Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevDUKE OF NEW YORK
Shortly after this incident, whilst attending a Council meeting, I felt compelled to call the attention of the Mayor to a misstatement of Councillor Hirst, the ex-Mayor. In his usual and characteristic manner Mr. Hirst said: 'If my friend, Prince George, was the son of a King, he had no right to interrupt' .The present King was at the time Prince George and Duke of York, so from that moment I was dubbed 'Duke of New York' .
AFTER SIX YEARS’ SERVICE
My second term of office expired in 1893. My old friend, Mr. Benjamin Sorsby, after representing the North Ward for three years, had been displaced the year before by Mr. AIfred Bryant, the first Labour member to take a seat in the Council, He decided to oppose my return, so our battle of six years before was renewed. During the contest certain utterances made by the Mayor (my father) complicated the issue. Referring to the local distress fund for the relief of the children of the miners, who were out on strike, the Mayor said 'He would not allow any miner to sit on the committee and distribute relief; they could best put a stop to the distress by returning to work' . For these remarks I had to suffer. But why I should be held responsible for my father’s policy it was difficult to understand. In addition to this handicap, all sorts of lies were circulated about me and rumours were legion. The words used by the Mayor were said to be mine, and in spite of the fact that I had the active support of several of the miners’ leaders, my opponent and his backers made such use of the opportunities afforded them by the extraordinary concatenation. of circumstances that I was easily defeated, losing by over 200 votes.BURNT IN EFFIGY
It is given to few men to be burned in effigy. Such, however, was my fate, after a day of hard fighting during whch the voters in my conveyances had clods of earth thrown at them on their way to the poll and one, fortunately empty at the tirne, overturned, After the result of the poll was made known, a torch-light procession was formed and a dressed figure with a card hung round its neck bearing in large letters the legend,Prince George the Duke of New York was taken to Gornall Park, a piece of waste land in Greasbro' Street, and there destroyed. For these flattering attentions I had to thank Councilllor Pearce and a few of his particular friends from the Pigeon Cote Inn. The following November I had the offer of a seat in two wards, but declined both, being determined to fight in my old ward where a vacancy had arisen owing to the resignation of Mr. Sam Randle, the second Labour representative, who sat for one year only. I had Mr, Thomes Hesketh, another Labour leader, as my opponent. In this election, although the other side had the support of Fred Hall, CC., and T. W. Grundy (both now Members of Parliament), Edward Gaffney, and Harry Edwards - all prominent and influential men in the Labour movement - I succeeded in obtaining the largest majority recorded in any ward up to that period.PICNICS
Mayors in by-gone days used to entertain the members of the Corporation in different ways, Whilst some were partial to public banquets, others preferred to act as host at their own homes, and a few believed in outdoor gatherings. The photograph of the Council and a few magistrates published in the Advertiser a few, weeks ago was taken by John Crosby at a picaic my father gave the Corporation in 1893 at Roche Abbey. Another enjoyable outing was given by Mr. Edward Hickmott in 1896, when he entertained next »
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