Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-24
Railroad Miners of the PittSburg Dis
trict Will Ask for an Increase
in Pay Next Week.
NINE THOUSAND MEN INVOLVED.
A Convention Called by President Costello
to Decide Upon Rate to Be
Asked For.
BETTER FACTORY LAWS NECESSARY
General Drift of Industrial Matters in and Around
Pittsburg

The railroad miners of the local district,
involving 5000 men, will shortly ask for an
advance in wages. A convention will be
held in the city next Tuesday for the pur-
pose of formulating the demands.
Yesterday large mass meeting of miners
was held at Mansfield. 1t was called for 10
O'Clock, but it lasted all day. National
President j. b. Rae, of the United Mine
Workers and President Costello, of
District ), were present and
made addresses. There had been
some feeling among the local miners last
spring against the national officers, but any
disaffecton that existed yesterday was en-
tirelv wiped out by the time the meeting
was over, and it is safe to say that all will
be peace and harmony throughout the dis
trict in the future. After the objects of the
meeting yesterday had been explained and
the business transacted, the miners passed a
resolution unanimously expressing their
desire that a convention should be called
for the purpose of considering the advisabi-
lity of making immediate demands for an
increase in wages,
REA CALLS FOR A CONVENTION.
Accordingly, President Costello issued
the following late last evening:
MANSFIELD, Pa, September %.
To the Miners of the Pittsburg Railroad District,
Organized and Unorganized:
You are hereby notified that a convention
will be held in X. of /. Hall, Third avenue
and Market street, Pittsburg, Pa, on Tues
day, the 29th inst, convention to be called
to order at 10 o'clock A. NJ, promptly. The
questions to be considered are:
First-An advance in the price of min
ing.
Second-Question of weighing coal before
screening.
Every mine is requested to take action
Immediately, and elect Delegates. Prompt
and immediate steps will bring the best re-
suits. JOHN COSTELLO
President District ), L. NJ. W. A.
Mr. Costello was seen last night and he
said: The miners of this district feel that
they are not being paid just wages, and the
officers think they are about right. There
are a number OF Inequalities that need TO be
arranged, and believe this is the proper
time to have it done. of course, it will be
surprise to the operators to have the de-
mand come now. The season is lust open-
ing: natural gas is on the decline, and am
not of the opinion they can stand strike
very long. But have little fear of strike.
believe any reasonable demand Will be
granted without a second questioning
President Rae was also seen last night.
He said: Il cannot say what advance the
present they are paid 20 cents ton, as
against 50 paid in the same district to river
miners working in the same vein.
MUST EQUALIZE THE SCALES.
"This makes a difference of 10 cents, where
really none should exist. But what price
will be asked depends entirely upon the
miners themselves. Our organization be-
lieves in home rulean in this case the Pitts
burg miners will be allowed to fiN their own
rate will say. however, that any reason
able demands that they may make will
be backed mp by our national organization.
"Some years ago, when natural gas came
in the miners very willingly conceded to
relative difference in the price of mining in
different districts because the home market
was gone. Now, that it has been restored
again, we think there should be some differ
ence in their favor. / hardly think there
will he n strike, but should one occur it will
involve all the men on the Panhandle, Char
tiers Lake Erie, Saw Mill Run, Wheeling
division Of the Baltimore and Ohio. the Bal
timorc and Ohio. the Pittsburg. McKeesport
and Youghiogheny, Pittsburg, Virginia and
Charleston. Pennsylvania and Allegheny
Valley railroads within the limits of the
Pittsburg districts"
What difference does it make to have the
coal weighed before screening?"
Just this difference: Under the present
arrangement the miners are not credited
with their full product. Nearly 40 per cent
Of what they mine is screened as nut coal
and slack.
BRINGS NEARLY THE SAME PRICE.
'The former sells within 10 and 10 cents as
much as lump coal and the slack sells for
from 10 to 30 cents a ton. Well, on an aver
age of 20 cents ton, it amounts to quite an
item, but the miners get no credit whatever
for it. This is unjust and unfair
The news of the proposed demands was
received too late secure the opinion of op-
orators. 1t is known that they will make
some sort of an effort to oppose the de-
mands J. Morton Hall was quoted last week
as saying that ii would be n foolish move
on the part of the miners to ask for an ad-
vance now.
President Rae has arranged for another
weeks visitation through the district. To-
night he will be in Shaner: Friday night, at
Lucyville. Saturday afternoon at Mcdonald
and next Monday at Imperial. He will at
tend the convention here on Tuesday. 1t is
expected that Vice President Penna will
also be at the meeting. The general feeling
is that the breach in the ranks of the local
miners will be entirely healed in case they
are successful with the proposed demands,
and all the talk about leaving the miners
organization will be known only as thing
OF the past.
Saw They VIII Get fhe Men