Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-21
READY FOR A FIGHT.
Pennsylvania and Ohio Miners Are
Closing Up Their Lines to
PREPARE FOR FUTURE TROUBLE.
An Appeal for United Action Sent Out BY
Mcbride and Lewis.
THE ORGANIZATION TO BE PERFECTED
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcHl
COLUMBUS, March 2O.-John Mcbride,
President and w, 7. Lewis, Secretary, of
the National Progressive Union of Miners
and Mine Laborers, this evening issued the
following circular to the members of the
union and all other miners whom it NAV
concern:
The JOINT convention of operators and miners
held at Columbus, March 12-l4, 1889, has Just
adjourned, without having agreed upon price
1or mining from May l, 1883, to April 80, 1890
Ihls failure to agree will be regretted by all
VINO believe In reason rather than force in the
adjustment Of the differences between opera
tors and miners. 1t may be necessary to again
plunge into indiscriminate warfare to finally
convince both operator and miner that any ad-
vantage to be gained by either party from the
dissolution of this movement can only be tenn
porary.
A FIGHT IN SIGHT
The same causes that led to the inception of
the Interstate arrangement will again assert
themselves and compel operators and miners
to acknowledge the necessity for some such
understanding. Many have already learned
this lesson; others may have to learn it from
that sternest of all teachers experience.
When our annual convention agreed to adjourn
AZ indianapolis, it was at the request of the
Indiana operators, who stated that the condi-
tons surrounding them were such that they
could not agree to our propositions, nor to any
that we would accept.
They promised, however, that if the conyen-
tion was adjourned for about month they
would be prepared to meet us with hands un-
tied and in different spirit. When we reas-
sembled at Columbus your representatives on
the Scale Committee were met by the operators
from Indiana with propositions worse than the
one submitted at indianapolis. They demanded
a reduction in the block coal field from 80
cents to Is cents per ton, and in the bituminous
from 20 cents to 50 cents per ton.
They gave as their principal reason for this
demand that the members of I'D. A 1857 had
offered to dig coal at these figures. However
much influence this offer may have had on the
operators of Indiana, we have more faith in tie
unorganized miners of that State than to be-
heve that they will tolerate for moment any
such propositions. And as we could not agree
TO any such terms, the Indiana operators with
drew from the convention. After their retire
ment the operators from Ohio and the Pitts
burg district asked for reduction of 10 cents
T ton below this years prices.
THE DISAGREEMENT.
After lengthy discussion they submitted as
their final proposition, a cents per ton reduc-
tion below this years prices. Your represent
atives submitted proposition to them to make
the prices for the ensuing year 65 cents for
Hooking Valley and a cents for Pittsburg dis
trict This proposition the operators refused,
and the convention adjourned sine die.
At the miners convention, afterward held.
the following was unanimously adopted: THE
representatives Of the miners having been in
structed to maintain present scale rates for the
ensuing year, and this being rejected by the
operators, who insist upon lower mining rate
in the hope of securing an agreement that
would allow peaceful and harmonious relations
to continue between operators and miners
went even beyond their instructions and pro-
posed summer scale rates as the price
for the next years rate, namely, Is
cents for Hooking Valley and "a
cents for the Pittsburg district. The operators
finally offered. as their highest price for the
Hooking Valley, 80 cents for the first six
months, and IS cents for the latter six months
and for Pittsburg So cents and "a cents for
the first and second half of the scale year"
The miners representatives, feeling that
they were notwarranted in making any further
concession in the interest of peace, voted to
adjourn the convention, and now they submit
all further consideration of the question of
accepting or rejecting a reduction direct TO the
miners OF the entire competitive district, ask
ing them TO make such action as will determine
the matter, and Immediately inform the officers
OF the National progressive Union of the result
so that the National Executive Board may
provide for concerted and united movement
10 protect the miners interests"
ACT AT ONCE.
1t being understood that present prices pre-
vail only until May l, 1889, call meetings at once
and act on the foregoing, and send the result
of your action to the national Office before
April ], 1889. The near future may have serious
trouble in store for this competitive district.
If we would be prepared to meet it, there is
no time to be lost in getting everyman into our
organization and in readiness to act unitedly
on any question presented for your considera-
uon. The responsibility of accepting a reduc-
tion or maintaining prices rests with you. AS
ofhcers of the organization we are ready to
execute your wishes.