The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-20
THEY MAKE SLOW PROGRESS
The Miners Adopt Resolution Fayoring
Consolidation with the K. OF L.
a Great Deal Of Talk but Very Little Action
Thus Far-A Defense Fund a Necessity
The Inspectorship Question.

The miners continued their session yes
<eraay. the morning being devoted to list
euing to addresses by Master Workman
Rae and Secretary Watchorn OF ID. A.
rex m relation to a consolidation of the in
terests of that assembly and those OF the
progressive Union. Mr.. Rae's plan is to
have the two organizations unite under one
set of officers. and strive for the same ends.
but allow each organization to MAINTAIN It's
own individuality as heretofore. Mr.
Watehorn's talk was TO the same end. and
hoth gentlemen were warmly welcomed by
the delegates. David b. Ross. of 1ni-
nois. and Chris Evans. of Ohio. talked
for the union, and advised the action out
lined nv Nessrs. Rae and Watchorn.. The
Committee on resolutions having failed 10
make any progress. a new committee was
appointed, consisting OF Ih0mas DAYS.,
William Scarfe and 4. II. Penna, aIter
which the convention took a recess.
Reassembling at 100 p. Ne. a sort of test
vote was taken ON the eight-Eour system,
the delegates being unanip1ous IN It's
favor. On the question of further re-
stricting the output of the mines-that
rs by some action in addition to shortening
fhe working hours to eight-the vote stood
forty-six affirmative and eighteen negative.
Mr.. Ross, who was a delegate to the Fed
QrafIOl OF LaDOI COuNcnllou IL ltOSSchs
and one of the committee appointed to re-
port to the national convention at Column
bus the progress made by the B0s-
ton meeting, spoke on the reduction
of the hours of labor and the dehb-
e~rations of the Federation on that sub
iect. The Federation. he said. was In
hearty sympathy with the miners. and be-
ieyed that to reduce the hourSof labor was
TO increase the value of 1T. Chris Evans,
secretary of the Federation, said there
- k.o1nC chat ytaa6ah mora IN rn
and protection than others. and that the
Federation gave much thought and at
tention to the coal miners. he read the
report of the Federation committee, which
is to bring the eight-hour system to the at
tention of the Columbus convention.
The committee on resolutions then re-
ported the following. which was, after
some discussion, adopted:
Whereas. The existence of two miners Organi-
zations. contending for supremacy, has been a
" result in the total GENERALIZATION Oh our
forces; and,
4 watchorn, of ID. A. 1875, X. OF l., have slgnl-
fed their desire TO have one organization, with
one board and one set of officers; therefore,, De IL
Resolved, That we, to the extent or declaring
for the three objects named. indorse the position
OF Msssrs. Rae and Watchorn; and, be II further
Resolved. That a committee of three be ap-
pointed. by this convention, to confer with the
officials OF II. A. 135, n. OF L., TO devise a plan by
which the mining forces can be united, ana SUD
nit 1t TO the members or eacn OrganlZdtlOn IOr
its approval or rejection.
On the subject of changing the time for
signing the scale. the committee submitted
, two reports. The majority report favored
fixingfhe time March l and Sept. /, while
the minority report favored a contract to
March L the year following. Under the
present order of things the scale is signed
May /, and the miners labor under the dis
advantage of entering upon a contract
when the dull season for the operators is
coming on. The opponents of the majority
report commended that so many of the min
ers were under contract to May l that ii
would be neither honorable nor advisable
to attempt to break their contracts.
There was a very long discussion
delegate had something to say Oh the sub.
ject. Finally Mr.. Turner moved to amend
the minority report by inserting a clause
advancing the price for mining coal 12i2
the Hooking valley scale. This would
make the wages of the miners in that dis
trict so cents a ton and those of the miners
of the block-coal fields of this State, g
cents a ton.
feet, and in aforcible speech he pointed out
TO the delegates the folly of attempting tc
force an increase III wages and a change in
the time Of making contracts, unless they
wer2 prepared to back their action up
III l1Cl du l0ASCo n uC1CnoC luhu ouIl-
GENTLY large to enable them to make a
fight for what they wanted, he declared he
would not lend his voice to the movement
or encourage it in any way. you must have
the wherewithal to fight the operators
said the president, "OrI cannot encour
age the men to enter into a hopeless strug-
gle. Provide this necessary support if you
expect any assistance from me.o The two
reports. with Turner's amendment, were
referred back to the committee on resolu.
tions for reconstruction.
Mr.. Ross offered a resolution that all the
miners III the competitive district, some
1900. be taxed 50 a head, the money to be
used as q defense fund. Mr.. HOwells
thought it advisablet to have several officer
and a board of trustees to look after thi:
big prospective fund. to keep it, said the
~Jocular delegate, from taking a trip Il
Canada. Ross's resolution was referred tC
the committee on resolutions, after much
talk had been wasted on it. Some dissatis
fed delegates asked for a division
not being satisfied with a viva voct
vote on the reference. and it resulted
a for and Is against referring the resolu
ton. Several resolutions urging the neces
sity of more thorough organization il
southern Illinois. and asking that an assess
ment of 10 cents per head be levied on the
district TO aid in such organization, were
very frostily received and laid on th,
table. A motion to adjourn finally broughi
out another protest from those delegate.
who want to get through in a hurry anC
who expressed the opinion that nothins
had been accomplished. They were largely
In the minority, however, and consequently
an adjournment was taken until s o'clocl
this morning.
Col s. n. Woman. the Island City oper
ator. was an interested listener to q portion
OF the afternoon proceedings.
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