The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-29
An ATTACK ON JOHN BURNS
Col. Rend ReSentS His Structures on
American Institutions.

He Opposes a Resolution to Invits the
English Labor Leader to a Seat on the
Floor Of the Miners Convention-He
Cast the Only Adverse Vote, How
ever, When the Resolution Was Put
on It's PassaEe-The Wage Scale Re-
ferred to Committee of Arbitration.
Pittsburg, Pa, Dec. 2S.-The opening
session of the joint convention of the
operators and miners of the Pittsburg
railroad coal district was marked by
several sensational utterances, in which
John Burns. NJ. p, the great commoner
of England, came in for a stirring re-
buke. delivered in stentorian tones by Col
w. p. Rend, the well-known coal opera
tor of Chicago. and the owner of several
mines in the Pittsburg district
The other fea ture was a plain but
forcible statement of the situation in
Pittsburg mining circles as presented by
John Mcbride, president of the United
Mine Workers, and president-elect of the
American Federation of Labor, in which
he openly avowed that the conditions
to-day were worse than prior to the
general strike.
Company was chosen to preside.
Chairman Chapman suggested that
John Burns, who was yet in the lobby,
should be invited to a seat in the con-
vention. When a motion to this effect
was made Col. Rend arose and said: "Mr.
Chairman, / object to the courtesies OF
this convention being extended to Mr..
Burns, who is here for the double pur-
pose of discussing labor matters and
al Of gl a
institutions. Mr.. Burns is a stranger
in America, and it is therefore BETTING
that he shall observe the decencies and
proprietes of the position that he occu-
pies. These proprieties he has constant
ly violated by his malignant attacks upon
our Institutions / would advise that Mr..
Burns return to the country from which
he came and criticise the customs, man
ners and institutions of his own land
which he win find infinitely more deserv-
ing of his criticism and abuse than any
thing he can find here. 1 know 1t is the
customs for Blarsted Britshers to in
dulge in improprieties similar to those
against which 1 protest in the case of
Mr.. Burns. 1t is about time for Ameri-
can manhood TO resent the offensive con-
duet of these men. / have no objection
whatever to listening to the views of Mr..
Burns on labor matters or sociology.
My protest is simply directed against a
glaring abuse that has become in this
country intolerable."
AS Col, Rend resumed his seat there
was an unbroken silence. Mr.. Burns, who
stood listening all the time, moved just
a little from a studied position he had as
sumed at the beginning.
Chairman Chapman, just trifie con-
fused, arose and put the motion TO seat
Mr. Burns. It was carried, there being but
one dissenting voice, Col. Rend voting
mo"
Col. Rend again secured the floor and
for half an hour addressed the meeting,
telling the story of the dispute between
the miners and the operators and the
causes leading TO the differences. Pres
ident John Mcbride followed with his
address.
A committee on resolutions, composed
of operators and miners, was appointed,
and the convention adjourned at noon.
The convention adjourned this after
noon without reaching settlement OF
a wage rate. The question was left to
a committee consisting of three opera
tors. three miners and thee disinterested
citizens Of Pittsburg. This committee
will not meet inside of two weeks, and
in the meantime the district rate will
remain 55 cents. the price adopted by
the Railroad Coal Operators Association
But three members of the committed
were appointed and they represent the
miners. The operators will appoint their
three members next week, and these six
will select the three disinterested citi-
zens. The committee will fully investi-
gate the cause of the deplorable condi-
ton of affairs in this district and sug-
eest means by which a recurrence will be
prevented.
Secretary Mcbride said the miners
in the district made less than 81 a day
and that if the operators would not try
and arrange living rate it was i'm
possible for miners to strike to uphold
the district rate, as they had no money
to live on. The miners that worked for
less than 81 a day could not support
themselves, let alone those willing TO 60
ON q strike.