Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-14
PLANS OF THE MINERS.
Rea Wants Mckinley to Make Him
Labor Commissioner of Ohio.
E'BRIDE MAY TAKE HIS PLACE.
In That Case Knight of Labor Will Be
Chosen Secretary.
INTERESTING INDUSTRIAL FEATURES

A special telegram received from Co
lumbus saws: Hon. John Mcbride, State
Commissioner of Labor, and John P. Jones
President of the Ohio miners, left yesterday
for Birmingham, Ala, to attend the annual
meeting of the American Federation Of
Labor Messrs Mcbride and Jones, to.
Cether with John B. Rae, President of the
United Mine Workers, are delegates from
the miners organization, which is affiliated
with the Federation. Mr.. Rae has been in
Tennessee, and will 20 from that State to
Birmingham. Hon. John Mcbride has been
talked of as a likely successor to Samuel
Gompers, the present head of the Fedora
tion. He stated to a DISPATCH representa-
tive yesterday that he would not be a candi-
date, however, for the place.
''Nould you not accept it if rendered
you?" was the query.
'Well if the convention would raise the
salary to something like 81, 500 year and
consent to the removal of the headquarters
from New York to Columbus might"
Rae Wants to Be Labor Commissioner.
Mr.. McBride's term as Labor Commits
sioner will expire next spring, and his sue
cessor will be Republican. There are
already q large number of candidates for the
place, among them John b. Rae, President
Of the United Mine Workers Mr.. Rae de-
clared himself for Mckinley during the late
campaign, and it is now claimed his influ-
ence with the miners was largely instru-
mental in his election.
1t is understood Mr. Rae will make
contest for this place, and that Hon. John
Mcbride will be put forth as o candidate
for President of the United Mine Workers.
This is a plan that has been sprung
hv some OF Mr.. McBride's friends and
they say that if he is not in harmony with ie
the place will be forced upon him, anyway.
In event of Mr. Mcbride being urged for the
place both 2. H. Penna and John P. Jones,
who have been mentioned as candidates,
will step aside. The selection of an old Pro-
gressiye Union man for President OF the
United Mine Workers would make the elec-
tion of a Knight of Labor for Secretary in
order. This would be just the opportunity
desired by W. b. Wilson. who is looking
after his fences in event of contest. Mr.
Wilson is an old leader among the Knights.
Reasons for a Change of Date.
An effort has been made to have the con-
vention of the Ohio miners, which convenes
regularly in January, postponed to April.
At the request OF certain persons the matter
has been submitted to the miners and a vote
is now being taken on the question. The
claim made by those favoriag q postpone
ment OF the convention is that any action
taken on the scale in January would ap-
prise the operators of the miners intentions
and thereby place the men at a disadvant-
age. 1t is asserted by some that the defeat
last spring was due to the fact that the
operators had sufficient time to anticipate
the action or the miners.
President Jones says the convention will |
be called in January, as the vote will not be |
completed before the time for issuing the |
cal He SAYS that about nine-tenths of the |
miners are in favor of the postponement as |
the holding of this convention in April would |
save 4 large expense to the local organiza-
tons and would probably accomplish as
much good.