Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-06
ADVICE FOR MINERS.
President Conway Issues 9 Circular
to the Striking Golfers,
ASKING THEM TO STAND FIRM,
The Situation Explained and Organization;
Working Together.
PRESIDENT wE1HE MAY NOT RUN AGAIN

President Conway, of District of the
National Progressive Union, yesterday is
sued circular which will be sent to the
miners of the district to-day explaining the
situation. He has received reports that al
most one-half of the operators have granted
the 74-cent rate and others are expected to
follow. He desires the miners to remain
firm and solid for the price, as any break
might result disastrously.
The calls for aid and protection from the
Sheriff to prevent riots along the Pan
handle road it is claimed is only bluff
on the part of the operators to obtain the
sympathy of the public. Vice President
Davis says there are no indications Of
trouble or riot, as the men have practically
won the strike without a fight and there is
no necessity of resorting to force to secure
the rate demanded. Many of the operators
have already obtained contracts based on
the 74-cent rate and they will have no
trouble in securing Others. President Con-
ways circular is appended:
HIS CONFIDENT CIRCULAR.
Fellow Miners of Western Pennsylvania:
The situation of affairs as it pertains to our
calling as miners of coal, within the last few
days impels me to issue this explanatory letter
as an acknowledgment of my feelings and de-
sires. 1t has been charged that our present &C.
ton is in violation of certain stipulations be-
tween us and our employers. This desire to
fatty contradict, as at all conferences held be-
tween the employers and the representatives Of
the miners of this district they have failed to
reach an amicable agreement. After failing to
reach conclusion satisfactory to all concerned
by joint conference, the question ofscale prices
was referred to you, and time and place ap-
pointed for your Representatives to meet col
lectively, irrespective of organization, and re-
port your desires as miners and what rate you
were willing to be governed by for the year.
At the convention of your representatives
held in this city on April 80, 1882 it was ascer-
tained, from reports of representatives, that
an overwhelming majority were in favor Of
establishing 4-cent rate for the year, and all
present, with two exceptions, voted in favor Of
1t. BY this action the Accent rate became the
price you had agreed upon, and which you are
in duty bound to support; inasmuch as It was
price of miners thems elves the miners Of both
organizations, as well as those not organized,
are
RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS SUCCESS,
for upon their united action depends the posi-
bility of victory, and am very glad to be able
to assure you that from reports received the
miners have awakened to the fact that from
the divisions in our ranks employers expected
to be benefited, as it is admitted by some that
they expected faction of the miners to be a
part of the machinery that would enable them
to secure less rate of mining than that of IA
cents.
It seems that it was not from q business
necessity that they required this reduction,
but. from our inability to prevent it, they
would insist upon it. That inability is no.
where apparent at this time. From all over
determined on retaining their position as re- |
CARDS prlce of mining. True, there are one or |
two places that are not as steadfast in their |
purpose as they should be; but their action, |
should they break, cannot influence the gen. |
eral result.
Many of the employers VINO had proposed re- |
ductions previous to our last convention, have |
concluded to pay the prices agreed upon, and |
their mines are now working. Others have not |
offered any reduction, and are working. We |
have some grounds for believing that others |
bility of granting the accent rate, SO that the
number of those paying the Accent rate in the
very near future will far exceed those refusing,
and end in all paying it.
A FoRLoRN HOPE.
Some are waiting for break on our side. In
that hope they will be disappointed. The |
factions have become unit. No advantages
are to be gained In that direction. Miners
have interests in common which they recog-
nize however much they may differ as to
This unified struggle is the proof.
The reduction, if conceded. would not benent
either consumer or miner. Contracts for Ship
ment Of coal for this district have been largely
sntered into, and, we believe. taken at a figure
that entities the miner to a accent rate Hi.
nois and Indiana operators have been held up
to us as some of the causes of reductions
but, so far as Illinois and Indiana
miners are concerned they cannot
be reduced without their consent until, at
least, thev have been defeated in a struggle to
their prices. which struggle they are
now engaged in.
1t appears that no method Of eQualizing con-
1itions has ever entered into the Consideration
of employers, except an equalizing by reduc-
5ion in the wages of employees, and by this
method forcing the employees 20 attempt to
equalize from their standpoint by what is COM
monty known as a strike.
1t appears from the indications that the
question of price will be settled, SO far as this
district is concerned, by the favor
sble action of the miners supporting one an
,ther in their efforts at equalfzing conditions
ind obtaining in Western Pennsylvania a IA
,ent rate; but in order to secure it we must
lave no break. Each man must be firm. Don't
rive up the ship. Orderly and quietly maintain
Tour position and all will be well
JOHN d. CONWAY.
President District 4, N. P. q.