The New York herald., 1870-12-26
TEE PENNSYLVANIA MINERS.
Grand Council of the Miners Union
at Tamaqua.
A Railroad Journey to Tamaqua-A Secret Ees-
sion Of the Ccnncil-Resolution to Quit
Wcrk-Pricc OF Coal Too Low
Some Coercion Threatened.

rived the latter place at O'Clock, and was In
formed that the meeting was secret and 1t would be
impossible to get any Information. The ''swisch-
back" railroad Running from Mauch Chunk TO sum-
nit HUI aud Tamaqna runs two trains day. AT
twenty minutes past one was seated in an "open
workedn car, the endless cable was attacned there
TO and away went up tho "big hill" almost per-
pendicuary inclined for over threequarters OF q
mile, with The wind whstliny over the hi as II IL
would cut us in twain, while hundreds OF feet low
the school children were enjoying the irst skate OF
the ON the Lehien river. Arrived mt the sum.
init donkey engine was attached TO the tram ana
we proceeded over the trestle work ana through
the mountain gorges to Tamaqua, fourteen miles
distant, and would here add ior the penet or par
ties desiring fresh air and invgorating breezcs that
they can get them right here. 1t was the freshest
breeze l have ever experienced.
Our train arrived at Tamaqua at two o'clock. We
were surrounded by number o. men desirous OF
Information regarding the movements Of the Lehigh
and Susquehanna Mining and Navigation Company's
miners. Your correspondent being the only one
present who could give correct Information, having
got oil the 'ponts" OF meeting held by these men
nc Mauch Chunk before we left determined TO trade
ibc information for a report OF the dolngs OF the
secret convention at Tamaqua, and accordingly pro.
cecded to
LEIsINGER's HALL.
where the delegates. representing $1,000 miners
were assembled, debating the great question OF The
hour to work or not 10 WORK. that Is the question:
Admittance was OF course, denied outsiders. Walt
Ing favorable opportunity to interview a comnu-
NEGATIVE delegate took my stand in the neighbor-
hood OF paatial ~ gin mill where delegates were
constantly arriving and holding private conferences
over the bar. But short time elapsed when a tail
gaunt specimen OF humanity issued forth, about
nan seas over, and approached me wlth the follow
~ y i,n, say, matey, have you jis come from
back about ten minutes since.
MNER-What In I'LL are them fellers down on
the Lehlgh and on Summit Hill gon' ter dor
CoRREsPoNDENT-Wel, they Would ike TO know
something or your III your conclusions reach
the same tone as theirs they VIII chime in.
MINER-What are their conclusions as You call 1t2
CoRREsPoNDENr-'rnat's secret. sIili yon could
nnd out, II you are disposed to trade newsf
Mullery president OF the Miners Union) told us TO
Keep mum, as Tamaqua Is chuck full OF these ere
devillish well to know what they're goin' 10 do /
say, Chuck" h called to O brother miner, .look q
mere; here's chap what's jis come up over the
about our doin's"
MiNER-We.l stranger. 1t stands jls here Null
iery, , he got US together You know The scranton
says, says he, '.Boys, we're got ter auit WORK:
there's too much coal in the market; unless we quit
anu put up tne coal at El1Zabethport we will never
kel raise III The world. But they'll cnt down all
through the winter and the sooner we make stand
tue better.n some OF the boys sald 1--WE have ald
or slx months already, and our families are nearly
starved. aud winter Is rough tune, AIR. President,
To quit, ana every thing SO high" Then MulIery he
ana they w,i give us better prices than ever,
anu % we can ne pretty stiii backed about going 10
anSr wo,m AGAIN. anu J9nn Parker, he that runs our
while pTt in his oar and kept saying "Yes yes;
that's SO Mr. President" as ii he Knew any more
lnn NJ hnrA
that Parker nearly
q year to run our paper, an I'm blest L. II amt the
slckest run newspaper ever see. Let's lake y
drink
were punished, for army whlskey was the pest Old
orange county appeIack IN comparison with the
vile stu a dispensed over the bar OF the screaming
Eagle'' at i've cents a drink.
The miner coutnued:-.As was tein' ye, Mucry
and Parker go III Tor qutun' WORK. Wen, II VIC do,
there's goin' to be some rough times around here
this winter; an tell yc, people had better look out
Tor some tall work around here; the boys viii keep
full OF whiskey, sure as shootn, an therein pe no
end OF iightin' an stean' Now, maley, let's know
what have got to tell about the Leign fellers ~
CoRREsPoNpENT-Slmply this: the Lehigh and
Susquehanna Mining ana Railroad Companys men
1000 In nnmber-have decided, with the advice OF
Mr. A. Lesering President OF the First National
Bank OF Mauch Chunca. and through due regard
TO their best interests, without taking mo question
the action Of the majority, to remain at work.
coal miners out or worK There are 50 90 miners IN
pennsylvania; 1000 miners viii stand 4 good show
bucking against 27,oOo i we qqIt they'll have 70
quit. Wen force them to do so. The Pennsylvania,
Delaware ana Hudson Canal Company's Scranton,
Schuylkill and all other mining companies men,
with the exception OF Lehigh and ousquehanna, are
training together whichever way we decide. We
Will have them with us. Good day, stranger. Come
al0ng Chuck.
The twain departed ana | was left 10 ruinnate on
The strange fatality that possesses these men TO quit
work IN the beginning OF what promises 70 be hard,
severe winter, rather than work 1ur reduced rate
which has been brought about by natural causes.
The supply has exceeded the demand, ana il Is but i.
duce the wages.
THE LEHtGH AND sUsQUEHASNA COMPANY
pay their miners forty 1--WE cents per ton. Wages
liked according TO location, added or diminished
trouble IN mining and supply in the market Some
companies pay more than others, according to loca
non, &c.
The Council have ordered a general suspension OF
work III all the mines. There is some doubt, how
ever whether tue order will be obeyed in all she dis
trlcts. The Council Is composed OF a small number
OF the more intelligent MINERS, the members whereof
arc elected for long terms, and its action does not in
all cases reflect the views OF all majority
the miners. The truth Is, the men do not wish TO
quit work but generally obey the orders OF the Coun
Gil. whether such orders meet their views not. IL
Is generally believed by leading coal operators tnat
the order III this instance Will hc obeyed. and thai
work VIII generally cease for sixty days. beginning
January 10, 1871.
The Feeling Among the Miners.
The Mauch Chunk Goa, gazette OF the 23d instant
suspending labor:--
"
strike al present, but AZ the same time they de-
clded]y opposed 10 any reduction Of wages. Al q
meeting the other day mt Hazeton every district
ported against accepting anything less than they
are now getting and from the feeling exhibited 1t Is
very probable that any lowering OF wages would
produce general suspension throughout the region.
Two weeks ago 1t seemed probable that the opera
tors would be forced to offer their reduction,
but the advance In prices IN New York, and the eX-
ceDent state OF the market, would seem
70 remove the necessity Tor It. But II
Lhis cause for suspicion been got rid OF another
men, who have never belonged TO the Miners Unlon,
are now Wiling TO jon it il believed. provided tue
Grand Council will order a general strike. The
Council meet to-day to act upon this matter At'the
commencement OF the late suspension In The Wyo-
ming region the men OF this county and Schuylklll
they should do much for their striking brethren.
they remembered how the latter continued working
last year and refused to join the association winch
they now want TO become members or The Wyo-
ming men utterly refused TO help our miners out OF