Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-05-16
LABOR AND TRADE.
The Inter- State Miners COnV8n-
tion at Pittsburgh,
The Iron Situation-The Scale to Be Prob
ably Settled in the Pittsburgh
District Alone.

PlTTSBURGH, May lO.-lne Interstate
convention of coal miners, which has been
called for the purpose OF eftecting all or
ganization to include all the bitumiaous
coal miners in the entire country, held its
first session at Knights of Labor hall this
morning. Soon after ten o'clock President
Schaning callad the convention to order
and nominated Mr.. John Mcbride, presi-
dent OF the Ohio Miners Association, as
chairman. That gentIeman's election was
made unanimous, after which Mr.. SChan-
ing and Mr.. Albert Cook, Of Illinois, were
elected chairmen. Messrs. John II. Viii.
liams, of the Ohio Association, and John
Flannery, Of this district, were chosen as
secretaries. President Mcbride, on taking
the chair, made brief though
Very Neat Speech,
in which he expressed thanks for the honor
rendered, and expressed the hope that the
deliberations Of the convention would be
carried on in harmony, and result in estab-
fishing an Interstate organization OF
miners upon permanent basis. Mr.. Nc
Bride is young man OF light complexion,
an easy, fluent talker and from all appear
anCes quite popular with the mining ele-
ment.
At the Conclusion OF the speech,
which opened proceedings, the following
named gentlemen were appointed com.
mittee on credentials: Albert Cook, OF
Illinois; p. A. Crow, OF Maryland; Chris
tian Evans, OF Ohio, and John Costello, OF
this district.
At the closing of the morning session it
was difficult to get at the entire number OF
miners represented in the convention as
some said that the whole number was IS,
coo while others thought that 1900 would
be q good estimate. If the delegates are
allowed one vote for each 100 miners repre-.
sented the seven delegates from Ohio will
cast as many votes as the thirty-three
members from this district.
Afternoon Session.
PITTSBURGH May l5.-The afternoon ses-
sion was devoted to speech making. Adj
dresses were delivered by President Jar
rett of the Amalgamated Association, \. c.
Rankin and Miles MCBadden, Knights OF
Labor, and John Campbell, of the Tele-
graphers' Union. The Committee on Gre
dentials postponed its report until to-mor.
row, when q permanent organization Will
be effected. Before the convention adj
jOurns steps will be taken to perfect gen.
eral organization and to obtain uniform
rate Of wages in competing sections, and so
prevent cutting of prices OF coal by opera
tors.
10th the operators and miners will prob
ably meet Thursday to elect an umpire.
The Iron Situation.
1t is now rumored that an effort will be
msde to have q battle between the iron
manufacturers and the mill men fought IN
this district alone, and that mill owners
outside of Pittsburgh will sign the scale
under an agreement that the price finally
established in this city shall rule. 1t will
be remembered that this was the policy
adopted at many western mills during the
lS>t strike, but
Leading Mill Men
sav that it will not be done this summer.
The change in the constitution settled
that," said one members OF the Amslga-
mated Association. This year the queS.
ton will be settled by all the districts aDd
oSe cannot throw il on the other, ltwou.d
be unjust to have the Pittsburgh men idle
all summer. while the other mills take orr
trade" Both sides - the difficulty say
that no date has been fixed for another
conference. II is thought that the work
men will present their scale on Wednes-
day of next week. Secretary Weeks left
the city last evening for New York.
Pig Iron.
New YORK, May l4.-lhree months ago
pig iron was selling for S2i ton. Since
then there has been break in the price.
Some manufacturers are now selling al
$22 and some are cutting down as low as
$2l a ton. 1t is thought that it will 20 still
lower: The trouble IS said TO be owing to
many small manufacturers necessities
compelling them to sell for what they
can get. In 1873 pig iron sold for
$50 a ton. The small manufacturers
Began 10 Cut Down,
and prices finally went as low as SIG %
ton. The consequence was that the nus.
iority OF the little concerns were wiped
out. 1t is thought that similar result
will come from the present break IN prices,
Mr.. b. G. Clarke, President of the Thorn.
as Iron Company, said to night that a fur
ther reduction would be maze. The pro-
duction OF pig iron is too great" be said,
',and there is not very encouraging out
look"
Didn't Hold Ont.
CHESTER, Pa, May l5.-The striking EN-
ployees at Riddle & Sons cotton mills,
RockGale, resumed work at the old wages.