The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-10
AwORD WITH THE MINERS.

In another column, we give synopsis Of
the proceedings Of the late council Of the
miners, held at HaxletOn, Pa. From the
resolutions adopted and the spirit manifest
ed, We consider it worthy of more than q
passing notice. Seventeen delegates from
the various counties comprise the General
Council" and, to prevent any hasty or IN
wise legislation, ID requires . three fourths
vote Of the delegates to decide any question:
and, further, il is provided that less than
thirt en- delegates shall not be q quorum, so
that earN county must be represented be-
fore my business can be done. As the
questions to be decided by this council are
Of vital interest to every miner in the An
thrAcite region, the business Of this precau-
tion wall be apparent.
The plan proposed by the miners, by
which they can in the future deprive the
opeT ators and coal companies Of their stand
ing excuse for . reduction Of eages, is the
only one which, to as, sppeass possible. 1t
is, TO make the supply only equal to the de-
msnd. Heretofore, It bias been the practice
of the large coal companies, as soon as there
was decline in prices, to At once reduce
prices-nOt in proportion to the amount Of
reduction in price Of coal, but in many in
stances, the whole reduction was taken off
the miner. And this reduction was brought
aoout by the claim Of Az over-stocked mar
ket, no demand, etc. Then, after having
forced a rec"c...on of wages, they get out all
the coal they can, keep il back from the
market. thus forcing "raise," then run
their stock in and receive the highest prices
thus cheating both the miner and consul
mer.
The miners have resolved to deprive them
of this excuse, and will, no doubt, carry out
their programme in good faith. A nd here,
we would offer word OF advice. As it is
contemplated to stop for period all the
mines throughout the district. we would ask
the various associations to bear IN mind that
among their members there are, and always
will be, improvident ones. A general stop
page to them will mean stoppage OF bread as
well as work, unless the certainty Of this
movement being carried into effect II to them
made apparent. The operators are to receive
one months notice, bur will one months no
tice be sufficient for the man who has not
one dollar laid away for such contingency?
After the first year, any who have not made
preparations for 1t, deserve to suffer; but
the first general s'oppage will be the one
that will t-y the mems stomAchs, a. well as
their souls. We, therefore, advise every
man who depends on the mines fer living,
70 81 once save every pe"ny he can from bis
scant earnings, to be prepared ior this stop
page. 1t may bear hard on you for time,
out for every privation you will suffer on
account Of ii, the blessings Of work, with
remuneratve wages IN the future, vii well
repay you. To the associations, we would
say,-Impress on the minds Of your mem
bvrs the certainty that tue works, will stop,
and do ali in your power TO have them pre-
pare for it.
This movement on the part Of the miners
will, no doubt, be twisted into every shape
possible, by the press. Tue operators ano
coal companies will, no doubt, use it as q
means to advance the price OF coal far be-
yond what The facts of the case demand.
The consumers should remember that when
IN is stoppage takes place, every ton Of coal
then in market was moved and delivered at
previous rates, and that no reasonable ex-
cuse can be given for an advance. That
coal will and should advance in price, we are
willing to admit, but every cent of the sd-
vance should 60 to the miners, as both coal
companies and railroad companies have al
ways paid large dividends, while the miners
have literally starved.