New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-04
DEMANDS OF WYOMING MEN.
JOY IN THE sCHuYLKILL AND LEH1GH REGIONS
OVER THE ACTION OF THE rITrsToN CoNvEN-
TIoN-PROsPECT OF A SERIOUS COAL FAM
1NE II THE DEMAND Is REFUSED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRrDUSE.1

lBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRr3uSs.l
SCRANTON. Feb. 3.-The publication in Scran-
ton this afternoon of the news that the Knights
Of Labor Convention at PittstOn had passed u
resolution demanding that the wages Of the
miners in the Wyoming and Lackawanna regions
shall be increased 3 per cent caused sensation
in this valley. The demand was the last matter
considered by the convention 1t gave rise to
Jan animated debate which terminated at
o'clock tins morning in the adoption of the reso-
luton. The secretaries of the convention have
given out the following official statement:
Before adjournins District Assembly No. 16
unanimously rVsONeu to demand al advance OF
IL per cent Ill the wages paid by mine operators
III the Wyoming and LackawaIina Valleys, the
present advances III the prices OF coal WarrantlnB
such "a demand. The matter was also placed IN
the hands vi the District Executive Board the
chairman Of which IS ID. }. Campbell, OF ocrin.
ton, lOr Nmmcdate action. Inc question VIII
bc submitted to the operators early next week y
special meeting OF the district assembly Will DE
called at an eaily day to consider the answer OF
the operators 10 the demand. The knights Of
Labor have been thoroughly aroused and are
determined to impress upon the minds OF the
operators that the wOrkingmcn are entitled to
fair share of the profits the operators are now
reaping by reason of the riSe in the Lehign
and Schuylllill regions"
Daniel j. Camp ell, a leading shoe dealer of
Scranton, was elected Master Workman of the
assembly lie said to-day: A majority of
the delegates to the convention went there with
instructions from their local assemblies to make
tuis demand. Tie matter presented III
regular form TO the assembly in the first business
brought before II, and IL WAS referred III proper
form to "A carefully selected committee that gave
il earnest attention and brought i'll its report
among the last things to be acted upon. Tins
accounts for the fact that the matter was hot
made public earlier. IL was the unanimous
opinion of the delegates that the present condl
tion of the coal trade warrants this advance,
and the demand would have been made whether
Mr. Lee of the Reading strikers appeared before
the convention not. In short, the men OIL
this section feel that they are entitled to ialr
share of the profits which the companies OF this
region are now enjoying, because of the idlcness
Of other sections and the demand for coal"
In answer to the question, What Will he thc
result of q negative answer TO the demand
will reconvcne on February 90 10 answer that
General Coal Agent StOrrS of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Company says that
previous TO the granting of the ] 0 per cent adj
vance on July |, 1882, the company was earn
ing more per ton than il has earned any year
since, excepting SS3. Mr.. StorrS could not
say what the action Of the company would he:
The companies In the Wyoming and Laclta-
wanna regions cannot. account Of the strikes
in the Lrhigh and Schuylkill regions promptly
nll the orders that are pouring in on them. If
miners might accept the proposition: otherwise
strike must result. This would cause n coal
famine that would have no parallel in the history
Of the country. as the entire output of the an
thracite region would be stopped In the event
Of any advance hping made and accepted IT.
would probably hasten the end Of the disputes
in the Leligh and SchuyIill regions