The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-01-30

Last Saturday in this State represented
over 1900 miners, and a like meeting in
West Virginia included ss many lGborsrs
supported by this industry, the number
In each case bsing as large, or larger, than
the Democratic majority in each Slate.
The first OF these meetings was held at
Pocahontas, Va, and was called by the
miners and mine laborera and other en-
pIoyes in the mines Of the Southwest Vir-
ginia Improvement Company, employing
over 100 men. After appointing j..
Roach chairman and II. NJ. Smylhe sec.
retary, the following preamble and resOlu-
ton was adopted:
sTRoNG REVOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, Upon the suGCessful mining
and shipping OF soft coal and production
Of iron ore depends the living Of thousands
OF people in this section, the security OF
many hundred thoussrds Of dollars Of In
vested capital and the development Of the
richest cool area in the world; and
WHERRAs, The present duty on soft coal,
etc, Ia only sufficient to guarantee to the
operators, handlers and shippers narrow
margin OF profit, after allowing fair wages
to the miner and mine leborer, therefore
be 1t
RsIolpsd, BY the citizens Of Eas! Tazs-
we'll, In mass meeting assembled, that we
view with the liveliest alarm the PROPOSE
ton 10 remove the duty on soft coal and
coke, and foresee in the adoption Of such
measure the HWiit and inevitable de-
structlon OF the coal interests in our sec
ton and the consequent defeat Of all
measures looking 10 tho development OF
this part OF Virginia.
Resolutions were also passed favoring
"the repeal OF the osious and un'Ameri-
can system Of internal taxation, which
would bs psrpetuated by the proposed
tariff reduction" asking for hearing be-
fore the Committee Of Ways and Means
and urging the Senators and Representa-
tives from Virginia to vote against the
proposed repeal.
wEsr VIRGINIA MINERS PROTEST.
The meeting held on the game day at
Bnmwell, in Mercer county, W. Va, was
called by the operators and minors Of
Cooper & Co., CasTell Creek Coal and
Coke Company. Stephenson, Mullin & Co.,
William Booth & Oo. and Goodwill & Co.,
employing in all l, 500 men. The meeting,
OF which ], A. Welch was chosen chair
man, and O. q. Duhring, ir., secretary,
passed the following resolution, after re-
citing the danger ofarepeal Of the duty on
soft coal or coke:
ResoIred, That we, the citizens, operators,
miners and mine laborers representing the
Flat Top Goal and Coke district, at pres:
ent producing 5000 tons Of coal and 800
tons OF coke per day, with large promise
OF increase in the early future, esrneatly
represent that the removal OF the duties
on soft coal and coke would be ruinous TO
the interests OF our section, aud respect.
lfully request that the members OF the
House OF Representatives and Senators
from West Virginia use all legitimate
means to defeat any measure looking to
the removal or diminution OF the present
duties on soft coal and coke.
The usual demand for hearing before
the committee was made, and stepa taken
to organize common movement through
the State to agitate against the repeal OF
these duties.
CONGRESSMAN PHIL sNIDER RRcElVEs A
TRLEGRAM.
Another dispatch from Caperton, W.
Va, says: A largely attended meeting was
held here last night by the miners and
employees working at the mines of the
New River Coke Company and OF William
Berry Cooper & Co., ior the purpose Of
protesting against the proposition to put
soft coal on the free list, as Is proposed by
the Committee OF Ways and Msaus at
Washington, The action OF that commit
tee and Of Congress on this subject ia be.
ling carefully scrutiniEsd and ConRIdered
by those threatened with the injury. At
the close OF the meeting, Mr. Joseph
Flick, ita President, and Mr.. P. NJ. Hayes,
lits Secretary, sent the following telegram
to Mr.. Charles P. Snyder, the representa-
tive from this district;
"We are alarmed at report that bill is to
be reported In Congress taking duty OIL
soft coal and coke. Removal OF duties
yould break up coal mining and throw
Ilaborers out OF employment Please pro.
test against any such bill being introduced.
Miners ahould have hearing before any
such bill Is even prepared"
REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATIONS.
Tho mesting also passed the following
preamble and resolutions which express
.. clearly the continent OF the mipers here
on the subject:
WHEsSAs, The present rate Of import
duty on foreign RoIt coal, coke, etc, Is
barely sufficient to Rsord fair profit to
, the capital employed in mining and chip
ming these products, and to afford reason
able wages to the miners and laborerB EN-.
Ipioyed in this industtyj
AND wHRRRAs, This article constitutes
the bulk OF present and prospective wealth
r OF this State, -
We, the miners and laborer0 OF Faystte
r county, West Virginia, irrespective oil
party affiliations, kefeby
Rtsole, That any Getion By Congress
either 10 remove or diminish said iflpaYt
? duty, will embarrass existing mines snd
!, Yetard the development Of others; and ir
, this bsLalt We request our Represents
tiyes In tho CongrCss ct The United stateI
! TO oppose the pending pIopo1 Ton to re-
J move the duty on articles snumsTatSd
above.
soMR 4BLR COMMENT.
The Pres In commenting on this signit
o icant movement says;
Congressman Wilson, Of West yirRinis
II he wishes to learn the feeling which eE
!. ists in his own State upon the repeal o
: : the duty on iron and soft coal will do vel
! 10 read the resolutions we print elsewhsrt
!. passed BY miners Of Caperton, W. Va, q
q distance iroLl bis own district, but re
: tlecsing the sentiment OK s:ate Democrat
Iic at the last election by 9O5 on the Yot
:, tor congressman, while Mr.. Snyder, I
p whom t:ese resolutions are specially di
rected, carried mis- district by 500 in tota
poll Of 2S,9l7. II Is an slt comment ol
Inc Protection sentiment Of thSss TssOl1
= tioSR thai .he New River coklnR regioi
It has increaSsd itS odtput from 9s,427 ton
10 in 1880 to 1877 ,06S tons In 1885, and stil
-... l., All. ,,,Sk 49,, ,-bila t6a ynlua :