Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-30
ESPECIAL TrLreHAx TO THE prsrArcH.,

ESPECIAL TELEeBAM TO THE DrsPArcH.i
PHILADELPHIA, August 29-Fhe fol.
lowing open letter to the Presidents and
Boards OF Directors of the Penn and West
moreland aud Gas Coal Companies has been
addressed by President Rae:
PHILADELPHIA, August %, 1890.
To e. h Mccullough, ESQ.,, President Westmore-
land Gas Coal Company, and f. A. Dingee,
President Penn Gas Coal Company, and Board
of Directors:
GENTLEMEN--Having exhausted every honor
able means could think of to settle the trouble
at Irwin station. Westmoreland county, Pa,
and having failed, 1 now take the liberty of
addressing you in this public manner. Feeling
strong in the consciousness of having only
asked what is right, we are willing that public
opinion should judge between us, and think
that due self-respect will prevent any undue
disregard for its decisions. I do not mean to
insinuate that you think other than what you
have done and are doing is perfectly right and
proper.
A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
believe as sincerely as you possibly can that
your course is arbitrary and unjust and in op-
position to all enlightened methods of settling
all disputes and that you are somewhat to
blame for having caused this unfortunate con-
test. That this may be plain let me state a
year the miners of the large coal producing
State agitated the question of an advance in
wages. The miners believed that they were
entitled to an advance on account of improved
business conditions and that they were entitled.
as wealth producers, to some share in the IN
creasing wealth.
They further felt that if they did not get ft
and were not allowed to share the benefits of
advancing civilization they would be left
behind and lowered in the social SCALE" The
justness Of their action is manifested in the
hat fr, all
advance was granted without trouble. Your
employees shared in the general desire for what
cannot be denied was right. and made their de-
sires known to the agents or your companies.
Here is where you made your first mistake.
Instead Of recognizing your employees as CO.
factors In production. and therefore entitled to
some SAY" as to the terms on which you would
continue to cooperate, you paid no attention to
this request. Not only that, but you failed to
put up notice at the usual time as to what
your intentions were.
OPERATORS TO BLAME.
The men were naturally dissatisfied with
such treatment. I feel free to say that You
were to blame for the first rupture of friendly
relations. 1t is no use saying that demands of
the men were exorbitaht in asking an advance
of Is cents per ton. Undoubtedly that is true,
and the demand may have been made In an
arbitrary manner. 1t is equally true that you
had 1t in your power to overcome that and you
failed to do ii. The men stopped work. You
then put up notices and called committee to
went back to work, modified their demand and
asked for an advance of cents per ton. This
advance was granted by every operator in the
Pittsburg field, with possibly one or two ex-
ceptions. Even this, that other operators have
given, you still refuse; hence the strike.
HThat you may understand the position Of
your men, call your attention to the following
statements: The labor necessary to produce a
ton of coal Is as great in your mines as it is In
the other mines in the Pfttsburg field. and the
men cannot understand why you should refuse
to pay as much for the same labor as other
operators. Is not your employees labor just as
valuable as that Of the employees of other COM
panies?
NOT GOOD GROUND.
The claim made by you that because you
give your men steady work they should work
for less, cannot be admitted as mines that run
steady can be operated at relatively less COST
than those that are idle part of the year. That
should enable you to pay more. That the
miners do not ask. The amount of your ship
men.s Is also in your favor. Other operators
who ship much less quantity pay the price.
Why should you not do the same?
The necessaries Of life have advanced on an
average of Is per cent. How ars-the miners to
live if their wages are not advanced. Sixty
five cents per ton would not be as much to
them to-day as go cents has been in years past.
1t is the intention of the two great companies
you represent to humiliate and degrade your
workmen by paying them less than other work
mon are paid, thus placing them az disad-
vantage that brings feeling of inferiority? Is
this your policy?
You know what have done to settle this
trouble. That / have met with you and
reasoned this matter, that every consideration
has been paid to your position and feelings,
that as last resort proposed that should
use my influence to induce the men to go to
work, and that the question of price be left to
the decision of three impartial men.
This Is considered the fairest and most enlighr-
eDed method of settling disputes. All has
failed.
AN AGGRESSIVE POLICY.
What is left for US but to refuse to work ut
price that would be unjust to other operators
who wish to deal fairly? That would endanger
the wages of $1,000 toilers and would be de-
moralizing and degrading. You may get few
men to work, but feel sure you will never be
you pay what is right. One thing is sure: We
shall try to help those who have to suffer and
the hitherto passive resistance will be changed
10 policy more aggressive
In conclusion. let me ask you again to recon-
,ider this matter. Surely no false sense of
you do not wish TO yield to the men
would Justify the sacrifice of the company's
interest and the injury to the business interests
Of Irwin station, and the injustice that is beng
lone to the miners. You can afford to do q
right, and there is no fear but thar the old re-
alton between employer. and employe will be
Still hoping that this may be
am yours respectfully,
j. b. RAE,
President United Mine Workers of America.