The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-12
MINERS MEETING AT COOPER INSTITUTE.
q Practical Miner Gives an Explanation of Coal
strixes-Their Origin and Why They Are
Prolonged-The Workingman's Idea
Of a Captalist-Cost Of Raising
and Transporting Coal.

The historic "Hall OF the Union" in Cooper Insti-
tute-that much abused field whereon every man
who has grievance thinks he hes right to spread
it before the gaze Of sympathe tic public; the bat.
tlefeld where disappointed politicians delight to
wage bitter war against the City Hall government
two per cent tax bills and sbig. city charters-was
occupied last night by about 100 Individuals who had
gathered IN consequence OF an advertisement that
mass meeting was to be held TO discuss the present
strike among the miners in Pennsylvania. In
stead OF the large hall. very small room in the
Institute would have served the gathering. Prior
to the opening Of the proceedings the following
telegram was received
diateiy BY commitsee Of Board. GEORGE CosRETf
What this communication was doubtless intended
to convey was, that committee, formed from
among the miners themselves advised their breth-
rem to resume work; but no explanation was
offered on the subject. chairman, In the person
Of Dennis F. Griffths, or the Worklngmen's Union
In this city, was elected to preside, and after few
preliminary remarks from this gentleman, the
speaker OF the evening, Mr.. John Siney working
miner and President OF the Pennsylvania, was in
troduced TO the meeting.
MR. sINEYs SPEECH
TN rising he said he had come from pennsylvania
to attend The meeting, and that he did not appear
before them as an orator, o confirmed speech
maker, but as practical miner. His object was as
far as possible, 10 place before the people of this
city q fair and unvarnshed statement Of the facts
connected with this prolonged coal strike; and he
was the more anxious to speak plainly and truth
fully because himself and co-operators had been
misrepresented aud called bands OF murderers,
midnight marauders and rOwdies, instead OF peace
ful and order loving men. In order to do justice TO
the cause ne proposed TO so BACK to the date pre-
THE FORMATION OF THE MINERS ORGANIZATION.
He would select the state OF things as they
existed few years ago in three well known
coal districts-SchuylkiiL Northumberland and
Scranton Most OF the labor was OF foreign birth
which at this time worked the coal fields Of the dis
trics and OF different nati0nallties. The employers
or, at least, large majority OF them. imagined the
of capitalists was formed. They mad no sooner
sprung into existence than arbitrary measures were
miners discovered that by working the mines con-
tinuously for nine months in the year they could
nan coa o ia the sSsn sen s
state OF, things. The men refused to submit
70 general reduction Of tnsir tarlr-as they would
be unable to live-and the consequence was that
the employers took fright. They Stated they con-
sioered their lives and property In jeopardy and
against the imaginary wrongs supposed to be IN ex
islence among the miners. But these very men
the police SO engaged cngendered strife Where
otherwise 1t would never have occurred. The
on Of na e pn tae wor 4r
hours each day, legal return for their money. II
was test then Of the Inc strength OF EMPLOYER
when the question was taken TO the Legislature Of
the state. After this the
POLICE FORCE DIED A NATURAL DEATH,
and became thing OF the past ana never since APP
peared In 1865 the miners all stopped working for
million tons-of coal should be Utilized and the price
ought 10 have been owcred put Instead OF this three
great corporations-the Hyde Park, Lackawanna
price OF COAL but refused To allow lie men who had
made them mionaires one iota OF the benefit; they
gr tAalr n
dlvIduals whose blood bespotted every ton
OF coal produced, and whose life was
even an encouraging word In ses the propriesors
were compelled by law TO furnish additional shafts
miners 6y the Pennsyivania House q Representa- t
yes, and from that day tile miners organization has
progressed; but up to the present time the miners
had never once struck WORK for advance OF price
even for cent, and but Tor the employers would be
at work yet. Crime diminished the instant the POI
lice restrictions were Withdrawn.
On the 10Th OF January OF this year there was a
million aud hall tons OF coal IN The market moro
companies again raised the cost OF transportation
ana they issued pi ordinations to the eject that the
were not accorded them. The Philadelphia and
Reaaing Railroad were charging more than three
times me regular price, or eighty per cent more
seins oil the rate OF 100000 tons OF coal per day
asking nifty cents ton to be paid down TO bind the
Contracts III the coal went down the buyers felt IL
not, but n came the COMPANIES could 80
manipulate their documents as 10 render ,he CON
'wE WANTED A PART CT THE PLUMBER
and because they refused % allow us our rights The
war OF which 30 much has been said has wapcd.v
part OF ihe New York press only mad sympa tfized
Win them; the remainder had stixmatlzed them "a
being r9ilanS and cutlirpais. ut let any one enter
one OF their tle sections villages ana he wonll
guarantee thelr perfect safety. Ihey had debating
bund,ng anu temperance societies among Them the
same Us IN any ward IN New YORK. Az To the coun-
Gil oI tile Union" the president had never tasted
intoxicating liquors while ne mad aostalned thirteen
years. shori time $50 the employers pro, oscd To
put them Uack into tlelr old place. Dut first they
would nave arbitration as to the control which they
stated tie miners wanted 10 have over their property
The latter DENIED ever having interered with their
properly. but they wanted tie question OF wages
settled before they could commence work. Ihe EN-.
ployes next backed down. and stated That the coun.
Gil appointed 70 deal with the control OF the mines
could not interfere With the money. They must first
consult WIN the -FOUR railroad companies by tee-
but AlrauQa laaa-n