Red Clydeside: A history of the labour movement in Glasgow 1910-1932

Literature

Sack Dalrymple, Sack Stevenson, 31 Jan 1919

Let Labour Revenge Bloody Friday

by John Maclean

Pamphlet written and published by John Maclean in the aftermath of Bloody Friday in 1919. In this pamphlet Maclean lies the blame for the events of Bloody Friday at the feet of James Stevenson, chief constable of police, and James Dalrymple, general manager of Glasgow Tramways.

Maclean accuses Dalrymple of intimidating tram drivers to ensure that trams were driven through George Square on the day of the protest. According to Maclean this had the effect which the authorities desired, namely confrontation between blackleg tram drivers and striking workers.

Maclean accuses chief constable Stevenson of complicity in causing the riot, by employing traffic regulations which were designed to irritate the demonstrators and provoke violence between themselves and the police.

Source: Gallacher Memorial Library, Glasgow Caledonian University Special Collections and Archives