The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-29
MINERS NOT TO STRIKE.
THE NATIONAL BOARD DECIDES
AGAINST IT.

they Point Out That the Men Are
Not Financially Fortified to Face the
Fray-Much Of Their Money Sent to
Help the Coke Region Strikers.
COLUMBUS. o., April 2S.-The national
board of United Mine Workers Of America
concluded a session of several DAYS this
morning, and an adjourned meeting was
called to hear statements from the presi-
dents Of the state miners organizations rel
ative to the proposed strike on May in re-
regard to the enforcement of an eight-hour
labor day. Tbs reports were almost uuani-
nous against the movement, various reasons
being given why they should not enter upon
a strike at this time. The result Of the
conference was the following address to the
United Mine Workers Of America:
FELLOW MINERs-From the time that mining
became an industry of Importance within the
boundaries Of the United States of America, the
Question of shortening the hours of LABOR has
exercised the minds Of the thinking men of our
trade. Circumstances, brought about by the
peculiar position OF our industry, both with re-
gard to geographical location and the diversity
of thought and opinion entertained by the
diverse class of people seeking employment
within our trade, render it impossible to unite
the miners of the country in one
solid phalanx for any given object OF
reform, but by the natural laws of
evolution and by the pTactica Of manly patience
and bv the suppression of personal prejudice on
the part of the miner, of the country during the
past two years we had arrived at a stage in the
organization of our last annual convention when
every friend of the miners throughout the whole
land believed that this great reform,
viz, eight hours, was in our easy grasp,
and steps were taken by resolution
and otherwise toiinaugurate the system. Since
mat time the world has been startled by one
Of the most awe-nspiring strikes in the annals
Of our trade The coke workers Of the Con-
nelisville region for the past twelve weeks have
been the participants IN battle waged by
organized capital against organized labor,
which can only be termed CORY precursor
Of seemingly inevitable strife between the
two forces in general and mora comprehen-
sive manner. While the men, women and chill
dren of this region have been victims Of the
slerff's writs ami his deputies Winchesters,
and while they are now threatened with still
more cowardy. and still more ungcrupulous
methods-the dastardly Pinkertons-it has been
the duty of the united mine workers to render
TO those people all the financial assistance
possible and compatible with the laws of our
organization. Therefore il is unnecessary that
we should say that the funds which under other
circumstances would have been available for
our purpose on the first Of May may have been
very materially reduced. In a word, the
time, attention and finances OF our organization
have been diverted to q channel which at the
time Of our annual convention was almost
wholly unexpected When the late Pittsburg
convention was lelO u was OfO6EGu Iudb II
necessary to review the situation previous to
the first Of May, the district presidents
should be called together with the
national executive board to consult as
to the proper course to BE- adopted, and
now learn taat there has been, within a com
petitive district. detection on the part of the
disorganized miners Of the various sections, and
IS the custOdians of the interests OF the people,
who have placed us in the positions which we
occupy, we positively though reluctantly,
refuse, with our eyes open aud with full and
complete knowledge of the situation, 10 jeopar-
die those interests, and will not be re-
spOnsible for the accompanying sufferings and
sacrifices of a strike to our constituents
and their families Seeing as we
do the above mentioned situation and
knowing we do that thousands of vampires
and vuitures (for that is their proper name) are
waiting now for May so that they may feed,
as 1t were, on the sacrifices OF the organized
miners of the country, appreciate fully the
bOldness or this step, we realize the disappont.
ment to thousands of our friends, but realizing
that discretion is the better part OF Valor and
that a good general, rather than
lead his army headlong to disas-
ter, prefers to make an honorable
retreat, We take the latter course, and if it can
he called a retreat we prefer it rather than 70
have the maledctions Of our people after they
have suffered for keeping back the truth from
them, and have determined at the present time
to continue the fight in the coke region with eli
our might and vigor. We have. therefore
passed the following resolution, and submit II
to you with all candor, humility and respect:
Resolved, That the eight hour movement be
deferred for the time being and that the time
for action be left in the hands of the national
executive board and the presidents of the va
rions districts
j. H. JONES, W. B. WILSON,
JOHN KANE, JAMES WHITE,
NJ. j. Go NGS, j. PAISLEY,
W. c. PEARCEM, P. WUsE,
J. NUGENT p. MCBRyDE,
". c. WEBB, J. B. REA
H. McLAUGHLIN.
The executive board also makes an appea