The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-03-20
SECRETARY EVANS
OF NATIONAL NINE FEpERAFloe
visits Whsslisg to make some IpQuiFlSO-Au
AbOrtivs Attempt to hold Conference
last Nght-InfOrmRl Talk Of In
tsrsst attic 81. james hotel.

Christopher Evans, Of New straitsville,
Ohio, Secretary Of the Federation Of Min
ers and Mine Laborers Of the United
States, chairman Of the late convention Of
miners and mine operators at Columbus,
and also Secretary Of the National Board
Of Arbitration appointed at that conyen'
ton, arrived in Wheeling Wednesday
evening, and left for his home last night
at so'cloCk. His errand here was to make
inquiries as to whether the miners who
have formed local branch Of the FEEDER
alton here, were working under circum'
stances which made it the duty OF the
Federation to refuse to accept them al
members, as had been charged by other
miners here.
1t was announced last evening that
jnint conference OF the operators, members
Of the local miners union and those OF the
new local Federation would be held al
Kasley 4 Brooks Office, Mr., Evans being
plesent, At the hour for the meeting
however, several Of the Union miners ap,
peared and announced that they would
not meet with "sCabs," MIR. Evans was
telephoned to ut the St, James Hotel, and
said he had to make the s O'Clock train or
the Pan Handle for home,
Messrs. Kimberly and Brooks, OF the
operators, with President Goshorn ant
Secretary Freebolt and Mr., Lemons, o
the Federation, hRstened to the hotel, ant
had q brief informal talk with Mr.. Evans
who said that he was willing to stay fol
the proposed conference, but being tolC
that the Union miners would not attend
he concluded to leave. MIR, Kimberl!
Thought 1t odd that Mr., Evans, represent
ing q federation on lratarnal terms witt
the Organization Of which he and MIR
Brooks were members, would remain IL
Wheeling as long as he had, on the bust
ness v hiCh brought him here, and not cal
on the operators or communicate Will
them. Mr.. Evans said he had obtained
some information concerning the situation
From Whom?" asked Mr.. Kimberly
"from the public printsW
Mr.. Evans said he had seen the Union
miners, had talked with MIR. Brooks ant
the Federation" officials here, and had
a pretty good idea OF the existing troubles
Mr.. Kimberly continued that two con
ierences had been held, from which TIT
reporters oil the morning press were ex
cuded, while newspaper men interested
in the matter were present US members O
the committee. He objected to this one
sided way OF doing things. The publish
ed reports Of the former conferences, made
by tuese parties no referred to, weIt
garbled and unfair; not q word OF hi
statement Of the case had been printed
though he had read II from manuscript
and would have been willing topay for 1T
publication.
Mr.. Ebmann, Secretary Of the Ohio
Valley Trades and Labor Assembly, en-
tered at this point and was presented II
Mr.. Evans by Mr.. Brooks.
The time growing short, Mr.. Evans an
nounCed that no would call the Nationa
Board Of the miners organization anC
lay his information before them. Thei
action would decide whether the mel
now working in the peddling banks herr
would be admitted To tho Federation.
Mr.. Kimberly said he and other opera
tors had entered the Federation in gooC
faith, intending to abide by all it's rule
and principles He objected to the in
auenCe exercised by outsiders.
Mr.. Evans said IL was not a question o
influence. The question was, were thu
miners who sought to enter the Fedora
ton working in violation Of liz principle
Mr.. Kimberly explained the situation
briefly. The miners dug by car measure
while competing miners ell round were
digging by weight over a different screen
The operators here agreed to pay the out
side figures prevailing In this district, but
demanded that the system in vogue else,
where be adopted. lit was q question
whether the operators here gave up the
business, or obtained terms with theil
wOrkmen which would enable them ia
meet the competition to which they were
subjected. Some Of the miners refused 10
acc pit these terms. Others accepted and
are now at work; these are the miners
who seek membership in the Federation.
This parties who object arc employed in
the manufacturers banks, and are paid by
car measure, Why, Mr.. Kimberly argu.
ed, should miners satisfied to work In the
peddlink banks at tho terms prevailing at
Moundsville, WellSburg, Finleyville and
Pittsburgh, be prevented from dolngso by
miners who worked In banks not enter.
ing into competition with the peddlinR
operatorsp
Mr.. Kimberly continued that at one OIL
the former conferences 1t was announced
that II the miners now working here were
admitted to the Federation, there would
be war between the knights Of Labor and
the Federation.
Mr.. Evans left without any apparent
result having been attained by the meet.
Ing, He promised, however, to make the
decision concerning the acceptance by
the Federation OF the branch here, known
as soon as practicable, and 1t was intlmated
that II the decision were adverse to the
miners the National Board OF Arbitration
would BIO appealed to by the operators
here.