Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-03
TO ORGANIZE AGAIN.
A Strong Effort to Revive the Union
of Railroad Miners.
RESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE.
Five Hustlers Appointed to Rally the Scat
tered Forces.
FEATURES OF INDUSTRIAL INTEREST

Like the worn and tattered fragment of /,
defeated army did the miners organization
present itself in Yesterdays convention, bu
if all things work out the prospects of bet
ter days are bright.
Yesterday morning 29 delegates, repre-
senting the 400 organized railroad miner.
in the Pittsburg district, met There was g
sickly showing compared with the 10000
men who used to stand within the union
lines. The convention was called to dis
cuss whether or not the miners were favor
able toward standing with the United Mine
Workers Union. The answer was strongly
In the affirmative.
National President John Mcbride and
National Secretary Patrick Mcbride were
here to help President Costello and Secre-
tary McQuaide. The delegates ali made
reports, and although their contents were
not of the most gratifying nature, they
might have been worse. One of the dele
gates took occasion to state that the recent
disastrous strike in the Pittsburg district
was brought about by ex-President Rae.
Responsibility of the Strike.
The gentleman stated Mr.. Rae had ad-
vised the miners to strike at a meeting at
Mansfield shortly before the strike. 1t was
decided to take prompt steps to put the Or
ganization on a firm footing, and again try
to bring about the adoption of the Inter-
State agreement between the miners and
operators of Ohio and Pennsylvania
Speaking of what was done in these matters
Secretary Mcbride said:
"We will send five organizers into the
Al. T.. Il
our Intention to hold meetings right along
and in every way push the organization
The miners can see the necessity of it for
they are now being banded about at the
will of the operators, taking what
they can get and giving everything.
Last years strike and violating
of agreements has brought the organization
down to mere handful of men, but they are
still loyal and willing to work for the up
building Of the union.
This convention was especially for the
railroad miners, but it is our intention to
call a meeting of the river mel, for they,
too, are in need of organization.
Not Much Discussion on Wages.
''The question of price was merely
touched on yesterday, and by the idea
OF resuming the Interstate agree
ment was brought up. 1t will be
remembered that up until last year this
agreement was in vogue between the States
of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
There is no doubt it would be going on yet
had there not been split last year on the
eight-hour question.
"ln all probability the committee will be
appointed very soon to confer with the
operators on the agreement. As for the
miners, / am certain they want a resump-
zion of the plan, and 1 can see no reason
why the operators should be against it,
There is no likelihood of the Pittsburg
miners getting an increase in prices this
year, but 1 am certain there will not be |
decrease.
Sustaining the Agreement.
''The only thing we can do this wear is to |
look after our interests in the way of hold |
ing the operators down to the agreement of |
the scale. This will be especially guarded |
in the matter of the dead work scale. The |
miners lose great deal of money on this |
scale. By dead work is meant labor done
other than that of mining of coal. |
The removal of clay and slate come
under this head, and according to
our scale the men should be paid Just the
same rate as though it were coal This is
not being done, as the mine bosses cheat the
men out of it, without the knowledge of the
operators.
"There are other things practiced in this
same way, which all have tendency to dis
hearten the men. All that is necessary to
prevent them is better organization and
careful watching.
President John Mcbride was present
while Secretary Mcbride was talking, and
at the conclusion said he had nothing
further to add more than he thought the dis
trict would soon be as strongly organized as
1t used to be. Both of the gentlemen went
back to Columbus last night.