Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-09
SUPPORTED BY THE FEDERATION.
Colonel W. P. Rend the Only Operator Who
Said BE Was Ready to Concede the
Mems Demands.
OTHERS SAY 1T is IMPRACTICAL.
The Present Difsrentisl Of Nine Cents will RCmain
Force at Least Another Year.

-
scale The operators endeavored to force
the question down, on the ground that the
rules would not permit of the discussion oi
auv subject outside of the scale ot wages
and succeeded temporarily through the aid oi
Chairman Dempster, In defeating motion
providing for a special committee to con-
slider the shorter hour question.
The operators seemed to be greatly taken
bY surprise when V ice President Penna In
formed them that the miners were backed
bv the Federation of Labor, although this
had been common talk ever since the last
convention OF that organization, held IN De-
rro;t. The operators hardly knew whether
they wanted to entertain the proposition or
not. but when Mr. Penna stated emphat-
icaIIy that the miners regarded the question
as
Paramount to All Others
and would refuse TO take up anything else
until it was settled, the operators were put
10 thinking. 1t was very evident
that the proposed movement would
create d hitch. The miners, strengthened
by a confidence in the support of the
knights OF Labor and Federation OF Labor,
were unit on the question, and showed
their determination to stand on the issue 10
such an extent that, after the differentlal OF
last wear had been reafirmed, the operators
asked for a recess TO consider the matter.
Up until this time the most vigorous OBJ
iections to granting the eight-hour work
dav were based on the assumption on the
part Of the operators that with the demand
So n
equally forcible demand for a maintenance
OF the present rate of wages for day work
men. Off ials of the United Mine
Workers, however, made a very en-
pnatic statement that no one had been au-
thorized to create anv such impression,
either BY word or deed. irtimating that if
the eight hours were granted the men who
work by the day would be willing to accept
q relative reduction in wages.
Wanted Time to Consider.
The operators asked for a recess to give
them lime to consider the matter, and then
went into secret conference of their own.
With the exception of Colonel W. P. Rend,
1hev were unanimous on the point OF refusing
to confer on the question of hours. Colonel
Rend addressed the operators, stating that it
would be much better TO have discussion of
the matter than to entirely ignore it, as he be-
lleved the miners would strike anyway. 1t was
accordingly agreed 10 take up the question at
the afternoon session.
When the conference reconvened Hon. Nor
-ison Foster made motion to suspend the
rules and 90 into committee of the whole for
The purpose of considering the eight-hour Ques-
tion. The motion carried, and President Rae
vas called to the chair. A motion made by Mr..
Dempster carried limiting speeches to SO min
Utes. and another fixed the hour for adjourn
lnant at d o'clock.
President Rae announced that the committee
WIS ready to take up the matter of hours, and
called for discussion. Thers was an embar-
RAISING silence, which lasted for some minutes.
= he operators looked at the miners. and vice
versa. Each seemed afraid to speak. The
operators felt that that they were on the de-
[easiye. and should, therefore. let the miners
show why the eight-hour system should be
adopted. Vice President Penna was finally
prevailed upon TO start the bail rolling.
Mr Penna SAID: 81 suppose il Cevolves upon
US TO state our position on this question mas
much as we introduced it this morning. The
agitation known as the eight-hour movement is
as old as most OF the members of this cOnven-
zion, and mas been conducted with more or less
Nigor ever sIuce the int. oduction of the mining
industry. The question of reduction in
working hours has not been confined to the
miners, hut has been considered IN all branches
OF industry. The movement in 1856 retarded
ruc adoption of the system. There was no
sharp decisive, concerted. national action
uGtIl 1857. When the American Federation of
Labor met in 1888 representing 81 of the
largest trades unions, they designated the
miners as the body TO take the first steps in this
direction. The tine fixed was May l, 1880.
Honor Had Tied Their Hands.
During March and Apul, however we had
maue contracts with you operators which pre-
cluded The Introduction of the system. Our
hands were ted, ana consistent with our honor
and the agreement with you we let the matter
,drop fo- another wear. When the Federation
met IN Detroit last December they reaffrmed
1te conclusion that We should demand eight
hours, and 10 the extent that they had the
power 20 do so, ordered us to make the demand
St ruIs time. " e maze this demand, gentle
men, open and above board. We want to be
yIaia wiki YOU Ghat there may be no mis-
Understanding. WeinTand to enforce the eight
hours by refusing to work longer. But,
with all this, we want the same good
fegling that has always existed since
lie f0fma;1Oa Of this inter State agree ,ent to
continue The eigbt-hour day is destined soon
20 sweep the world. 1t is no sentiment, but
plain business proposition and there can be no
disadvantage to the operators If they Will but
adapt their business TO the new system"
Nr. Peuna closed his remarks by relating
how the eight hours had worked successfully
in Scotland and England, and then gave a
quotation to which the men have been tying
A. motto. as follows:
Whether work by the dag
Or WORK by the piece,
With 4 Teductiol in b rs
The wages incr e.
Mr.. Penna made one statement in regard to
arors got more service from their machinery
since the adoption of the shorter hours, owing
10 the fact that they run two shifts and
the mine is kept IN actual operation longer
period of time each day.
Colonel Morton-May / inquire in what
portion of England those achievements are at
uained7
Mr.. remain Durham ana Northumberland
counties. The mining population of the
former exceeds 5000 and cannot give you
figures for the latter. but the system Is uni
versa. in both counties.
Comparison of Wages.
Colonel MortOn-What are the men paid per
ton.
Mr. Penna-They are not paid by the ton.
They get so much per score OF % boxes each
weighing 100 pounds. But their annual wages
compared with the purchasing power of the
miners in tins country are far greater.
Colonel MOrton-Not much greater, guess;
! have lived there.
Mr.. Penna-So have l.
Mr.. PeuDa stirred every body up, and volume
OF inquiries were shOwered upon Mr.. Penna.
He proved himself abundantly equal TO the
task however, and demonstrated that he was
Iosted the conditions Of the miners else
where and knew what he was talking about.
Mr. Dempster got tripped up slightly when
ne stated he knew something about what wages
were paid III England. I'm one mine where
there s a ~ foot vein the men are paid three
and si1-pence" said he. There was a howl
from the % pers' SIDE. Wish we could get
that That's equal to 81 cents a ton."
An Ohio miner named Sanford then made
sentimental pl a for the adoption of the sys-
tenn so that the men might have more time to
devote 20 their families and preparing them
selves for better citizenship,
W. C. Farfs-Let US hear from the opera
aors' side. We have now heard why eight
hours should be established. Let us hear why
1Aay should not be.
There was another silence broken only by a re-
ThR1 ~ has frup IN m a Ed