The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-03-26
THE CUMBERLAND MINERS.
status of the strike and the Mems
Demands.


CUMBERLAND. Nd, March 26.-The
MeyersiaIe miners claim their present
strike is not a district matter but purely
a local one to redress what they consider
a local grievance. They struck ia 1892 and
went back TO work for less rate than be-
fore the trouble At that time the Ncy-
ersdale operators paid 10 cents more a ton
to get their coal TO udewater than the
Georges Greek operators Business was
then disorganized in the Meyersjale re-
gOn orders came In slowly. and the min
ere- made only a poor living. averaging
about half time The 10 cents tax on haul
! ing caused much trouble and the railroad
company dropped cents. This did lot
result Gin much Of a betterment and the
railroad company eventually dropped the
OthC = cents. making the rate equal with
thai Of the Georges Greek. IL was dis
tinCuy specified, II is claimed. that She re-
duction was made to assist the operators
in regaining lost orders and 10 give their
men work, and were il 10 be used for
any other purpose the concession would
become void
The men themselves seem to recognize
this. says a statement issued by the min
ers. "as their demand is for the scent ad-
vance only which in addition 10 the gen
eral advance April I Of 10 cents promised
by the operators OF the district would
make the price paid for pick mining In this
district % cents. II things stand as they
do now April 1 next the rate in the
Georges Greek region would be 80 cents
and In the Meyersdale field 80 cents. The
men insist that as the haulage from both
regions is the same the pay should be the
same. Hence they demand the first D
cents given by the railroad company
should be added TO their pay thus making
the rate - cents ton. or the same as
Georges Greek. They demand this as a
matter Of justice. They insist they are
right and have gone into the bitterness
and loss Of a strike 10 win that which they
/ honestly and firmly believe TO be theirs "
The men also say mining Is more ditil-
cult in the MEyeTsdale region. as the coal
is harder and the miners have 10 use pow
der. which Is an additional expense. They
complain they are allowed no check weigh
Z man and are obliged to hump" cars for
! which they receive no pay. They deny the
recent statement Of an operator residing
I in Baltimore that Epine miners make Sl00
a month, and say 1T is not possible fOr a
good miner to make more than from $45
70 S47 gross per month at the 40-Cent rate.
Then from this must be deducted powder,
oil. smithing. and sharpening Of tools"
Great preparations are being mac for
the demonstration by miners at LOnacOn-
ing next Saturday. Ostensibly 10 celebrate
the anniversary OF the acceptance Of the
eight hour movement IN some sections.
but, II is believed for the greater purpose
of stirring up enthusiasm in behalf Of the
demand in last weeks circular OF , cents
additional, making the rate so cents. The
organization leaders expect the operators
to ignore the demand The meeting will
be held in The open air II the weather will
permit. II is hoped to have the miners e.
nally determine their course at this meet
| ing Some OF the miners are opposed to
precipitating the strike and the executive
board o. the organization IS not working in
unison Some contend the Georges Greek
representatives were not rightly treated at
the Altoona convention and that the Clear
field region is urging the Georges Creek
miners TO strike 10 reap an advantage. as
they have done in years past