The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-20
APPEAL TO THE MINERS
MUST CONTRIBUTE TO SUPPORT THE
PITTSBURG STRIKERS.
Executive Board Calls Attention to
to the Danger of n Gem
eral Strike.

The following appeal was issued yester-
day by the authority of the executive board
of the United Mine Workers of America,
which has it's headquarters in this city:
"Fellow-workers, we are convinced that it
is your earnest desire to maintain the prices
and condition of our annual interstate
agreement of January last in all the fields
to which il applies and that it is our duty
to briefly point the great danger with which
we are threatened, and which will inevi-
tably result from any failure on your part
to sustain such agreement, as you will no.
tice from the following quotation:
" Chicago agreement, Clause No. g. That
the United Mine Workers organization, a
party to this contract, do hereby further
agree TO afford all possible protection 10 the
trade and to other parties hereto against
any unfair competition resulting from a
failure to maintain scale rates.
From this you will see the obligations
under which we are placed, and when you
learn that three thousand 5000 miners or
more in the Pittsburg district are unable TO
maintain the scale and have now deter
mined to strike for its enforcement you can
then realize the necessity for this action
and the Importance of general and hearty
response.
"At convention of Pittsburg district min
ers held Aug. l and last, the following
resolutions were adopted: That a levy of
cents on the dollar be assessed on every
miner in the Pittsburg district and that we
appeal to the miners of the competitive
field to assist us in enforcing the Chicago
agreement. That we request the national
executive board to make appeal to all
miners throughout the competitive field to
help us maintain the Chicago agreement in
the Pittsburg district
Fully. approving this action, as we be-
lieve 1t is the only course open to us under
present conditions, and assuring yau that
if you but do your share, our interstate
agreement will be enforced and your rights
respected; we, therefore, hereby appeal to
our members everywhere to contribute
per cent. of their earnings to the support
of the striking miners and their families.
who are as surely fighting your battle as
their own. and whose success or failure
will be shared by all alike.
1T is hardly necessary to dwell further
upon this matter, to remind you of the
history of the past two years. You are well
aware that every reduction in your wages
which has taken place has come to you as
the result of a low mining rate in the Pitts
burg district. Neither should 1T be necessary
to point out that while our officers can al
ways advise they cannot always execute
without your assistance. Knowing mis- as
you do. you must act, and act promptly;
your officers cannot win without you. With
your support success is sure. Do not wait
to see what the other mine or the other
fellow is doing, but do your share and your
efforts will be rewarded. We have reached
the stage where this action is imperative;
you must pay to the support of your fellow
miners or pay to the operators"
This is signed by M. d. Ratchford, presi-
dent, and w. G. Pierce, secretary. BY order
of the executive board.
The members of the executive board say
J that if the Chicago agreement is not main
tanned in the Pittsburg district a general
strike must follow.