The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-02
Dishonest Competition Grind
ing Men to the Glass of
Foreign Labor.
WAGES MUST BE INCREASED
Through the Hooking Valley Opera
tiveS Quit Work Until Settle
ment Is Made.


new scale for 1866, to be adopted by the
Ohio miners now in session here, the Ohio
Miners Association, auxiliary to the
United Mine-workers of America, met to-
day with President Ratchford in the chair.
The convention is called ''to deal with the
price question"
According to former agreements Ohio
miners worked nine cents below the
Pittsburg district The important ques-
ton is whether this differential of nine
cents shall continue.
This call, as read shows furthe r..that the
men who stopped work to-day in Ohio did
so by recommendation of their organiza-
ton officials until scale is effected. The
morning was consumed in the appoint
ment of committees. The convention
then adjourned, pending the preparation
of the credential report.
The delegate from the Messenger mine
informed the delegates, when that part of
the call was read recommending the stop
ping of work pending the conference as to
wages, that his men would continue at the
old scale until they heard from him.
The Massillon delegates after the con-
vention took recess, held meeting to
consider the matter Of deciding to ask for
20 cent scale for Ohio, 70 cents to be the
Pittsburg rate, and Ohio operators to hold
back 10 cents, to go to the support of the
striking miners at Pittsburg, who are being
pressed to work below the scale of 1895.
This plan is opposed by all Ohio operators
and many miners on account of its being
dangerously near conspiracy.
President Ratchford said that go cents is
not enough for the Ohio miner, who, during
the latter part of the winter, lived upon
charity. He said the indications were that
an advance would be asked, but he could
not say how much.
The first annual address of President
Ratchford was issued to-day. Mr.. Ratch-
ford says that the Columbus convention is
to determine whether they will force an
end to the cruel and dishonest competition
under which they are being ground down
to the level of the lowest class of foreign
labor.
For the first time in the history of Ohio
her miners are called upon to fix a rate
for the entire bituminous field. Mr.. Ratch-
ford sarcastically concluded that if the
miners of the country found their invest
ment profitable last year it will require no
argument to cause it to be reaffirmed, but
If, as time has clearly proven, it was a
wild and untimely speculation, they
should hesitate before repeating that men,
orable action. Thus it will be seen that,
although he makes no definite suggestion,
practically he advises the Ohio miners to
insist upon an increase over the present
scale Of so cents.
POMEROY, OHIO, May Through the
State Board of Arbitration mining troubles
were adjusted at Minersville to-day. Tie
old men will resume work at 2-cent rate.
Concessions were made on all sides.
JACKSONVILLE, ONO, May 1.-The
coal-miners throughout the Hooking Val
ley are all out, having performed their last
work until the scale of wages is settled. 1t
is believed the suspension will not con-
tinue over a week. A similar state of af-
fairs at Massillon has been called a strike
but information here is that the men are
only out awaiting settlement of the wage
question.
BLUEFIELD, w. VA, May l. The
strike is on the West Virginia coalfields
along the Norfolk and Western Railroad.
Not single mine is in operation. A
meeting of 5000 miners was held at Key
stone to-day to organize and perfect meas
ures to induce or force the Pocahontas
CIV. Va.) men to join the strike. No dis
satisfaction exists among the Virginia
miners as they have not been cut. In the
event of their refusal to join the
strike force doubtless will be at
tempted. The West Virginia miners are
swarming into Virginia on every train and
the situation is alarming. The cut of &c
per cent in wages was never contemplated
by Virginia companies, and there are only
few union men among them. In the
event of trouble at Pocahontas the Vir-
ginia miners only number 800 against 15,.
600 West Virginia miners,
MASSILLON, OHIO, May LIN accord
ance with the annual custom of May 1,
work in all the union mines in Ohio was
suspended last night and will not be re-
sumed until the scale, now being made al
the Columbus Convention, is signed. This
suspension is not only the Massillon dis
trict, but embraces the entire State. If the
unorganized miners fail to respect the
order of suspension it probably will be
ignored elsewhere.
Thirty thousand miners are directly
affected and the Ohio convention is of vita
concern To 5000 in other States.