New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-16
READING STRIKERS FIRM.
A CONVENTION OF THE RAILROAD HANDS.
THE DELEGATEs NOT ALLOWED FREE PAesEs-oLp
MINERS SHOWING ENCOURAGEMENT.
lEr TxLEoRArH TIE TRfDUNk

| READING. Jan. 15.-The Reading employer conven-
tion this afternoon reiterated Its faith In tho justice
OF the strike. Tho only difference between this CON
| vcntion and tho last that the miners did not
have delegates present y Official representatives OF
tho local assemblies to which they belong Th'ir
striko has now passed under the control OF the
National Minors Assembly, Of which William 7.
Lcwis. Of Shawnee. Ohlo Is tho head Nevertheless
tho miners had number OF representatives present.
The raro aders were rcprc,cntcd by about 100 dele
gatos. They came from Philadelphia, Elxatethrort,
NorrIstown. Potstown. Reading, Palo Alto. Potts
Vile, Mahanoy City, Shenandoah. Shamokin st. Clair,
Wilamsport and many other places. Many were
discharged employees of the company. They had been
put OIL when the strike first ordered because Of
| tho prominent part they took In creating trouble.
Chairman John L. Lee and the National Master Work
man, Lewis. came to Reading from Pottsvc this
| forenoon They put new enthusiasm into the dco
gates by their wcds OF encouragement Tho railroad
| company formerly furnished its employees to these
conventions with free passes, but tonight II was
learned that these passes had been refused for this
| convention. Every man paid his fare This is
another indication that the railroad company Will no
| longer parley with the labor orders. Some months
ago men could get interview with the officials at
any time upon stating that they represented an
ganzed body. In that way discharge obtained Of
number Of railroad officials who had made them
selves obnoxious to the employees. Now every official
has been ordered TO treat with no knights. any
other body Of organized labor.
| THE DELEGATES APPARENTLY HOPEFUL.
/ Tho convention to-day was called to order at 10
a. m. Bernard J. sharkcy. Of Port Richmond, pre-
sided and Charles Benzcman. Of Port Carbon
| tho secretary. Chairman John L. Lee explained the
situation lie claimed that the strike had crippled the
Reading Railroad In many Of its departments at Port
Richmond The men were willing that the discharge
OF the four or five crews at Port Richmond should
stand but that every other question, either relating
to the discharge of the men employed on the rail
road or the wages Of the miners should be submitted
to arbitration.
Reports were received from Philadelphia, Potts
vile, Palo Alto, MahanOy Plane, Gordon Piano and
Shamokin and other places to the number Of rail
road men out. The coal regions submitted the most
favorable reports, showing that the raroaders there
we're all united In the strike.
| Mr.. Lewis advised the men to be cautious lie
asked them not to be msled by false reports. Work
and not words should be their guidance lie told of
his inability to obtain a conference with President
Corbln and expressed his belief that Corbin was try
Ing to play with the miners. lie advised them to be
ON the lookout for traps AMI to remain firm in their
stand for the rights Of organized labor. As the
vcntion had already ordered the strike and had now
received reports that 1t still In force there were
no resolutions to make and discuss to the
dition OF affairs in the mining regions The miners,
II was represented, were pretty solid for the strike,
ana there were few who were not in favor of stand
| Ing by the raroaders This was the burden of all
| that was said and done. Delegates from the Lehgh
regions reported that the determined to re-
| main out at any cost until they got their rights.
Last night The miners had an immense meeting in
llazelton and renewed their pledges to remain out
The convention ordered the committee which
had been soliciting subscriptions from the Lehgh
to continue receiving for the schuyliIl County men
The latter were all paid oil for the last two weehs
they worked In the past few days, but 1t Is over
fhe Inhi0b
money earned by themselves. '
'ciegaIes from snamoAn say that the strikers there
solved to stand by the ralroaers to The last They
say .hat oniy TWO engines at there out of
oihccfs on duty and they having a fine time
nothing to do and big pay. Nothing but freight and
winch Is holsted over Gordon Pane. The Reading
Company stlll has large force special police on
duy at Palo Ato but the strikers say that there is
no heed ot ths as none of the old men have been
the place since they left their places.
INDIVIDUAL COLLIERIEs To BE OPENED
The operators at l., TIcnce & Browns Kepey Rum
william Penn and Big Mine collleres all expect to
return to work tomorrow with small force of men,
but the delegates to the convention said that this was
only blind" that the operators started up tho on
gncs expecting that the miners would be attracted by
smoke and would go to work.
William T. Lewis, who has taken an active part in
the present strike, is of the youngest labor lead
in the country He at the head of several hun
drcd thousand miners. lie born In v aes In SOL
His parents to this country 1865 and settled
at Locust Cap AT the age Of seven years he was
employed rs slate picker at Sugar Notch, near
Wlkesbarre. In 1865 he sent into the mines at
tended tho fans and carried tools At the age Of thlr
teen he employed In tho mines at Youngstown
Ohio, as miner. lie followed mining In Ohio and In
diana for twelve years He joined the Knights of
Labor at Macdonald, near Pttsburg, ten years ago
Before tho close of the convention Mr. Sharkey read
the following telegram from District Assembly No. 40,
Of New York:
ave have resolved to stand by you to the end.
Meeting held to-day. Appeals issued to $50 local
Sembes."
Another telegram from Ncw-YOrk Assembly
No. 3,275 sends greeting and encOuragement, and
moral and financial aid, II necessary This dispatch
signed by NJ V. Dwyer
Private advlces from the coal regions say Onight
that a break in the miners ranks is Inevitable and
that a few individual colleres Will surely start up
sOon to be followed by some company coicries The
old miners refuse to be led longer by young and
hot headed leaders, and the vote OF the men at the
william colllery the question OF resuming IS
looked upon as indication that the miners are tired
OF the strike. Tho vote stood 112 against resuming
and LOG I'm favor OF work. The conservative men say
this IS the feeling OF the miners at other places and
that they will manifest by going to work before long
After the convention adjourned meeting OF the
now Reading Railroad Employees District Assembly,
No 2o4 which is TO be composed of all the companys
so 600 employees. held, The temporary president,
Penrose W. Hawmon. OF this city, presided mum,
ber OF new locals reserved, ana IL was uecucu
to continue the temporary organization 1or he Pcso