Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-11
Position of the Coal Operators E1-
planned by the Secretary Of
the Late Conference.
COST OF A STRIKE TO THE MINERS.
A Claim That the Men Are Utterly Unable
to Endure a General Tie-Up
of the Industry.
RAILROAD COMPANIES INTERESTED.
President Rae Predicts That the Strike Will Not Last
Over Two Weeks

tlon OF the elght-hour work-day 10 De Or
dered three weeks hence, was the chief topic
of discussion in industrial circles yesterday.
The mine operators do not seem to fear the
result of the movement. They have been
doing some figuring since the abrupt ad-
iournment of the conference, on the ability
of the men to endure long strike. 1t
was thought by many of the operators
that by showing a bold front the
miners would be scared into making
concessions The miners, on the other
hahd, were equally bold, and when the mo-
ton to adjourn was made on the operators
side of the house, the miners felt their firm
ness was being put to test. However, ac-
cepting that the operators wanted an ad-
iourument, they voted for the motion. The
operators could not consistently vote down
their own motion, and the motion pre-
vailed.
The miners determination to carry their
demands into the competitive districts has
put the operators to thinking. The strike
will be a general one, including the coke
region, where the trouble is even now being
fought on the eight-hour basis.
Many Thousand Men Affected.
About lao. 600 to $780, 900 men will be af-
fecsed. There are not that many men
actively engaged in the mining of coal, but
that number will take part in the demands.
The non-union men and day laborers are as
anxious as any others for the movement to
be made, and will necessarily be included
iu'the number requiring assistance during
the struggle.
J. Morton Hall, one of the secretaries of
the conference, was seen yesterday. While
he was not in very talkative
mood, he managed to state the
position of the operators in palmer
terms than it has yet been explained. Ac-
cording TO his theory, the question resolves
itself to one thing-that the operators felt
themselves under no pressure to consider
the eight-hour question, owing to the
miners inability to support a winning
strike. He has il figured out that 100, 900
miners will need at least 30 cents day to
support themselves and families, or $3.50, 900
q week. If the strike occurs, it would be
necessary TO continue at least two months
before the operators would be compelled to
yield The present stock in the market
would supply the demand that long, at
least. Presuming that the men would hold
out that long, thev would require for the
miners alone over So, 600. 600, exclusive of
officers salaries. wv here is 1t TO come
from?" asked he.
Laws in Relation to Strikes.
The laws OF the Federation of Labor, with
which the miners are connected, in con-
junction with the knights of Labor, provide
that when strike has been approved by the
Executive Council, the particulars are sent
III l;,t toI NJ
Of 2 cents per capita is levied on the entire
membership, to be paid weekly. Mr.. Hall
continued:
"Mr. Gompers claims a membership of
$50. 900, but l will give him the advantage
of a few more, and base my calcula-
tion on a membership Of 1000, 900,
for the sake of convenience. This will
give the miners fund of $4,000 weekly
from the Federation. The knights Of Labor
could not more than double this amount,
giving the miners $4,000 to meet the de-
mands of S75, 200 week, or a total fund of
$500 600 TO conduct the strike with, provid-
ing it lasted two months They are totally
unable to do it, and they know it.
Besides, cannot see the wisdom of the
men making these demands, when they do
not work eight hours now. If they want the
eight hours for the benefit of the dav labor
ers, why don't they let the day Iaborers
make their own fight? l took notice the
delegates to the conference were all miners.
The fairness of the miners ultimatum has
been dwelt upon. No one questions its fair
ness but we were suspicious of the motive.
There is a colored gentleman in the wood
pile some where"
"How is the last move of the miners-to
go into the competitive districts with their
demands-regarded by the operators?" was
asked.
81 have not heard an expression on that
point, 4" replied Mr.. Hall. "My own opin-
ion is this: The miners say they will compel
the Pennsylvania and Ohio operators to
bring the operators of the competitive dis
trIets back into the agreement. We cannot
do that. The operators OF Indiana and ILL.,
nois LETT us because they were able to make
better terms with their men out of 1t than
in it. Now, in all fairness, since we re-
mained firm with the men, and were their
friends for a year, WHY don't they give US
year? When the Indiana and Illinois
operators came back into the interstate
agreement they came back of their own ac-
cord, and not through any compulsory efforts
OF either miner or operator OF Pennsylvania
or Ohio"
"How about the reported action of the
railroads in connection with the refusal OF
the operators to grant eight hours?"
Railroads Doubly Affected.
81 have no definite information on that
point, but it is natural to suppose that they
are interested in the matter. A strike will
affect the railroads in two ways. The shut
down itself would stop the shipment of thou
sands Of tons of coal, causing direct loss to
the companies. Then, if the eight hours are
granted, the railroad companies fear the
movement will become contagious and
spread to their own industry. OF course
more trouble would follow"
Al effort was made to see Mr. Dempster,
the Chairman of the confer ence but he has
been confined to his house with a severe at
tack of the grip since Thursday evening.
The visiting delegation of operators Gisap-
peared from the city ith about the same
suddenuess that characterized the closing of
the conference. Only one of them could be
found yesterday. He was David Patter-
SON. Of the Hooking Valley district. Before
leaving the city he said: 1.-THE unsatisfac-
tory termination of the convention, which
means a termination of the Interstate
agreement, is much to be regretted; but, so
far as the operators are concerned, it was un-
avoidable. We made every concession pos
slble. The postion of the miners was in
consistent 1 think. They came to us and
asked us to help them inaugurate the eight
hour day, and this notwithstanding the fact
that they have signally failed to make the
operators of Illinois and Southern Indiana
abide by the scale
President Rae and Vice President Penna
left yesterday for the coke regions to attend
the convention there and all the other dele
gates for their respective homes. One dele
gate, who took prominent part in the pro-
eeedings, gave out the information that the