Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-01
Nine Thousand Local Miners Will
Refuse to Go to Work To-Day.
OPERATORS REFUSE THE ADVANCE,
Job Printers Will Also Strike To-Day for
Shorter Hours
MISCELLANEOUS INDUSTRIAL ITEMS,

held with the operators lastiRg two hours.
The crisis is a sudden one and puts the
operators in an awkward position, mas
much as it is less than a week since thev
have had any intimation that an advance
would be asked by the men, and
in less than three hours from the
time the character of their demands
was made known the strike was ordered.
The operators say that they cannot possibly
grant the advance. They are willing to
abide by the agreement of Nav last,
which they insist is still in force Cor should
be). hut in case of an advance the competi-
Jion which theywould be thrown into would
destroy their business
The Miners Convention convened again
yesterday morning, and Immediately took
mp the report of the Resolution Committee.
recommending an advance of 13 cents a ton.
shortly before noon vote was taken on the
demands, and the recommendations of the
committee were adopted unanimously A
conference committee, consisting of Messrs
Eae, Penna, Costello, Mcdonald, O'Nein,
NIcGeary, Hodgekiss, Welsh and Black,
was appointed to meet the operators in con-
Erence.
THOUGHT THE DEMANDS UNFAIR.
This meeting took place in the office of
The Pittsburg Coal Exchacge in the after
noon. The full committee representing the
miners We're present while Nessrs. Demp-
s;er, Blythe, Robbins Andrews and Hall
were In attendance for the operators. The
miners made known their demands and asked
that the advance take effect this morning.
This opened up the way for spirited dis
Cussion in which all hands took part. The
operators based their refusal of the de-
mands upon an alleged violation of the
agreement Of May .
Mr. Robbins said he had been informed
by Mr.. Bovd, Secretary of the district, that
the scale had been accepted by the Miners
Convention, and he considered it very un-
fair for them to ask at this time for an ad-
vance.
Mr.. O'Neiu said the purpose of the con-
veurion was to settle the price of mining in
this district, and he then quoted the terms
Of the agreement, VIII ch he admitted was
made in good faith. This brought Mr.
Dempster TO his feet. He said:
DO I understand that Mr.. O'Neill ac-
knowledges that this agreement was a bona
fide one. that contract has been made and
approved by a convention and again nulli-
fed before il has expired? 4 mans word
should be as good as his bond. If the oper-
ators should have taken advantage of the
miners in this way you would have very
rightfully said there was no honor among
as. / cannot understand how you can with
honor acknowledge that this agreement
was made in good faith for a year
and then come to us for an
advance Of Is cents a ton, to go into effect
tomorrow If YOU have grievance it must
certainly come before the Arbitration Com
1aI ANa will ba
fectly willing to abide by whatever agree
meut the committee arrives at.
OPERATORS BROKE FAITH FIRST.
Mr. O'Neill-It appears from Mr. Demp-
ster's remarks that the miners are consid-
cred to be the ones who have violated this
agreement first. This is not the
case. We are violating no agreement by
making the present demands. We are re-
loved from that agreement, which we ad-
NIT was made in good faith, because the
operators first violated it, in reference to
The dead work scale.
Mr.. Dempster-During the conference at |
which the agreement was made was the dead |
work scale even spoken of?
Nr. O'NeilI-No, but you promised to |
live up to it.
M. Dempster-Well, it is lame excuse |
to come here basinc demand for an ad- |
vance on the claim that one or two opera |
tors have failed to live up to the dead work |
scale. If YOU have a complaint on the |
dead work scale bring it before the Arbi- |
J-arion Committee: give us the names of the |
firms who have violated the scale and the |
matter viii be made right Your only |
grievance does not enter into this agree |
lEent at all I viii ask Mr.. Rae if the dead |
work scale was not left to Joint committee. |
Mr.. Rae replied that it was. The Presi- |
dent and his right bower, Mr.. Peuna, both |
made addresses 10 the committee. both max |
ing strong pleas for the men they repre-
sented.
The operators insisted upon having the |
present agreement continued in force for the |
remainder of the year with the exception of
cases where violations could be proved, or
when it could be shown that operators were
getting prices that would warrant an ad-
vance TO their men. These, they claimed,
must be brought properly before the Arbi-
tration Committee Tor settlement. This did |
not satisfy the representatives Of the miners |
aud the conference adjourned at o'clock
In the meantime the convention had been |
IN session transacting some minor routine |
business. When the conference committee |
reported their failure to accomplish any
thing with the operators there was pro- |
longed wall sent up from the miners. A |
vote lras then taken declaring strike in
every mine represented, TO begin this morn |
ing. and the conwntion adjourned
COSTELLO ORDERS A STRIKE.
Last night President Costello and Secre-
fary McQuaid Of the local district, issued |
tie following:
To the Miners Of the Pittsburg District
FELLOW WoEKMEN-A time has arrived |
when the stereOtyped methods, or what |
JHve been so named by a sufficiently large |
humber of the miners of this district to |
make itnoticea BILE The officious and ultra /
officials. salarled and otherwise, must be ex-
changed for one OF greater distribution and
sharing of responsibilities
The almost uncomfortable elements in |
our ranks last MAY were, by the assistance
o. the United Mine Workers organization,
gathered together and restrained in such
manner rs to give pride and satisfaction to
the friends OF the miners and OF the miners
organization Of this country. The pathway
10 success at that time WAS impossible. Cir
Cunslitnces so combined that nothing but
CuNaruicC and imbecilty could inspire the
1lDt~ o. the United Mine Workers to ANY
other course than tile one taken.
Ii has been the hope of the officials of the
oTganiZatiOn that during the time since last
spring You would have embraced the only
labor organization available to the miners |
o. this country. Those sanguine hopes of |
IOuT officials have not been realized to the
extent sufficient TO allow them to congratu-
late YOU upon your renewed efficiency an
olgaulzed district. But still, our regard ior I
fHe interests Of our craft and the fact that
even IN our district there are organized men
numerous enough to warrant energy and
"ileit on our part, and cooperation IN any
movement originated to advance the nnan-
Clai or other interest of the miners of our
G1~tTlc. or country.
Therefore we have resolved to stand along |
side Of you in the movement you have made
to obtain a Just share of the profits of your
labor, believing do that we are war |