Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1898-02-05
I'HE MINERS JUDILANT.
croceaaful Termination Of the Con-
ference at Chicago.
EIGHT HOUR DAY HIGHER WAGES
osherh oreoment Entered Into Which
VIM End the Long Pending Difrer-
ences Between the Mine owners and
Mine workers.

osherf agreements Entered Into Which
WIN End the Long Pending Differ
ences Between the Mine Owners and
Mine workers.
Chicago, Jan. 27.-The interstate joint
difference Of bituninous coal operators
a miners came to an end at 10 o'clock
last aieht. The miners were jubilant
over tae results of their ten days ses-
son, for 1t means to nearly 100000 soft
ccal miners an advance of ten cents
per ton and a uniform day of eight
hours, at uniform day wages. And the
operators congratulated one another
with victory over themselves.
The following are the resolutions
adopted with but two dissenting votes:
Resolved, That an advance of ten
cents per ton for mining screened coal
take effect in the western Pennsylva-
MIA district, Hooking Valley (O.) dis
trict and Indiana bituminous district
on April l, 1898. and that relative run
of mine price be determined in all the
districts named by q uniform fiat or
Akron shaped bar screen of 70 feet
superficial area, III inches space be-
tween the bars; that the price of rim
of mine coal in Grape Greek district
and in the Indiana bituminous district
be 20 cents per ton for the same district,
based upon 66 cents in Pittsburg thin
vein district, ard that in Hooking VAL
ley and Indiana, and that on and after
April /, 1898, the eight hour day shall
be in effect in all districts here repre-
sented; that uniform wages for day
labor shall be paid the different classes
Of labor In the field named, and that
internal difference in any of the
states both as to prices and conditions,
shall be referred to the states affected;
that we further agree to the use of the
diamand bar screen of present pattern
in the block district of Indiana, with
the privilege of run Of mine, as may be
desired by the market conditions"
The convention completed its work
by naming. scale committee to con-
sist of the national executive board of
the mine workers, the district presi-
dents and secretaries and two operators
from each state. to tabulate the scale
and perfect all the arrangements for
putting it into effect on the date set.
1t was determined that hereafter the
miners and operators viii meet in jan
uary each year to fix scale for the 10
months beginning April 1. Pittsburg
Pa, was selected for the next annual
joint convention, which will meet on the
third Tuesday of January, 1899.
MIR. Morton, of Ohio, in casting the
two negative votes, explained that they
were against the &C cent rate for Hook
ing Valley. Mr.. Chapman, in casting
two votes yea, explained that he cast
them for the balance of Ohio, excepting
Guernsey county. In order to ascer-
tain the standing of Guernsey county
operators President Ratchford called
for vote from them. After short
conference the Guernsey county men
voted for the resolution.
President Ratchford then moved that
the majority vote on the resolutions be
made the sense of the convention by a
viva voce vote. The motion carried
unanimously. and the convention ap-
plauded wildly.
Arrangements were made for the
meetings of the various committees to
arrange state differentials, and the
convention adjourned sine die.
After the adjournment President M.
D. Ratchford, of the United Mine Work
ers, expressed himself as highly salts
fed with the work of the convention.
He said: 4 consider the establishment
of an eight hour day for the miners one
of the greatest labor victories of the
century. 1t is, in my estimation, of far
more Importance than the ten cents per
ton advance"
Colonel w. P. Rend. of Chicago, who
owns and operates coal mines in Penn
syivania, Ohio and Indiana, expressed
himself highly pleased with the results
of the convention.