The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-24
THE ANNUAL CONVENTION
or THE
Miners Benevolent & Protective Asson
of Western Pennsylvania

la pursuance OF call issIei some time
previously, the Regular Annual Coavcn-
ton Of the Miners Bene, ulcnt aud Protective
Association OF Western Pennsylvania Vas
convened in Pttsburg. o. Tuesday. the 18th
inst, VIM Street. ot Alien Co., President, in
the char
Mr. John McGu,rr, ct Saw Hum Mill. was
elected Secretary. The following or,ler of
business was agreed upon
Reading >rcretarys Report; Reports OF va
nous Committees; Revision Of Constitution
aud Bylaws Of Local Organizations; the con
tiuuance Of a person to attend to the interests
Of the organization If So. shall il be the Pre-
sdcnt or Secretary; Division Of the County
into districts and the Appointment of District
Deputies; the Division of the Association &C
cording to the plan laid down in the Consti-
tuition if SO, shall Allegheny County become
a branch Of the National Association! Allow
ing the River and Rail Road men the privilege
| to settle their own disputes; thu Adoption of
the Eight Hour System by both River and
j Rall Road men in this section; Holding De-
monstratiOn next summer; Nomination and
| Election of Officers
! The Roll OF Lodges was then called, and
thirty-two delegates answered to their names
The following pits were represented
Smithley. Cromlies, Hartley, Bell. Hunts
men Mullers. Midway. Becks Run. Rock
Run, Blackburn. Il ,bins & Gunkir. Walton 4
Neils, Jones, Lobes Run, Williamsburg,
Clarks, Fayette, Webster, Turtle Greek, Sap
DIV Creek, Hites Station. Paintertown and
Westmoreland
The Secretary report was lengthy, and
showed the Association to he in a prospe
Gus condition The report was ordered to be
printed
The Auditing Commit ee reported IN favor
Of the Secretary's report. The report was re-
ceived and tbs committee discharged.
The Committee On Ventilation reported
that they did not think il advisable to draft
Ventilation Bill. and recommended the ap-
pointment of a commission, 10y the governor.
to inspect the mines III the bitumiuous re-
llons, and report their condition to the next
legislature. The report was received. and the
committee discharged
The report was that Of the committee to
testify before the Bureau Of Statistics. They
gave evidence "a the following questions:
Difficulties among miners and their EN-
ployers; ventilation OF mines; earnings Of
mines per day; long hours, and their effect
on miners, socially and morally the employ
ment Of children IN mines, and its effect on
their physical. mental and moral condition.
The report was received, and the committee
discharged
The revision OF tine Constitution and By
Laws was next taken up and discussed. The
question vas lost by negative vote.
The next question on the programme vas
''the employment Of person to attend u the
interest Of the Association. This question
elected considerable discussion. 1t was I'm
ally decided to employ person for that pur
pose After which tie Convention adjourned
On re-assembling in the afternoon Mr.
Biveus moved that an invitation he extended
to- the members Of the Western Miners La
borers Benevolent Association in session at
tie Red Lion Hotel IL confer with the NJ B.
4 f. A. in reference e. drafting a Ventilation
Bill
The motion wa carried and Messrs. BlvenS
Mckay and Rogers appointed as the commit
tee.
The question as to who should be the paid
Officer vas discussed with much spirit A
motion to lay it on the table was negatIved.
a vote was taken IN the question, and by
majority vote it was decided that the Secre-
tary should be the paid officer
The order Of business was suspended, and
the ventilation bill taken up An animated
discussion followed, in which nearly all the
delegates took part The subject was finally
disposed Of by adopting the following resolu-
ton:
Resoired, That in the sense Of this conven-
ton they ask the Legislature to pass Joint re-
solutions, asking for the appointment of
commissioner to investigate tine coal mines IN
| the bituminOus regions of this State, to ascer-
tain their condition in reference to their ven
/ tilatIon and safety to miners, and to report
the same to the next legislature.
Messrs Daniel Rogers John Clinton, John
Biven, and Geo. Archibold, were appointed
committee to draft Joint resolutions to be pre-
scented to the Legislature, also to get up petit
tons to be sent to the different pits for sig
natures.
The proposition to divide the Association
INTO counties was next taken up. A warm
and animated debate followed. 1t was final
| " az eed, on motion,
That the Association be divided into
counties, provided. that any mine OF calling
be allowed the privilege Of uniting with those
counties with whom their interests are iden-
| tical
The convention then adjourned to meet at
nine o'clock next morning.
On Wednesday morning the convention re-
assembled The minutes Of the days pro-
ceilings were read. corrected and approved.
1t was resolved that the division Of counties
INTO districts be referred to the counties for
their decision.
MIR Steiner addressed the convention at
length in reference to the Association being
charged with communistic principles. He
emphatically denied having any connection
with communists or internationals. He also
stated that certain clergymen had polluted
the sacred precincts of the pulpit in the inter
ests Of their 1.-THE miners) oppressors, he
thought, beneath the dignity Of their cloth,
for 50 there is nothing done. said Mr. Steiner,
''in our organization, that is contrary to the
teachings and spirit Of Christianity"
1t was
Resolved That the Miners Protective and
Progressive Association Of Western Pennsyl-
wanna become a branch Of the National Asso-
citation
1t was Resolved to strike out the "Alle-
gheny" and insert Western Pennsylvania.
III. rr,, oo,@,ar, 20 alloxn- tba -. Il