was not much more than 40,000 (this was just before a boundary review incorporated Chesterton into the borough), the turnout was huge.
The most significant demand from this protest was the demand for an eight hour working day – something that many of us take for granted today. It didn’t happen by accident. Previous generations had to fight for it.
The transcript of the gathering is from the Cambridge Independent Press and I’ve transcribed it from the British Newspaper Archive here.
Despite adverse decision the Cambridge Town Council, the Trade Unionist Dem. took place, as arranged, on Parker’s Piece Sunday afternoon. No proper platform was erected. The decision of the Town Council, and the announcement of the Demonstration Committee ignore that decision, brought thousands townspeople out the expectation of seeing a conflict with the police. No attempt was made, however to stop the proceedings, which were perfectly orderly.
The action the Mayor and Corporation was severely criticised the speakers. Over 1,100 trade unionists took part the proceedings. They commenced assemble punctually at 1.30pm, and alter being marshalled into procession, marched through the streets of Romsey Town and New Town, arriving back on the Piece at 3.30pm.
The meeting which followed lasted for nearly two hours, so that the whole proceedings occupied four hours. The Societies represented and chief officers included the following: –
- National Union of Railwaymen: Mr. J. Jackson (president;, Mr. Johnson (secretary) who acted as marshal, Mr. A. Barton (secretary St. Pancras Branch) and other members the St. Pancras Branch, who acted as banner carriers.
- Associated Society Locomotive Engineers and Firemen: Mr. A. Clark (chairman). Mr C. W. Swain (vice-chairman), Mr. W. Few (sec.) Mr. J. Fardle (assistant sec.), Mr. Tom Orrey (marshal).
- Operative Society Bricklayers: Mr. E. Leeke (president). Mr. W. Pnddick (secretary). Mr P. Harding (treasurer). Mr. W. Alexander (marshal) and Messrs. E. Miller, A. Ison, E. Pope, S. Pope (banner-bearers).
- Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners: Mr. Hubbard (secretary) and Mr. C. Hunt (marshal).
- Typographical Association: Mr. Wallis (president) and Mr. Miller.
- National Union of Vehicle Workers: Mr. G. Gigney (marshal).
- Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives: Mr. S. Gosbell (sec).
- United Order of Labourers: Mr. Bell (sec).
- Postmen’s Federation: Mr. J. Quinney (marshal). Messrs. Humberstone. Green, Hnylock, Hayward and Brooks.
- Amalgamated Union of Co-operative Employees: Mr. H. Jackson (marshal).
- Shop Assistants’ Union: Mr. W. T Mobbs
- United Order Builders’ Labourers – Mr W. Bell (sec).
- Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators: Mr. Beam (president) and Mr. J. Mayne (sec).
- Operative Stonemasons’ Society: Mr. H. Miller (marshal).
- Independent Labour Party: Mr. P. Wright.
- Cambridge Labour Party: Mr. P. Coe.
- Operative Plasterers’ Society: Mr. W. Beach (sec).
- National Union of Boiler Makers: Mr Glover (local sec).
- National Amalgamated Union of Labour.
- Scientific Instrument Makers’ Society.
The arrangements were the hands of a committee, consisting the following:
- Mr. H. Glover (chairman).
- Messrs. W. Few and W. Johnson (secretaries), and
- Messrs. A. Clark Alexander, Puddick. Webb, Quinney, Jackson, Cardinal, Ramsey. Shadbolt, Berridge, Coe, Wright, Miller, Jackson, etc.
- The chief marshals were Messrs. P. and P. W. Goodman.
The procession was headed by the chief marshals and the Cambridge Silver Band who played selections of music on the way under Bandmaster Halsey.
Just before the start, the presentation of an Associated Societies’ silver medal was made by Mr. Hockley to Mr P Stubbings for services rendered during the year. The procession took the following route:
- East Road,
- Occupation Road.
- Sturton Street
- Milford Street
- Gwydir Street.
- Kingston Street,
- Mill Road
- Hope Street
- Vinery Road
- St.Philip’s Road
- Cavendish Road
- Mill Road
- Mawson Road
- Russell Street.
- Coronation Street
- Hills Road
- The Piece.
Three gorgeous banners were displayed — the Railwaymen’s. the Bricklayers’ and the Postmen’s.
The spectacle attracted a large number onlookers, and the ranks the demonstrators were swelled with other trade unionists and others as the procession went on. It was estimated that 1,150 of the 3,000 trades unionists in Cambridge marched the procession, and many more assembled the Piece.
There was one rather touching incident Passing along Gwydir Street the leaders halted before house of Mr I. W. Hornsby. one of the oldest members the N.U.R., who has been on the funds of his society, unfortunately for a long time. The old veteran gazed out the upper window over the crowd which stretched down the street, and many hats were raised to him sympathy. Collections were taken route for the N.U.R. Orphanage Fund, the Cambridge and District Nursing Association, and the Black Country Workers.
The Meeting
At the subsequent meeting on Parker’s Piece, Mr Tom Orrey took the chair, and the speakers were
- Messrs. A. G. Cameron (Carpenters and Joiners) and
- Mr. Will Godfrey (Vehicle Workers).
The speakers spoke from platform on Gonville Place side and the crowd pressed them in large numbers. The Chairman, before opening the meeting asked the gathering express its sympathy and condolence with the relatives and friends their fellow workers who had lost their lives in the railway disaster at Colchester.
The men expressed their sympathy by standing bareheaded for few moments. Proceeding, the Chairman said that His trades’ unionists of Cambridge had met demonstrate the strength of a little part the great organised bodies workers this country.
Three years ago the trades union movement of Cambridge was very little known to the large body of workers, but during the last three the membership had gone leaps and bounds, and showed that the spirit of discontent reigning in the hearts and minds of the people pointed glorious future.
Three ago the Cambridge Labour Party had only two branches. Now it had twelve, with 2,500 trades unionists. Mr. H. J. Hockley proposed the following resolution:
“This aggregate meeting of the workers Cambridge rejoices in the numerical progress trade unionism, and calls upon the present Government to establish minimum wage of 30s. per week, coupled with an eight hour working day.”
Continuing, the speaker was glad were showing they were not hooligans. They had proved they were law-abiding citizens, and law-abiding citizens they had a just right the claims all other citizens enjoyed.
That afternoon the trades unionists and friendly societies of Doncaster were holding a big demonstration, but they were in a unique position: the Mayor of Doncaster was taking the chair. (Cheers.)
A voice: “The Mayor of Cambridge don’t take it, do he?”
“The Mayor of Doncaster supported by the other members the Town Council. This demonstration to-day will so influence the leading citizens this Borough that in the future some of them will be with us on our platform.” (Applause.)
Mr. Clover seconded. He was pleased to see the meeting was to go off such a peaceable manner. He thought that when it was finished it would be a lesson to the governing body of Cambridge. That the Town Council had taken against the trades unionist ought to be criticised throughout the town. As permission was granted only a few weeks ago for the Church party of the town to demonstrate their feeling, he did not see why the trade unionists should not erect platform to demonstrate their feeling.
“Solomons of Wisdom.”
Mr. Will Godfrey said that this meeting was taking the form of protest against the action of their Town Council trying to prevent a peaceable and orderly meeting upon Parker’s Piece. I wonder what these people your Town Council think they are?” said Mr. Godfrey. Laughter and cheers followed this remark, and someone of the crowd shouted: “We will let them find that out.”
“Are they Solomons of wisdom and paragons virtue?” continued the speaker, amidst more laughter. “Are they the only people that have any common sense? (Laughter.) Are they the only ones that have any intelligence at all? And how long has the Tsar Russia come down on your Town Council of Cambridge? (Cheers and laughter.)
“What we have to remember all the time is that your Council and your Mayor — I have nothing to say against your Mayor as a man —(laughter) — but his position Mayor of the town — he is the Chairman the Council — he could, if he liked, if he had the inclination, do great things for this town, and I hope that this meeting to-day will be a reflection to the Mayor and to your Council of the thoughts, the aspirations, and wishes the people that wish live as Christian English people should live, and not as serfs under the dictation of a few tin gods.” (Applause and Hear, hear.”)
“On this Parker’s Piece, we have been told, the Church party have erected platforms, and held meetings. Well, now, if the Church party are allowed to agitate their cause, we as trade unionists, have a perfect right to agitate our cause.” (Hear, hear.)
In referring the number of trades union, Mr. Godfrey said that, next time would see that they got members on the Town Council who understood the wants and requirements the trades unionists.
“I take it that this meeting is a demonstration of the fact that the first nail has been driven in the coffin of the municipal paralysers. Labour has the right to representation. Labour is going to get it. Cambridge is going to follow on Doncaster. There will a Mayor in Cambridge who will take the chair at trades union meetings in the future. It rests with the people of Cambridge who they have to represent them, I take it that the organised workers, men and women, will see that they get the right sort upon the Council. One could say a lot about that — er — assembly—(laughter);—but I don’t wish to say anything here upset such a peaceable law-abiding, lovable meeting.”
A Gospel of Discontent.
Continuing, Mr. Godfrey said they wanted preach their gospel discontent. People told them to be content here, and they would have a sort beanfeast hereafter. They did not want to look forward sitting on a damp cloud and getting rheumatics. They wanted a beanfeast on earth. They had rotten low wages in Cambridge.
Before long the trades unionists the town would not only agitate, but demand in no uncertain way a minimum wage established. “The wages are only apology for wages.” said Mr. Godfrey — “strapping young lads of 18 and 19 and driving along tricycles delivering parcels for 12, 13 and 14 hours a day, at 11s. a week — (a voice, ” Less than that! “) — in town where nearly every other street is named after a saint. (Laughter.) Lord send us a decent saint down here to alter the wages.” (A voice: “We need it.”)
“When I find car men here getting as low as 16s a week.” said Godfrey. (A voice: ” 15s.”) Mr. Godfrey : “15s a week. Anything lower than 15s? Like a Dutch auction—upside down!”
“The low wages now being paid Cambridge must not go on,” continued Mr. Godfrey. (Hear. hear.) If there was going to be any trouble in Cambridge about trades unionism, Cambridge was going to have the warmest time it had ever had its history, for they were here for organisation.”
“You chaps at work here for the Town Council.” proceeded Mr. Godfrey. “You ought feel proud to have such a nice Town Council.” The town councillors, he said, were sleeping that afternoon, but the eyes of the trades unionists were open! They had been sleeping too long. They wanted a bit more wages for the municipal men down in Cambridge, and that is what they were there for, and that was why the Town Council tried to stop the meeting. If the people had no power the Council would say. “Let them hold as many meetings as they like, Mr. Mayor.”
“It was because people had power and their influence was being felt, and knocking at the door of the Council was the man who was going collect the back rent, so far as wages were concerned, knocking at the cheque-book was the man who was going have a better living in the future than in the past, and that the Council were becoming afraid of them and asking the law to step in and stop these fellows from holding this meeting on the sacred day called the Sabbath.
“If councillors could make 10d. on the Sabbath they would. They did not care what day it was if there was a profit to be had or dividend be earned, but because they knew that was a meeting where the trades unionists could speak the to the workmen by their thousands, and the women could come out for half an hour and hear the truth, they were afraid it.
Tribute to the Police.
“They [the councillors] are cowards, every one of them.”
said Mr. Godfrey. (Hear, hear.)
“And they always were cowards, and have called upon the arm of the law to step in and do what they dare. I want say this the representatives of the law. We are getting touch with them in all parts, and a finer body of men have never met. A more intelligent set of men as a body of men I have never met—reasoning, self-thinking, deserving better treatment than your Town Council give them. I heard some time ago your force ask for an increase wages. What did they do for the men they are calling upon today? I have never heard that the matter got beyond the committee stage. Suppose all the police were to strike in Cambridge in a moment of unrest. (Cheers.) Don’t forget they are workmen. (Hear, hear.) They are the sons of workmen—(Hear, hear)—fathers of working children. (Hear, hear). Once that force wakes up to its importance they will not be dictated by your Solomons wisdom and your paragons virtue.
“I want say to them they are body sympathetic-minded men. They know what it is — they know where the boot pinches. Have they not mothers their own? Don’t they know how their own mothers have been pinched to make both ends meet from Monday morning Sunday night? Your Town Council is on the wrong track. They will have to get on another track. They will have get off the track or else they will get run over.”
They were out, concluded the speaker, that they might eventually bring about that state of affairs that they might live as God meant them to live —lives of happy, healthy, contented human beings.
Labour Representation Wanted.
Mr. A. G. Cameron, of the National Amalgamated Carpenters’ and Joiners’ Association, said that Cambridge was beginning to wake up. The University was beginning to understand that the bottom dog had got to be looked upon with some respect. In this ancient town, with its ancient ideas, they had sometimes to toe the line.
The leaders of the Council recognise that the people are disposed make an effort to improve their conditions. Mr. Cameron emphasised the need of organisation. He thought that meeting was demonstration that trades unionists would not always follow the lead of those at the head of affairs in Cambridge.
Mr. William Few, secretary to the demonstration, moved the following resolution:
“That this meeting, representing all trades unions Cambridge, hereby condemns the action of the Town Council in trying to prevent this demonstration as an unwarrantable interference with the liberty of the subject, and a premeditated blow at a movement calculated to raise the status of the workers.”
He gave a resume in his communications to the “Cambridge Daily News” with reference to the correspondence “between himself and the authorities seeking permission erect platform for the demonstration. Continuing, he remarked that Alderman Spalding, at the Council meeting, who said he thought he would be doing the wishes of the Mayor if he moved that permission be not granted was supported Mr. Squires.
Then a British lion came along—Mr. Lyon, the solicitor. (A voice, “Good old Tory.”) Mr. Few: ” There are some good Tories about.” Mr. Lyon pointed out that the men who wished to hold the demonstration could not hold it on any other day and favoured the request. Mr. Smith, of Romsey Town, also took that attitude, but only ten were got to vote that way.
This kind thing was representation theory, but they wanted representation in practice. He protested against this action of the Town Council. In holding the demonstration the trade unionists were acting on their own, and they would stand by the consequences. This was only the first demonstration. He hoped it would become annual. Referring to the policemen, Mr. Few said the Council were getting a profit out of them. If a policeman was sent from Mill Road to a football match at the Backs, a charge of 2s. was made. The policeman got 1s. and the Watch Committee got the other. The policeman should have the two bob. (Applause.) “Why don’t they organise, too?” said Mr. Few”. They are only workers the same we are.”
Good Effects of Opposition.
Mr. Hunt, Carpenters and Joiners, seconded. He felt they were indebted the Town for the excellent way in which they had advertised the demonstration. They ought to have known that the way bring the best part out of any movement was to raise some opposition. This they did. and the consequence was that the demonstration was a great success.
It was time they put Labour men on the Council. If there had been any on the Council the other day, did they think they would have been missing? “They would have been in their element. When the Town Clerk was asked whether the Council could stop the demonstration, he replied, “I think so.” If a Labour man had been there he would have said. ” You are not paid to think; you are paid know.”
They recently had a chance of returning a Labour man. but they were not quite educated up to it yet. He trusted they would have more than one Labour man in the field at the next election. They wanted direct Labour representation, and until they got it the workers would never have a fair share.
Votes of thanks the Chairman and the speakers concluded the meeting. the evening record crowd listened the following programme given by the Town Silver Band :—
- March. “Cheerful Chimes” (White);
- intermezzo, “livening Bells” (Rimmer):
- selection from ” The Bohemian Girl” (Balfe) euphonium solo.
- “Anchored ” (Watson) (soloist. Mr. R. E. Austin);
- hymn. “Sandon”;
- selection from “The Mikado” (Sullivan);
- cornet solo. The Lost Chord (soloist. Mr. Wilfred Halsey);
- entr’acte. The Promenade ” ,’Ora Hume);
- march. “The Emperor” (Ander: son).
The proceeds were in aid of the N.U.R. Orphanage fund.”
Ends
Lost Cambridge 