The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-11-02

influenced men to go into the Knights
of Labor and desert the NJ. & l.. A. A.;
that seeds of discord were sown at
the time of the coal companies of the
anthracite region, and had they not
kept men from the NJ. & L. A. A. and en-
Labor the former organization would have
been strong to-day. Mr.. Harris said he did
not wish to cast any reflection upon the k of
L. The organization itself is a good one and
it has higher and nobler object than that Of
regulating wages, but it was not designed for
a trades union. Each craft should have
different association and the miners and
laborers should have union consisting
exclusively of themselves the men working
in and around the mines should be the
their affairs without the dictations of others,
because the men from their own ranks better
understand their condition and being better
acquainted with the details of the craft are
better qualified to deal with the companies
Mr.. Harris said he had met some men who
had told him he would experience difficulty
in etiecting an organization because the
p. & r. company is now working its collieries
nine hours day and six days a week, and
paying five per cent above the basis. The
the movement, for while they have work
they can organize and put something in their
treasures for rainy day. "The five per
cent, he said, "is only an accident. The
men are only receiving it because the COM
panies by accident drew three of the best
colieries instead of three of the worst If
the men were organized there would be no
necessity for reductions, They could control
the output and keep the market prices in
healthy condition, and in return demand a
fair and just return for their labor. As it is
the market is always supplied, regardless of
what the cost of the output is" Mr.. Harris
said he did not believe in strikes. He never
was a striker and never defended them All
evils can be remedied without resorting to
them if the men will govern themselves as
they should.
Shenandoah, Mr. Harris said, has more
miners and mine laborers than any other
place in Schuylkill county and for that
reason he thought the miners of the town
should take the initiative in the re-organiza.
ton movement. Before concluding he said
he did not believe in the secret feature OF
labor organizations. 1t is a farce. If the
men are not loyal to themselves the oath will
not make them So When they are hound ia
secrecy it is an incentive to the corporations
to find out what is going on on the inside and
to get that, if they can't get volunteers, will
pay some hireling to let them know what
goes on. Labor should only ask what is
honestly and fairly due and if the wage
earners only ask this and are properly united
and managed they need not be ashamed.
After concluding his remarks Mr., Harris
asked the meeting if the sentiment was in
favor of organization. A vote was taken and
Mr. Harris announced the result as "almost
unanimous. Nearly hundred hands were
raised"
Several suggestions touching upon another
meeting were made by men in the audience
and it was finally decided to meet again next
Tuesday evening, at o'clock, in Robbins
opera house, to organize permanently.