The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-09-03
Mass Meeting Of Miners on the Belle
villesand St. Louis Railroad

VlIlesan0 81. Louis Railroad
Protest Again,t Prssest Rates q Pay-Reports Of
LOagss-kssolut Ons-OpDosisiOa ~ UAHess.ss.
A large and enthusiastic meeting Of the
miners Of the different lodges Of District
No. was held on the ! st instant, at cart
sides No. 3, on the Belleville and St
Louis railroad, Illinois. The meeting was
called to order by Mr.. VIM. L. Owens,
president Of the district. During the time
the different lodges were calling their rolls,
the president read to the meeting a very in
teresting letter addressed to the working
men Of Pennsylvania and the country, re-
lating to the great imposition heaped upon
miners and labOrers by the BIZ b prices
cha ged BY the company store keepers, also
the great amount Of distress and loss Of life
by neglect of the bosses not properly pro-
tecting the miners in their employ.
After which the president stated the OBJ
ject Of the meeting to be in regard to the
price of digging coal and see if some un-
Outstanding could not be arrived at to ad-
vance the price Of digging to 5 cents per
bushel, and that it be demanded and no
work done unless that price be paid. And
also that they had met TO try to induce the
miners of old No. 3, to return to the Union
and demand the five cents and abandon the
contract made with Joseph Sartside to dig
for cents under 90 1tract made for one
year from June last, which contract was to
hoist for him ten cars day at 4 cents, and
all coal hoisted after the ten cars they are
to be paid the price other miners get, if it
be FIVE, six or seven cents.
Reports of Lodges called.
Lodge No. /, BeIlevile -Messrs. Tay
lor and Opp responded. stating that num-
Der Of that lodge had gone to work at the
price demanded-5 cents, therefore that ac
counted fer the small astsndapco--at the
meeting from that lodge.
Lodge No. 2, Alma-Mr. Briendley re-
ported that they we're unanimous at that
mine for the 5 cents; recommending that
they all pull together, and their object
would be obtained.
Lodge No. 8, Gartside--Thomas Angel
responded, that they were working under
contract made with Mr.. Gartside to hoist
ten cars of coal day at 4 cents 9 bushel.
for one year, but that they were to receive
the same as other miners for all above the
ten cars, and that the lodge intended to
comply with their contract like honorable
men, and that by so doing no one was in
jured but them sVes; and that they had,
by a unanimous vote, determined to stand
BY their contract.
Lodge No. A, Caseyville W.
Thornley, responded in a very feeling ad-
dress and appeal to the miners to stand TO-
getber, and form a solid link Of eleven out
of their eleven lodges He appealed to
the miners Of No. TO know il it was not
the Union that got them the 4 cents, and
now wanted to get for them cents.
Lodge No. 5, 0'Fallon-John Beecher
responded, stating that they had a hard
time at their place; that they had been
ordered to bring their tools out Of the
pit or they, the bosses. would bring them
out for them; but that the lodge was unan-
imous for the five cents
Lodge No. 6, Bunker Hill-Mr. Ormen
stated they were all for the FIVE cents.
Lodge No. 7, Collinsville-Mr. Deick-
meyer stated all the men were fcr the 5
cents
Lodge No. 8, Con6dence-Mr. Perry
responded, stating they were all unanimous
for the cents, and that if other places got
that amount they were determined to have
the same.
No. 3, Reeb's Sta6on-Mr. George
Kingdom responded, stating that they had
come there to work and not to make speech
es that their bosses had told them to 20 to
work at the cents, but that they had come
to make an appeal to No. 3 to unite with
them, and let oil be united. He held up
to them the manner, as be stated, Of Cart
side getting men to work cheap for him
Ho closed his remarks by offering to che
miners Of No. 8, that the union pay any
bond that they entered into with Gartside, if
they would forfeit the same and come back
into the union and Ne workingmen therein.
Lodge No. IL, Ogle Station--Mr. w.
F. Lee responded, stating that as to the
Eve cents they bad agreed to stand BY the
majority and demaDd that amount
Lodge No. So, Pittsburg.-Mr. Richards
stated that they had gone to work for the
Eve cents, the bosses agreeing to pay that
sum for two weeks, and, if after that time,
others paid that amount they would con
tinue to do the same, and that if No. 5
would come forward and stand by them, all
would succeed in getting their demand.
This closed up the report of the different
lodges.
A motion was made 10 sppdnt bneids<
eete from each Lodge to meet with and zee
what agreement or understanding could be
arrived 1t with the men Of No. g., As but
few of the members Of No. 8 we're present it
wss moved thai district delegate meeesng
b held ct the friendly House. East St.
| Louis, on MOndsygnsxs To meet delegates
from No, s., and report Khat they had
determined spon doing: '''e y
Mr. John Hinchlife was then introduced
BY the preaideAt ID. ID .aalNMbly sand nA1e
. short bat very Atefestisg speech M ~
lAEion to their troubles .sn4 sasisiag. theu
70 stsnd together, for in Union there Eaa