Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-22
EVERY STRIKER FIRM.
No Indication of the Miners Return
ing at the Reduced Rate.
AN UNAUTHORIZED CONVENTION
Brings Out Large Representation From
All River Points.
THE MEN NOT LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE

About 40 representative striking miners
from the Monongahela river mines as
sembled at Monongahela City yesterday in
answer to a call for a miners convention.
There was . deal of discussion as to where
the call originated. The membsrs of the
old Executive Council of the United
Mine Workers, which had so much
influence with the men, when the region
was thoroughly organized before, but which
is now disorganized aud enjoys only small
part of its former prestige, denied all
knowledge of it They branded it as
move on the part of the operators to break
up the strike. 1t was considered as a last
desperate effort to effect what a continued
strike of nearly six months had failed to do.
A Good Representation From the Mines.
Mr. Byers, who owned the hall in which
the convention was to be held. had received
an anonymous communication asking tor
the hall, but it was learned that it had been
sent by Henry HALEY, of Roscoe. The
publicity given the convention called out =
good response from mines in all the pools
Some of the delegates represented two or
three pits, so that about so mines were
convention held among the river miners for
years 1t did the least business, however,
of any that was ever held, as the session
lasted less than half an hour.
IT was 10 o'clock before all the delegates
had reported. The meeting was called to
order by John Morgan, of Elizabeth. He
was elected by reclamation, and was given
the place because of the prominent part he
has always taken in all the labor troubles of
this region. There had been q good deal of
dissatisfaction at the convention having
been called at all, SO that this question was
the first taken up. The men strongly de-
nounced the action, and claimed that it had
been taken to weaken their cause.
Disapproved of the Convention.
An informal resolution was adopted to
the effect that the convention was neither
opportune nor necessary, and that 1t had
been designed BY an enemy. A statement
will be made public denying all connection
with having called the convention.
Not the slightest disposition was shown
on the part Of any of the delegates to re-
turn at the reduced rate. The reports from
all the pools were the same. There was no
indication of break at any point 1t was
decided unanimously to continue the strike
until their demands were granted. They
all reported as being willing to remain out
until next summer before accepting the
terms Of the operators.
The strikers have been enabled to con-
tinue the struggle successfully because of
so much work to be secured on all sides.
Some work part of the time in the railroad
mines Others have gone elsewhere,
so that out of an estimated 5000 miners
along the river a short time ago there are
not now more than 9, 500 come cted with
the river mines. Within the past five
years the railroad trade has so increased
that 1t controls about half the coal trade.
The local demand has so increased that
many of the mines are kept busy during
the entire year.
Men Working at the Reduction.
The Cincinnati mine is said to have 10
men ut work at the reduction. About 125
colored miners are in the Elkhorn mine.
Jones' mine in the fourth pool is working
with the understanding that he will give
whatever is finally decided upon. The
mines in the upper part of the fourth pool
are said to be working at the 311-cent basis.
The coal mined here is for the local trade.
A number of other mines are said to have
from to 18 men at work at the reduced
rate. But notwithstanding this the work
on the river is practically at standstill,
and what work is being done is a feeble eI-
cuse for running out coal for the lower
markets. The strikers say they will not in
terfere with imported men, as it will be
very difficult to fill the mines with new
men at the present time.
No more meetings will likely be held, as
the miners, while they are not so we'll or
ganized as formerly, will not put them
selves under q leader, but prefer to do all
they can to keep the mine at which they
work idle and thus break the strike. No
.ari0ua frouhleF IL GkAlv to occur at Elk
horn, though a number of deputies have
been stationed there to prevent an out
break. 1t is reported that preparations are
being made to start up the Black Diamond
mines within short time by imported
men.
After yesterday 5 meeting many expressed
the opinion that the unauthorized conven-
tion had served a good purpose and that
they felt all the stronger from having
come together and found that all were of
0ne mind.