Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-25
SNOWDEy IS VISITED.
Secretary Mcbride Is Only Interested
in the White Miners.
WHAT THE INDIANA MINERS WANT
The Strike in the Pittsburg District Was
Opposed by Mcbride.
SOME GENERAL INDUSTRIAL NOTES

National Secretary Mcbride, OF the United
Mine Workers Association, was visitor
in Pittsburg yesterday. He came here
from his home in Ohio to- investigate the
condition of the white miners at Snowden.
He returned from there late Monday night,
and when seen yesterday afternoon he gave
the following information:
II was at Snowden Monday for little
while comforting with the proprietors of the
mines over the trouble existing between
them and the white miners. The whole
difficulty lies in that contract they want the
men to sign. The agreement calls for 10
per cent discount on every dollar of
the miners wages, which is held
for eight = months, the time
the contract is drawn for. If
a miner, wants to leave the Snowden mines
he has to give one month"; notice, or he does
not get the amount of his wages which
has been held back The operators
did not feel disposed to give in,
SO the 4S white miners will stay
out, and the association will give them all
the aid that is necessary. There are several
things against the Snowden miners. They
nearly all own properties there and cannot
leave. 1 think, though, the company will
see the folly of its course and eventually
come around all right. The matter will be
left in the hands of President Costello for
ettlement.
Negroes Were Not Suffering.
''My visit to Snowden did not have any
thing to do with the negro element. They
are not organized, and, as 1 wanted to do
my best for the whites. L was afraid of
friction with the operators if I said any,
thing about the colored miners. I OBJ
served though, and asked certain persons
about the published story of the slavish
condition of the blacks, and it was strongly
denied. From what L saw was convinced
the men we're being used all right left
colored member of the National Board to
investigate it thoroughly.
Mr.. Mcbride also talked on several other
subjects. In speaking of the strike in the
block and bituminous coal regions of
Indianas he said
To-day the miners and operators of the
block coal region of Indiana are holding
conference. Tomorrow the miners of the
whole State will meet, and the report of to-
days conference will be heard. The block
10 cents and the bituminous miners want
an advance of cents. If our side receives
the advance the other side will be willing
to give in, but if the operators refuse to
make any concessions general strike of
long duration will follow. The block coal
miners are no. we'll organized, but the bitum-
inous men are and it will make long fight. I"
Mcbride Opposed the Last Strike.
Secretary Mcbride was sounded on the
political situation of the association, but
on this subject he was as mum as an oyster.
He branched off on the late strike in the
Pittsburg district. s'I was opposed to that
strike from the beginning" said he.
"When it was brought up before
the National Board I then OBJ
jected to it, and the strike never had
the sanction of the National Board.
There were several reasons for it. I hold
that the men broke their contract in strik-
ing before their scale had run out 1t was at
least bad policy to strike until after the late
trade had been gotten out. The miners of
the Pittsburg district are not as well organ
ized as in some districts. One part Of them
we're firm during the strike, while the other
was constantly wavering and disheartening
the others. The men were not wholly to
blame, as the operators, too, broke their
agreement in several instances.
81 anticipate great deal of trouble next
May, when the new scale is made out. The
men will demand an advance, at least on
local trade, and the operators cannot get
around giving it, although they will prob
ably fight it. The unions have the same
right to ask for an advance now the opera
tors had to demand decrease several years
ago When natural gas was first put on the
market as fuel there was plenty of it, and
the local coal trade was affected. The oper-
ators then asked for decrease and got it,
and, on the same principle, the miners will
next spring ask for an increase, as the gas
has virtually played out