Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-05
AN OPEN CHALLENGE.
Coal Operators Warn Labor Leaders
to Go Slow in Their Demands.
POWERNEEDED TO ADVANCE RATES
The Result Of the Vote for President Of
i. A. 300 Announced.
OLIvER'S STRIKE is ABOUT SETTLED

The conference of miners and operators to
be held in Columbus April Is, to fix the
price of mining for the year. promises to be
an interesting meeting. AS foretaste of
what may be expected the following circu-
lar, signed by the Mansfield Coal Company,
the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company, w. P. Dilworth s. Co., Bigley
& Murphy, D. NJ. Anderson and the
Hampton Coal Company was issued yester-
day, and explains the position which these
operators assume. Last year similar circu-
lar was sent out by the New York and Cleve-
land Company alone, but this season they
have gained some reinforcements. The
other coal companies are holding aloof,
though some of them may indorse. Here is
the circular:
AN OPEN CHALLENGE.
To the Lead ers OF the Coal Miners OF Western
Pennsylvania:
GENTLEMEN-The miners of this and other
regions are now in a state of agitation over the
question Of price of mining. This result is
largely the effect of your teaching and efforts.
The proposition for this region is rate of 80
cents per ton for mining l1s inch coal. with
a proportionate advance in other regions from
present prices now paid there. This contem-
plates large advance from present prices.
To accomplish these results requires enor-
power to accomplish these results your action
in deluding the miners of the various States
and districts is almost criminal on your part
But II on the contrary, you possess this pow
under tremendous responsibility for its proper
use.
Assuming that you have the power and pur-
pose using it to secure uniformity in the cost
of fha min in oh nf
the districts. permit MS to call your attention
to existing evils in the business of mining coal,
either one of which will destroy uniformity of
cost and render nugatory any efforts you may
make to that end until they are first destroyed,
and further, permit us to assure you that If you
possess the power to accomplish the result of 80
cents for mining inch coal In this district and
corresponding advances in the other districts
that you then have also ample power to abate
the evils which will otherwise destroy any re-
suits toward the uniformity of cost.
Those evils are as follows: First-Lack of
uniformity in size of screens. Second-Ab-
sence OF uniformity in weight on tipples.
Thlrd-'Pluck-m stores. If you will not or
cannot. abate these evils, then in all honesty
uniformity of cost, we suggest that differ
ence OF 10 cents per ton should be made to
those operators whose screens are fair, and
who have checkweghmen on their tipples, and
who pay their men in cash and have no inter-
est, direct or indirect, in any supplies furnished
TO miners.
III you are powerless to make this concession
OF III cents per ton, then except the mines hav-
ing cash pay and honest weight from your Joint
action and leave those miners free to bring
about an abatement Of the stated evils, or pro-
tect themselves against their fellOw-workmen
by making competing rates to their operators.
Your failure to meet the issues here pre-
sented cannot have any other effect than to I'M
pugn your alleged motive of bringing about
uniformity in mining rate to prevent undue
and hurtful competition between the miners
because your failure to protect those miners
who are paid honest weight in honest money
must cause them to "cut" established mining
rates or be idle.
SOME POINTS EXPLAINED,
W. P. De Armitt, in speaking of some of
the points at issue, said: 'The size Of the
screens. for instance, vary great deal.
Some of the operators use small segments,
others Large ones, and one can easily figure |
what difference it will make. Then the |
lack of uniformity on the tipples is another
striking thing. The ton is made to cover
almost any amount. Some operators expect
2, 900 pounds, others 2, 240 pounds and still |
others make their cars SO long that they will |
hold large quantity of coal. The fact is |
such operators take all they can get, and as
long as the men make no complaints, they |
are satisfied. AS for the pluck me- stores, |
well, people say am a crank on that SUBJ
iect, but I still insist they should be
abolished. I am not going to the Columbus
conference. 1 would only be in the minor
Ity anyhow, and couldn't do much good"