Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-02-25
HARRISBURG LETTER
Compendium of Important
News of the Past Week.

" hNNN1 0fNiNNh VI NhN AANs
stone State.
HARRISBURG, FEB. 2l.-At the
State Convention of bituminous and
anthracite coal miners, held last
week at Altoona, considerable ex-
oitement was created by the an
nouncement that on April 1st next
the miners will demand an eight
hour working day and an increase
in their wages as well, thus follow
ing the example of Ohio and sew
eral other states. 1t was also de-
cided to thoroughly organize
and strengthen the United Mine
Workers Association so as to make
it compulsory for the operators to
confer with their workers as unit,
instead of dealing with each person
individually as heretofore. Scath-
ing resolutions we're passed, in
which Sheriff Martin and the
deputies who participated in the
Lattimer shooting, were denounced
in emphatic terms Delegates rep
resenting more than 130, 900 miners
of this State were present and man.
ifested unusual interest in the pro-
ceedings. National President Ratch-
ford appealed to them in eloquent
terms, advising them to bring every
miner into the organization, and
said that if this was done there
will be no way for the operators to
escape, and as a consequence the
eight-hour day will go in force, with
more pay for their services than
they are now receiving for ten
nours work. He also stated that
coal is necessity-not a luxury
and that it cannot be bought for
$1.00 per ton the consumer will pay
81. so for it. The company of epluclz-
me" store system was also discuss
ed and it was unanimously decided
to report each case, with complete
and satisfactory evidence, to Attor-
ney General Mccormick for prose-
cution.
There is scarcely q person who
disputes the fact that the miner is
greatly imposed upon and does not
receive sufficient pay for his ser
vices, and again there are very few
people who approve of the long
drawn out strikes, which invar-
iably result in much hardship, de-
struction of property and the loss of
life. Take, for instance, the recent
trouble at Hazelton. The injured
miners of that section, not consider
ing the number that were killed, is
an example that should prove bar
rier to strikers. Surely some other
method can be employed to settle
differences between operators and
miners, and the results will be more
satisfactory to all parties concerned
than if a strike was INDUCED in.
Look Mt the loss incurred by idle
ness, sickness caused by idleness
and eviction from property, strained
relations between employer and
employee, and then decide which
would have been the most profitable
to strike or settle the difficulty by
arbitration. There is no question
about 1.-THE latter method would
prove more beneficial to both parties
and would do away with the posi-
bility of human lives being sacri-
feed as was the case a few months
ago. 1 do not approve of the course
pursued by Sheriff Martin and his
deputies, but at the same time we
should all remember that the law
must be respected. A deplorable
feature of the Altoona Convention
was the inaammatory speech of
President Ratchford, and if he had
suggested method to the miners
by which they could obtain bene-
fetal results instead that they go on
a strike, he would be considered a
public benefactor, but instead he
shows concluslvely that he is a mar
row minded man from appearances
has not the best interests of the
workingman at heart. Miners, re-
view the situation and then lend
your assistance in avoiding a strike
The compa ny store is a great evil
that must be eradicated before the
miner can enjoy the fruit of his
labor. Attorney General MoCor-
mick is doing all in his power to
break up the practice and evidence
submitted against persons engaged
in this unlawful business will be
promptly Investigated by the de-
partment. The hearing in the case
of the Old Bangor slate company,
charged with violating the act, will
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