The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-11
THE COAL-MINERS' CONCLAVE
The National Federation Of Miners and
Mine LabOrerS Established.
The Merits of the Casset Bill Considered by
the Observation-Disclosures Of the
Present Screening System.

The national convention of coal miners re-
assembled yesterday morning, when reports were
heard from the Pennsylvania delegates They,
like others, favored national organization, but
expressed wish for more liberal platform
than that of the Knights of Labor. It was
urged by them that the success of their cause
could be more easily obtained by an open organi-
cation than by one that sought to do the work
in secret. Relative to this point it
was claimed that large number
of miners who belonged to the
Catholic Church would be excluded from mem
bership if proceedings were secret This express
sion was Endorsed by majority of the delegates.
committee on resolutions was appointed, as
follows: g. W. Harrison, Ohio J. H. Davis,
Pennsylvania; David Ross, Illinois; A. N. Reed,
Iowa; T. P. Gray, West Virginia; George Smith,
Kansas; w. Houston, Indiana. after which the
meeting adjourned until the afternoon.
On reassembling, an informal talk on matters
bearing on the organization occurred, pending
the report of the committee on resolutions.
This committee, in time, reported, when the
different resolutions were considered seriatim,
as follows, one or two minor amendments being
offered, and adopted.
Resolved, That we recommend the establishment
of national union to be known the National Fed
GRAFTON of Miners and Mine Laborers.
Resolved. The membership of this association
shall be composed of all miners and mine laborers in
and around the mines of the United States and Terri
tories, who will subscribe to the constitution and
laws of the federation and be governed by them in all
their parts and conform to the principles upon which
they based.
Resolved, That the executive and legislative
power of this association shall be vested in
tive board, to be composed of five 90 members at
large and one member from each of the btuminous
Goa! producing States. and one member from the
anthracite district and in the general convention the
board shall guide the actions of the association upon
all questions of general Importance to its members
Resolved, That at the annual convention of this
association there shall be elected from among the del
egates present executive secretary treasurer
and FIVE members at large of the general exective
board two of whom shall be the executive secretary
and treasurer. Each delegate shall cast vote for
Of sh seee
and shall enter upon the duties of their respective
Offices at once. One member of the executive board
shall be elected from each State The delegates
present from each State shall have the right to name
their own member of the board, and the shall be
represented at the first convention of the association
and having desire to be represented upon the board
it may select new member and their selection shall
be approved by the board.
Resolved, That the objects of the association win
be to promote the interests of the miners and mine
aborers, morally, socially and financially; for the pro-
lection of their health and their ves to spread nte
gence amongst them; to far possible the
cause of strikes and adopt. wherever and whenever
practicable the principles of arbitration and restric
ton; to urge upon all miners and mine aborers the
necessity OF becoming citizens that may by
the use OF the ballot the services of friendly to
labor both in our State and national legisla-
tive bodies; to create fund for the support
and protection of members of the associa.
ton. Second To obtain legislative enactments
for the more efficient management of Mines whereby
the lives and health of our members may be better
preserved. g. To shorten the hours Of labor in the
tall ntorS ,,tlxx
dealt with by their employers while endeavorng to
carry out the behests of the association. B. To
assist all similar organizations which have the
object in view towit: mutual protection of members
and the protection OF labor against the encroachment
of capital
All Of the above were adopted except the last,
which was recommitted to the committee, to con-
slider the propriety of incorporating therein
expression in favor of law relative to system
of equalization in the wages of miners.
This brought up the question of screening,
which was discussed while the committee was
out Mr.. Sullivan, of Iowa, read the form Of
bill which the miners in that State sought to
have passed and which they still favor in efforts
to have it made a law 1t is known as the
Casset bill. and provides for weighing
the working places. 1t provides also for pre-
venting operators and miners from contracting
to waive the provisions of the law. Messrs Nc
Bride of Ohio; Lowry. of Indiana; Hooking, of
State; Wall, .of Indiana and others argued the
question, and each had much to say in regard to
the inequality of screening apparatuses. Some
favored a uniformity of screens others, like Mr.
Sullivan, of Iowa, spoke in favor of their abol-
ishment altogether. But it was the general
opinion that whatever system of rating the
labor of miners should be adopted, it ought to be
uniform. Mr.. Smith, of the Bellevile, ILL.,, dis
trict said the only way to secure miner fair
wages was to have the coal weighed at the top
of the shaft He said that under the system
of screening mines, with him do not get
pay for nut and slack, which supply
one fifth in amount of coal used in st. Louis.
Mr.. Mcbride said it should be uniformly adopted
to pay miners for all the coal they mine: that
screens gave an advantage to unskilled labor,
but to abolish them would not secure the end
sought, for in a large part of the
country screens are not used. Nor was
the question of wages the first thing to consider
now. uniform system, once adopted would
m ore readily aid in obtaining an increase of
wages that would be just and equal throughout
the country. Pending this discussion, the con-
vention adjourned until this morning.
The Indiana delegates have called for a State
convention of miners to be held at Telre Haute,
Oct 20.