Telegram-herald., 1891-04-16
MINERS WONTSTRIKE.
Coal Diggers Of Pennsylvsnis Not
For Eight Hours-
COCEyI REASONS GIVEN By TIE IES
why is Weald Result In Disaster 90 Their
Owa Inserests-If Grievances Exist
the Ainers Can settle Ihsm
without = strike.

PHILApELPHIA. Pa, April l5.-start-
ling Developments are expected IN tht
coming eight-hour strike which is to be
inaugurated on May under the drec-
ton of the American Federation of
Labor. The miners of the largest coal
producing regions Of this state are not
unanimous on the question of striking,
and movement is on foot TO withdraw
the miners of this state from the num-
ber Of those who are to be called out.
disaffected districts are the Shamokin,
Schuylklll. Lehigh, Lackawanna anu
Wyoming regions, IN which are en-
ployed by tar the largest pumber OF
miners IN tins state. The cause of the
disaffectlon 10 that the American Fed
Grafton of Labor 10 charged with having
taken it upon themselves To decide
upon the strike without consulting with
the miners representatives, and also
that the proposed action Is contrary
TO their wishes and against their inter
ests.
President Gompers stated at the last
convention of the Federation that the
miners would be the next craft to push
the eight-hour question, but in this po-
sition he is not supported 10y the repre-
sentatives OF the Knights Of Labor, who
assert that strike among the miners
OF these regions would be foolish as
we'll as an absolutely unnecessary ac-
ton.
They viii Not Strike.
1t is claimed that none of the miners
OF the anthracite regions work eight
hours a day, nor would they do 50
under any circumstances.
Most of them work under contract;
that is, they are given a chamber to
work and it depends entirely upon their
own exertions whether they receive
their pay at an early date or not. A
miner may work for two or three weeks
IN one chamber before he can mine his
coal, and during this time he earns
nothing, but when the chamber Is
worked, then his remuneration comes
all at once. The "breakers' seldom
work more than ten hours day during
the summer. and in the winter months
are compelled to stop work when day
light ceases.
A prominent representative of the
miners said last night:
reports OF the preparations for the
strike on May l among the miners.
Our men have good laugh about the
matter every time they read of such
thing. The miners of the anthracite
regions will not strike generally for
eight hours because, with very few ex-
ceptions, where day wages are paid
such an action would be absurd, and
would produce nothing but ruin to- our
unions.
This 10 Logic.
"Imaglne the result if by winning our
strike We forced the men to work just
50 many hours a day on their own job
when their time is their own. Ii the
men are dissatisfied under those circunl-
stances then we can do one of two
things-we can either strike for higher
wages, or We can. as a union, force the
men to limit their hours Of labor to
eight hours. The latter action is to my
mind the only reasonable one with the
men OF the anthracite regions if there
was cause for complaint"
What about the agitation among the
miners"
"You will find when May l comes
that the miners of the anthracite re-
gions are in the main Knights of Labor
and will hold fast IN their allegiance"
"Do You think that fight will ensue
between the Federation and the Knights
on this head?"
"No; that is out Of the question. As
miners we shall sympathize with those
who strike, and do all in our power to
keep them, but TO strike ourselves
would be folly"
"Haye you any opinion to express on
the platform of the Federation IN re-
gard to this striker"
al know that President Gompers in
speaking of the matter has said, Il am
fully aware that the establishment Of
the eight-hour work day will not be the
end of the efforts of the working peo-
Pile for economic and social improve
ments and reform, and that many
things demand our attention in the
meantime, yet the great good SUBJ
etantIal reduction IN the hours of labor
will bring to the toilers of our county,
the hundreds of thousands il will save
from poverty and degradation will clear
the path and prepare the working peo-
pie to see the wrongs and Injustices
practiced upon them in subtle and IN
ccrioua wava ~