The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-19
MEETING OF CoAL-MINERS
Members of the Progressive Union Pre-
pairing Plans for Future Action.
Consolidation of Interests-Prices and the
Effects of Strikes the Chief Topics to BE
Considered-Address of John Mcbride.

Sixty-six delegates TO the convention of
miners of the competitive district CON-
posed of Indiana, Ohio, western Pennsyl-
vania, West Virginia and northern Illinois,
met at WorkingInen's Hall, East Washing
ton street, yesterday morning. They are
members of the Progressive Union of
Miners and Mine Laborers, and their object
Is to decide upon a policy which will bet
ter protect the miners, shorten their hours
of work and advance their wages. Having
done this. they will recommend it To the
favorable consideration of the national
convention of the order, which assemblies
at Columbus. o.. in February.
The list of delegates IN attendance Is as
follows:
dpdisna-R, H; Pe = L Gomisr hna P6II
Roberts. James Persons, l Iank Cathert, Mack
Stinson, NJ. Ii. Gray, John Kennedy, James
Bloodsow, NJ. Mine. ". Luckey. John Mcclure;
John King. JAS. White, j. Winterbottom and
Ohio-Chris Evans. Alex Johnson, J.: Lewis.
Jas. Robinson. A. Folsom. Phil. Heard, jas.
Smart. d.. Jones, r. Lightbird, j. Dunpee. John
Winkelman, W. c. Pierce, j. Pritchard, He.
Harris. J. Eddy. W.: Turner. c. Cheny. I. J.
Lewis, W. Crawford, j. i. Terrill, L. Flance, A.
Miller. ]. Jones. jenkins Rees. j. Grove, J.
Milstuff, j. Sergent. A. Bright and j. Morgan.
Ilinoisasam SHELTON, \; Fleming j.. Moweis'
Mindan, +. Lafferty, NJ. Todd, X. Roblass, ID.
Ross. p. W. Davis and G.. Cummings.
West virginia-L. Shimp and Andrew Winter.
The latter also represents Pennsylvania.
President John Mcbride. of the National
Progressive Union. called the convention
to order, and announced the first thing in
order to be the election of officers. He was
elected by reclamation to preside, while
Patrick Mcbride was. by a similar vote.
made secretary. Il. l.. Lewis and Samuel
SHELTON were elected assistant secretaries.
Messrs. Gray, Lockhart. O'Hare, MQnahan
and Harris were appointed by theehair a
committee on order of business, and Messrs.
Winters, Penna, Evans and Ross a commit
tee on resolutions.
The feature of the afternoon session was
President McBride's address. Hedeprecated
strikes except as an extreme remedy, and
said that experience had not yet taught
the miners that to know how to strike was
not of more Importance than to know when
to strike to be successful. He referred 10
the failure of the spring and SUN
mer strikes IN northern Illinois
and in the block coal-fields of
this State as instances of not knowing
when to take such extreme action. He said
| that repeated defeats had done more to dis
courage and demoralize the miners than
anything else. and that the only way to re-
4 SlOI6 COu10cnCO II W duOpb dn dkSICcclNO
policy and back 1T up by the creation of a
| fund large enough to guarantee the men
protection from hunger and the vengeance
of their employers. To this end be RECON-
mended that every miner in the district
contribute between now and May L. the
wages of one fair days work., and that this
aggregate sum be used to start q defense
fund. Speaking on this line Mr.. Mcbride
said that If the miners and mine labor
ers would but do their duty toward each
other it would not be necessary to accept
defeat to avoid starving or appeal
ing to a charitable public. Il
he. "of being Inundated, year in and year
out, by having to publish to the world thpt
my craftsmen are SO lacking in energy and
enterprise that, rather than make proper
financial provision in time OF peace to pro-
tect their interests during periodical aud
apparently inevitable wage contests, they
prefer to be classed as paupers and mehdi-
cants. This language may sound severe
and harsh to you-it certainly is not pleas
ant to me-but it is true, and we are fOrci-
bly, reminded Gifts truth by the fact that
during the several months strike of tho
5000 miners and mine-laborers in Indiana
and Illinois, only about $4,000 in money
and goods was contributed to aid thenI
This would be but q small amount for the
more than 6O,000 mine-workers of this com
petitive district to pay, but the records
show that fully One-half of this sum was
contributed by others than mine-workers,
ohN uAo 10 hOV SLCutt0OAO " uo-
No wonder that operators SO loudly boosted
of their ability to starve their miners into
submission" -ets a u
The subject of restricting the output of thb
mines Mr.. Mcbride discussed at cOnsideIar
BILE length. touching oil three methods, by
either of which this could be accomplished.
viz, short hours, limited tonnage and gem
eral suspension. The latter, he thinks. if
practiced at stated periods, while being the
most radical. would be the easiest and most
effective way of preventing a glut in'the
coal market. mo surer plan," said he.
could be adopted for keeping the selling
price of coal npon q paying basis-one that
would not only allow miners living rates
for their labor, but insure the operators of
mines a fair return upon invested capital.
The objections as to shorter hours and re-
striction by tonnage cannot be raised
against this system, because it does not dis.
criminate between the young and old-the
strong and feeble minersCbut places them
all upon the same level" =
In conclusion. he made a strong plea for
consolidation with n. L. A. 1876, X. of L.,
saying: IF this could be done, with the
consent of the members of both orgaaiza-
tiOns, peace and good will would take the
place of malice and hatred, division would
be displaced by unity, which, when once
established. nothing short of an indus trial
crisis in the country would prevent a
speedy adjustment of our many griev-
anceS."
After the president had concluded his adj
uTeSS, Iue fOll was cdileu lOT expressions as
70 what action the convention should take
on the topics presented by him. There was a
general, almost unanimous, sentiment fol-
consolidation with the X. of l.. and the
raising of a defense fund. Opinions diff
fered, however, as to the best method of re.
stricting the coal output.
Master Workman John b. Rea and Secre-
tary Robert Matcham, of the n. Il. A. 1S5
X. of L., were invited to address the con.
vention at 9 o'clock this morning on the
subject of consolidation.
A motion to adjourn gave rise to soms
discussion, several delegates expressing the
opinion that the convention ought to finish
its work without delay. and in order to dc
this, remain In session until evening
President Mcbride explained that little
could be accomplished until the cOmmitte,
on resolutions had reported and that would
not be until the next day. The convention
then adjourned until this morning at
o'clock.
TIL Indiana Delegates.
Immediately after the adjournment the
Indiana delegates held a meeting and dis