The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-19
THE MINERS CONVENTION.
ORGANIZING An ASSOCIATION FOR
MUTUAL PROTECTION.
Advocating n Combination OF all Working
men Against tho GrnspinG Greed OF Mo-
nopoiies-Disciaiminr any Purpose Of BE-
ginning y strike-Equal and just Wages.


SCRANTON, March ls-The Convention Of
delegates from the mine operatives in this val
ley, between Nanticoke and Carbonate. assem-
bled day In Pttston. The meeting was not
so large as had been expected. Men are afraid
TO show themselves openly in labor move
ment OF any kind. for fear Of ostracism by their
employers. This fact was understood as likely
To initiate against finding leaders for the actual
work Of organization but 1t was not expected
10 affect to so great degree this preliminary
meeting. Out OF over two hundred delegates
that were expected. only about fifty appeared.
but fortunately they were actually representa-
tive OF many more than that number Of GOLFERS.
Mr.. W. @. Thomas ex-Master Workman OF
the Knights Of Labor under whose control that
order accomplished the election of a labor
ticket in Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties in
1877 by 900 majority was the Chairman.
telegraphio message came asking the Conven-
ton to adopt a strong resolution endorsing the
ant-Chinese Emigration bill. and to send it to
Representative Scranton in Washington. In
discussing 1t delegate protested that he con-
sidered the Chinese as entitled to the same
rights as himself and thousands OF others like
him who had come here from other countries
the right to live and to work.
While the Convention was waiting.for the re-
port Of a Committee on Credentials. and all
seemed shy Of saying or doing anything. one OF
the delegates called upon another to sing a
song, and third demanded that it should be a
comic one. The song was sung but was very
far from being comic. as may be imagined from
its title. The Poor Blind Miners Appeal" No
better illustration could be afforded of the sim
plicity AMI impracticability Of these poor fell
lows than their stopping in the midst OF a
meeting called to consider the grave question
.l-z, wr.x a.
listen TO song. and seeming to give themselves
up wholly for the time to its enjoyment At
about the seventh verse the majority OF the
the chorus.
Mr.. Thomas spoke briefly of the necessity
for organization among laboring men-not
simply OF miners. or any other class alone. but
OF all together, for mutual sustenance and sup
earnestly deprecated strikes. especially when
laboring men enter upon them without thor
ough organization and years OF preparation
sociation he lauded in enthusiastic terms.
evoking burst OF applause He related as an
Ing men when, Without orsanzation, they
dare to ask for their rights. In 1875 when
coal was selling for sl4 per ton in New York. a
to ask an advance OF wages. They based their
request on The The ruling high price Of coal in the
with your" demanded sloan But When AHs 70 , he
price of coal is down. said Mr.. Thomas that
af a ineE
Of the necessity for organization as the miners
only protection aga against the cruel; grasping
goes to market. he said. goes with mans
blood upon it
twenty days mining. lately. This ave fEU Mt
walked NJ storm OF indignant denial. One
delegate said that II he earned $50 by twenty
have no complaints to make. but that he very
well knew the majority OF the best miners in the
IADplanSp M
they can,t'1 Another delegate declared that he
did not believe that any, other man present
received as much as $40 for twenty days work.
An effort was made to have the Convention
by a vote in which all the Welch delegates voted
aff1rmatively. and the Irish came out solidly in
the ar that h the aid
about their condition. and what they were
striving for; After recess the resolution en-;
ordered telegraphed to the Hon. Mr. Scranton.
The Hon. JHo. Parker of SchuylEjlI County
the workingmen have been told: Trust your
Ever since 1873 they have been waiting, and
hoping to see what the employers would do for
not in this meeting any purpose Of inaugural
wants strike. Cries Of mol no. not OF one II
What they want is simply due share of tho
fe sad % s hs o %hsh ssS others
DESTROYS of honestly earning He, would
De the last man to advise a strike for
his experience extended over many years. and
he well knew the evils Of u strike. how much
the strikers and their families suffer upon such
among workingmcn. in favor of their being so
united that hey could I stand up before their
pense for cur labor. Look at the misery that
must come upon US i you crush us down SO
strike" He urged his hearers to resort
mands. and not let themselves be carried away
by excitement to the doing of things they would
afterward regret; TO remember, that it took
long time to build up a union Of workingmen,
but very short time to tear it down. He
warned them against the insidious Influences
Of capitalists for the undermining and destruc-
among them OF distrust in their officers and
leaders. and perspading. them that they
take, in all Interested in defence OF the rights
a low class Of foreign labor he said that work
ingmen should be. by organized association in
aposition to say to employers: Give work 10
and Just wages according to their earnings. II
they can do the work satisfactorily: but you
must not I'LL the places OF good men with labor
ers of that class simply because their work can
be got more cheaply" These emigrants are
not to blame They fee here from
find freedom and employment. and in many
cases are undoubtedly induced to come here by
want to work for lower wages than anybody
else. especially the HunGarians. who are now
coming in such numbers into this section 30
The statement OF the delegate who made 500
N twenty days again stirred up the ire Of the
delegates member from Pittston said; The
man who said that is an impostor, ] have AS
good lace as any man in this vicinity, and
40, don't make g a, day. That man must be
,nc6 of the bosses or he would not make
Pleasant valley said: II have known men p to
money to pay their butties. a man in our
from gainesville said Among us, seven
cars constitute days work. making 1870 for
miner aborer, and expenses. the latter about
a dollar 4 day. Several members chorused
that an allowance of 81 rs per diem for expenses
We, would be much nearer right. An employee OF
the Pennsylvania Coal Company said that there
Al coal is weighed, and the miner is paid by
The ton. Four men, two miners and two labor
srs, working together in chamber expect to
take out fifteen tons n day and get ffty-six
cents per ton. Out OF that they must pay $275
Tor expenses, leaving All average OF sl.ll per
man. Other delegates made similar reports
committee appointed to draw up some
form Of plan toward organization reported:
We recommend this organization to be known As the
hlhtt Protective Association