Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevfaith in invective and denunciation to refute statements of his opponents. It was on one of these occasions that he used the quotation:
He who steals my purse steals trash.
But he who filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which does not enrich him
And leaves me poor indeed.
At one meeting in which the alderman was hitting out and the Mayor having continually to call members to order, the following gem came ffrom Mr. Councillor Woodhouse, who, in replying, referring to A Neill, said, It is like taking hold of a serpent; if he cannot bang with his tail, he will hold with his venomous teeth. Ald. Neill did splendid work for the town of his adoption, reference to which is made in other parts of my reminiscences. At the 1885 election, with his usual impetuosity, he announced in the Press his intention of running as a Parliamentary candidate, much to the consternation of the Conservative Party, who were just completing their negotiations with another gentleman. Needless to say, nothing further came of this announcement.
In many respects he was in advance of the times. He held that high rates might in truth be a sign of a town’s prosperity. By this, he meant that low rates, without due regard to a proper and sufficient public service, particularly in regard to public health, might easily be the highest form of extravagance. In other words, he was opposed to economy at the expense of public health and public welfare. In his view, high rates, although the heaviest burden on employment, taken out of their administrative context meant nothing. He wanted economy with efficiency, spelt in capital letters. Fortunately this fine spirited public man lived to see the day when bickering and petty jealousies in which he had taken his full share in fermenting, were things of the past, and were superseded by courtesy and good feeling which have for many years held sway in the municipal life of the town.
ALD.MORGAN
James Clifford Morgan, head of the firm of Messrs.Morgan,Macauley and Wade, stove grate manufacturers, lived at Poplar House, Wellgate. A public- spirited man, he took a full share in public work, first as a meirber of the Local Board of Health, and when the town became a municipal borough it seemed in keeping with things that he should be selected to represent one of the Wards.
At the first meeting of the Council on November 9th 1871, he was one of the six councillors elected to sit on the aldermanic bench. This position he retained for a short time only, being defeated when his term of three years expired. This did not dismay him. Men of the Morgan type are like corks, you cannot keep them submerged. He succeeded in re.entering the Council almost immediately, and in 1877 became chief magistrate, and was re-instated as an alderman the same year.
Alderman Morgan had not the virtue to have a moderate opinion of himself, He never hid his light under a bushel. Boisterous and pushing, he seemed too large for the ordinary things of life. Attaching, as everyone should, great importance to the office of Mayor, he unfortunately carried it to such an extent, as to shadow this high position. Assuming sovereign airs, he never recognised any man to be greater than himself. Though he did not, of course, say this, he always seemed to think and act it. Possessing a fine presence, with white flowing whiskers, heavy moustache, gashing eye and ruddy cheeks, his was a figure to be noticed in any company. rather pompous in manner and walking as if he had an option on the pavement, he was said to resemble the first Emperor of Germany. Yet, in spite of these peculiarities, he was a next »
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