Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-13
A MIXED SITUATION.
Miners Are Ready to Fight for Pres
ent Demands and a New Scale.
OPERATORS REFUSE TO GIVE IN.
Surprising Change of officers to Take Place
in D. A. 8, K. of L.
COMPLICATION IN A sOUTHSIDE MILL

The miners interests were probably never
in more complicated condition than at
present. With several large strikes on
hand, and the men preparing for the scale
conference and eight-hour demands, they
have about all they can dos
Outside of the Alabama strike, the two in
Pennsylvania are the largest, and the one
up the Monongahela is the most important,
and while it may to some extent give a
market for the product of other regions, it
is certain that sufficient operators will grant
the advance of one-half cent asked by the
men to supply the Pittsburg demand.
On the output of Is bushels, which is
considered to be the average days work, it
is argued that the miner will not have wages
out of proportion to the labor and risk and
skill of his work. The operators. however,
insist that the demands are unjust, when
the condition of the trade is taken into con-
sideratiop, and yet it is admitted that there
are 10000 tons day more consumed this
winter than there was last year. The Mo-
nongahela strike will prove an advantage to
the operators, in aiding them to stiffen
prices-something they have wanted to do
for some time.
The Matter Discussed Yesterday.
The operators of the Monongahela pools
held another meeting yesterday, and dis
cussed the situation. The small amount of
coal in the pools. and the contracts that re-
quire immediate shipment were referred to but
still they declared that the n cent advance is
out of the question. One of the gentlemen
present said after the meeting that the men
They had been working steadily for five or six
months and could well afford to stay out long
time. On the other hand there is not much
coal in the pools and the demand is on the in
crease.
The advance was partly granted Yesterday by
James Jones at the Catsville mines. A number
OF empty boats are standing at the tipple, and
Mr. Jones granted the advance until they are
filed. The work will last two days.
The Connellsville coke workers have already
presented their eight-hour demands, to take
effect at the expiration of the present agree
ment, February 10. They demand 10 per cent
advance in wages for all men who work over
eight hours. A new feature is included in
their az agreement for ISL They ask that house
its assessed value, to be collectedbemi-monthly
and they demand that none bnt union men
shall be employed.
Annual Conference of Ohio Miners.
The Ohio miners will hold their annual con-
vention in Columbus. January 20, at which sew
eral matters of Importance to the annual con-
ference will be considered. Among the ques-
tions to be discussed are screening. machine
mining. scales for engineers blacksmiths
helpers, carpenters and toremen. Considerab Bile
dissatisfaction is being expressed in regard to
the manner in which the. assistance fund has
been handled, and there is probability of q
change being made therein.
The annual scale conference will be held at
Columbus on February 10. Alex. Dempster
and w. P. DeArmitt will represent the local
atnrC Tho ,;cac
to be longer and more exciting than any prev
ious one, owing to the unsettled condition of
affairs on both sides and the determined de-
mands of the men for shorter hours and more
pay. There will be many interesting develop
ments among the miners in the next three
months.