Evening journal., 1900-08-29
Father Philips Makes Stirring
Appeal to Miners
ADVISED DELIBERATE ACTION
Warns Miners Not to Act Hastily and
Precipitate a Struggle at
This Time

6dlletOu, td.t aug. AS.-ll tue an
thracite coal operators refuse to grant
the demands of the United Mine Work
ers, as embodied in the reports of the
scale and the resolutions committees
as presented and adopted at yester-
days convention, by Sept. a strike
involving 100000 miners, of whom 4O,-
900 are members of the mine workers
organization, will be declared. The
convention yesterday applied to the
national executive board, with head
quarters at indianapolis, to order a
strike II no satisfactory amicable
agreement regarding wages, the pow
der question and other grievances is
reached
President Mitchell said today that
the application would undoubtedly be
fayorably acted upon by the board,
which meets at Indianapolis Sept q, II
existing conditions of which the min
ers complain are not remedied In the
time allowed by the convention.
The morning session was devoted to
q discussion of the report of the scale
committee, which was adopted, but not
made public until yesterday afternoon,
when the convention adjourned sine
die Soon after the opening of the
afternoon session President Mitchell
said that Rev. Father Philips, of st.
Gabriel's church, who advised the men
of his parish last Sunday not TO go on
strike If one should be declared, had
something TO say to the delegates, and
that II there was no objection he would
be invited TO address the convention.
II was unanimously agreed that Father
Philips be heard and a committee es-
corted him into the hall. He made a
stirring appeal to the miners not TO
act hastily and precipitate a struggle
and said that in his mind conditions
were not ia favor Of q strike. lie
cuunscled moderation, and suggested
that before the men resolved TO strike
they should use all honorable and
amicable means for bringing about a
settlement. If the mine workers did
not secure recognition direct from the
operators he advised them to author
ize their committees to pick men em-
ployed at the collieries who are not
members of the union to act with the
mlhe workers and present the griev-
ances of the men TO their employers,
so that every opportunity would be
given for remedying conditions and
avoiding serious trouble.
His remarks had a noticeable effect
on the convention and many of the
delegates who had previously favored
immediate declaration of a strike CO.
inclded with his views.
The report OF the scale committee
demands the abolition of the company
store system, the reduction In the
price of powder to S1.50 per keg, the
abolition Of the company dictation as
10 who shall be our doctors, abolition
Of the sliding scale now in practice
in the Lehigh and Schuylkill regions
compliance with the semi-monthly pay
law, and that all employees be paid in
cash; abolition of the erroneous sys-
TEN Of having $500 pounds to the ton
and that 2240 pounds constitute ton;
that an advance of 20 per cent be paid
oil classes Of men now receiving less
than $3.50 per day, that all classes OF
day labor now receiving $3.50. and not
exceeding $175, shall receive 10 per
cent over present wages, that all day
labor now receiving more than S1.75
shall be advanced 10 per cent; that nc
miner shall have at any timemore than
one breast, gang or other class OF
work, and shall only get his lega
share of cars.
Following are the separate scale.
adopted for the respective districts fol
inside work:
District No. 1, comprising upper Lu
zerne and Lackawanna: That 72I
cents be paid per ton OF 2.240 pounds
according TO the thickness Of the vein
We are willing TO allow for dockag
and rock slate or honey in the coal
but We insist on having a check weigh
man at the head of the breaker, who
with the company's weightman, shal
agree upon the amount OF dockage.
District No. 1, comprising the Halle
ton and Upper Schuylkill region: W
demand that In veins of ten feet Il
thickness or over, IS cents be paid pc
ton; under ten feet and over seven, s
cents; under seven feet, 71k cents
and that the highest rate be paid in al
places where 10 cars Of coal cannot b
mined with one keg Of powder.
District No. 2, comprising ShamoIli
and part Of Schuylkill region. We de
mand an average increase OF 81 pc
cent on contract work and an averag