The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-11-07
THE MINERS NATIONAL CoNVEN-
TON.

Each succeeding year, an II rolls along
the highway Of time, demonstrates the III
dis ,utable fact that Progression is the law
If our nAture; and never has this truth
been more fully proven than in the result
Of the convention which recently met IN
Cleveland, Ohio.
But a year ago there assembled in
youngstown delegates from several Mi
ners lodges, and miners from several parts
Of the United States, representing but
meagre portion Of the men occupied in
that particular branch Of industry. The
progress the Miners National Association
has made within the last year can be prop
erly estimated by comparing the foungs-
town convention with the one which has
just closed its sessions at Cleveland, and
in which nearly 10000 miners were rep
resented, embracing that vast belt Of the
American coal fields, from the anthracite
regions OF the old Keystone state, to the
young and thriving territory Of Wyoming,
in the fan west, "a growth unprecedented
in the history Of any trades organization
on the continent Of America
OF the deliberations Of the convention
we cannot but speak in terms Of the high
est praise. The delegates were cool, cour-
teous and collected, and the subjects pre-
scented for their consideration were dis
cussed i'll a style and manner that would
do credit to body Of far greater preten-
sions.
The annual address or message Of Pres
ident Siney is a calm, comprehensive and
impartial and exhaustive review Of the en-
tire situation in which, while the rights
and privileges Of the miner is sedulcusly
guarded, the interests OF the operator ana
proprietor are not ignored. Prudence,
moderation and an avoidance of unneces-
sary strikes on the part Of tie members Of
the association are strongly advised.
After referring to the objects Of the as
ISOLATION, and the manner in which they
have been misrepresented, the President
goes on to say
If there is one wrong more than another
that we have reason to complain Of it is sure
" MISREPRESENTATION. Ii we are ignorant and
strive to improve and culture ourselves are we
not deserving Of - much cre'iit as the edu-
clted, when they keep adding to their attain
ments? 1t we are immoral, and We essay to
better ourselves, 10 the cct because 1t springs
from ourselves, and not through other sources
to be condemned, IL we are vicious and
seek to restrain those evil propensIties, is the
effort to be denounced because q missionary is
not The instrument. From the opposition We
have met at many points We do begin to think
This is 30. But ! say let Us net be discourag'
ed"
These are sentiments wa heartily en-
dorse. We commend the careful perusal
Of the address to every miner in the
land, whether he be union or non-union
man.
TIE question Of cooperation In one
which should command the attention Of
tie fraternity, az q means to an end il has
no superior. There is no class we are ac-
qusinted with, Among whom it could be
carried with greater success than among
the miners, and no surer means could be
adopted to abolish he abOmmabls truck, or
" cor pInys store" system than co-Opera-
lion We sine rely hope the recDmmenda-
ton Of the committee may meet with
the hearty approval If the mining commu-
nifty.
The settlement Of the long contending
struggle between the East and the West
9 settlement which makes the men Of the
anthracite and bituminous regions brothers
in fact az well az in name-a settlement
which creates an identity of purpose a.
well as Interests is Q good omen, and is
the beginning of the end of that despotic
rule which has been exercised by the oper-
ators in certain sections, over the miner,
and will prove the means Of bringing the
of miners in the anthracite re-
gion to full fellowship in the national asso-
ciAtion.
While referring to this point Of the pro-
we must accord to Messrs
WEIGH, johnson and Brennan, what we be-
1--we the entire convention accorded them,
credit for the persistsncy and tsnacity with |
which they adhered 70. and fought for, the
rust con6ded to them.
This exhibit Of the Secretary and Treas
asrsF il highly gratifying. and gives entire |