davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-20
During all this time the conditions of

/. DuIlnS all CnlS Time the conditions OF
the miners in the anthracite regions
remained apparently stationary, but it
had actually become worse, owing to
the rise in the prices of the necessaries
Of life. Driven at last to action by the
advantages the companies were taking
of their unorganized state, the anthra-
cite miners met in convention on Aug
ust II, in Hazelton, Pa, and formu-
lated their reuests for a remedy of
some of the grievances they suffered.
These grievances and the remedies pro-
posed therefor have been briefly stated
as follows:
First. The abolition Of truck stores
owned by the companies, at which the
miners are forced to trade.
Second. Abolition of the deduction of
100 per month for services Of doctor in
whose selection the miners have no
choice.
Third. Reduction in the price Of
powder from $2.75 to $3.50 per keg.
Fourth. Observance of the law that
the miners be paid in cash semi-mon-
thly.
Sixth. An advance Of 20 per cent on
all wages less than $1.5O per day; an
advance Of Is per cent. on wages be-
tween $1.5o and $1.75 a day, and 10 per
cent. advance on wages above $1.75 a
DAY.
They then asked the mine owners to
be represented in a joint conference
for the purpose Of devising means to
adjust the matters in. dispute. This
invitation the mine owners ignored en-
tirely. 1t was then that the miners sub
mitted their application to the national
union Of the trade, The United Mine
Workers of America, which has now
grown to more than 100000 members.
The offer was then made to submit the
entire matter to the arbitration of dis
interested persons. This, too, has been
entirely ignored. Representative men
in public life, as we'll as ministers Of
the, gospel, made appeals to the opera
tors to pursue a conciliatory policy and
to meet the representatives of the men
in conference. Upon this declination,
offers were made to settle by them
selves or other disinterested parties,
all of which offers We're entirely ig-
nored.
Authority and approval were then
granted the men of the anthracite re-
gions to cease work, September 18th,
and out Of the 100000 men employed
in that region, 125,ooo voluntarily laid
down their tools of labor on the Satur-
day evening previous, and have re-
manned away from the mines ever
since. The ranks of the miners are
being augmented daily, and the efforts
of the sheriffs, deputies, private police
and other enemies will not prevent the
successful termination of the strike
of the coal miners in the anthracite
regions. The knell Of the. infamous
truck store system and the long eco-
snomic enslavement+ of the miner has
fs.length sound sssss 5is5
ol,,nia rneri a
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-20

iouri siIIsl
more nve "a eleee n aind h
from central bodies and state fe 8
tions, and from local unions not having
a national or International union, andss
from federal labor unions one dele
gate. .:,...>-. .s=.3 as
Only bona f1de wage workers, who
are not members of, or eligible to mem
bership in, other trade unions, are ellis
gible as delegates from federal labor
unions.
Delegates must be selected at least
two weeks previous to. the Convention,
and their names forwarded to the Sec
retary of the American Federation Of
Labor Immediately after their election. &
Organizations to be entitled to repre-
sentation must have obtained certifi-
cate Of affiliation (charter) at least one
month prior to the conventions; and no !,
person will be recognized as delegate
who is not a member in good standing
of the organization he is elected to rep. &
resent Sa
Delegates are not entitled to seats in
the convention unless the tax of their
organizations has been paid in full to-
October 81, 1900. #f
Resolutions of any character. or prop
ositions for changes in the constitution,
intended for considerable by. the con-
vention, must be sent to the secretary
of the American Federation Of Labor
at least two weeks previous to the date
of the; convention. The secretary will
have the same compiled and printed in .
A. of 1oH $NE
each delegate-elect and to the execu-
tive officer of each affiliated organiza- 4
ton. No resolution or constitutional
change can be considered, unless print
ed in the program, without two-thirds
vote of the convention.
Credentials in duplicate are for.
warded to the AFFILIATED unions. The
original credentials must be given to-.
the delegate-elect and the duplicate:
forwarded to the American Federation /
Of Labor office. zs'
The committee on credentials will
meet at Louisville, KY, three days
previous to the opening Of the conven-
ton, and will report Immediately upon
the opening thereof; hence, secretaries
will observe the necessity OF having
the duplicate credentials Of their res
spective delegates at headquarters at
the earliest possible moment. sz5 sz5- 81
Ii Delegates. can obtain accommoda.
2tions as follows: Willard Hotel, Am-S
erican plan. 81 per day.
If other hotel arrangements are made
or additional notice regarding the con-
vention is necessary to be given or rec
quired, it will be furnished by CORE.
spondence, circular, the American Fed
erationist and, the labor press.
Fraternally yours, 5S
sAM'L GOMPERs,
- .s II. .<...s President:
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-20


fluence over transportation. In the
first place the railroads owners inter-
ested in mines could give themselves
rebates on freight rates. Some very
large fortunes were built up in this
way Later came the second step.
Men not in the railroad combines could
not get their coal to market when
prices were good. In case Of car
famine they could not get cars. In
case they were given cars their ship
ments were side tracked. They were
lackmailed by the railroad officials
and had to pay large sums in bribes.
These were the practices Of the dis
tinctly coal roads. The great trunk
lines, which skirted and went through
the district. probably did a straight
business.
The natural result of this was that
the coal roads were in the market on
values fixed by the worth of their con-
troll of the coal fields, rather than on
transportation agencies. The pion-
eers, the early miners, gradually sold
out and the control passed to the fl
nanciers. The roads took over the
control of the fields directly, and they
were not from that time on held separ-
ately by the individual directors. It
should be remembered that this was
years and years in taking place. AS
the ownership of the coal roads of the
fields increased they became more ra-
fpacious. Their first effort was to bring
! to time the individual operators and
owners, who still controlled their own
properties. In this fight millions on
millions were lost in the life and death
struggle.
= The weak went down. Many COM
promised and are still influential in the
mining region. Others fought to fill
financial graves. The railroads were
fWilling enough to let the original own
ers make the profits. The coal barons
WANTED to control the prices. With
1.-The individuals it was a fight for inde-
Ependence. After a time all but a few
hlong the lines of the coal roads were
leonquered. Those who owned their
EpWn mining roads, but depended on
Ethe others to reach tidewater, finally
lsave in. The annoyances and extra
lcost of marketing their product made
IT impossible for them to do business
Fat profit.
Now the coal properties met the
kgreatest giants of all. They wanted to
Firing to time the great trunk lines, the
railroads outside the coal combine
They attacked the individual operator
They ruined his established markets
Finally their mines passed to the con.
troll of the railroads. At present every
important coal property In the 'anthra.
cite district is owned by the railroads
They own the ground. It is not leased
The few properties, and they are very
few, which are not owned are abso.
lutely within the power of the roads
They cannot do dollars worth o1
I business unless it is passed on by 9
higher power. {
1.-THE railroads lease the mines to the
operators. The operators are the EN-.
ployers of the miners and laborers
nhe railroads fix. the output Of eachIo
Ethese mines, Before this Is done seacl
railroad has had Its share OF the bust
ness hxed ~ the authority which vii
II bes told about ~ tor. 81 st general Swa,
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-20

duistr condIt
ed unchanged since the days, scarceiy
120 years ago, when white men and wo-
men were bought and sold like cattle.
From the period when mining be-
came a permanent occupation, about 80
years ago, the miners have been forced
to submit to conditions, which outside
of the nominal right Of self-ownership,
have all the disadvantages of chattle
slavery without any of it's compensat-
ing advantages. Occupying. the nomi-
nal status of wage-worker, the min
er has been deprived of his. wages by
force and fraud. Like the Isrealite
brickmakers Of old in the land Of Egypt
his daily task has been doubled; that
is to say, for every ton Of coal credited
to him, he is obliged to produce nearly
two tons. Not only is the miner robbed
by docking" as the arbitrary confis-
cation Of a large portion Of the coal
which should be credited to him is call
ed, but he is also robbed by being fore
ed to pay nearly three, prices for the
working materials, such as blasting
powder, furnished him by the employ
ers. Nor can the miner take advantage
of the law of supply and demand which
is supposed to regulate rents and prices
for he is forced to live in the miserable
dogholes dignified by the name Of
houses, provided by the company for
his Accommodation" and is forced to
eat, drink and wear the goods furnish
ed at exorbitant prices by the company
or operator employing him. But when
the miner has been robbed of all he
produces and robbed on all he consumes
the company takes care that he shall
have no cash balance with which to
buy "perniciOus newspapers" or pay
union dues, and this result is secured
by causing him to lie idle until any
possible surplus is consumed. Such is
the very paternal power exercised by
the companies that new generations of
miners are brought into the world by
company doctors, but at the miners ex-
pense, and when miner is lucky
enough to die with his boots off, he is
assisted in his departure by company
doctor, and finally he is buried in a
company coffin. The normal condition
of the miner being one Of hopeless pow
erty and chronic starvation, when any
emergency arose, causing but a brief
stoppage of work, he became subject
for charity, and constant appeals were
made in his name to all communities to
governors of states, to- mayors Of cities,
to burgesses Of towns, and especially to
the already heavily burdened labor or
ganizations. - -.
Such were the firmly rooted condit-
ions in the mining regions when the
trade union came to lead the miner
from the dark valley of corporate greed
and oppression toward the upper lights
Of working class unity and liberty. The
great strike inaugurated on July 1,
1897, by the 5000 members Of the I'M
tied Mine Workers OF America was the
signal for 125,000 non-union miners to
cast down their tools and make COM
mon cause with them in the bituminous
coal fields. Despite military repression
and judicial injunctions, this strike was
successful IN gaining an s-hour day, ma
Fterially in creasing wages. ablishing
q greater, de gree % t3ustaee 4ad SgE6bvtletl
[ing the necessit for cons ant ppeala
The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-10-20
4 MINERS LUCK.

Falls Heir to T1O,ONI and His Wife
Follows Suit.
Robert Mason, a coal miner at Pana.
ILL.,. received word that he was one of
the heirs to a 100000 estate, left by his
uncle, Bryson Mason, of Roodhouse,
Ill. There are six heirs and each will
receive $4,000. Tuesday of last week
Masons wife received $4,000 from her
mothers estate, and this week Mason
accumulated $1,000 by real estate
deal. Hitherto the family have been
in Strengthened circumstances,
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01

service Of any value. Too often con-
sular reports consist mainly of useless
generalities and idle tattle, when infor-
nation requiring expert knowledge and
observation is desired.
No matter how much political acute-
ness an Ohio or Indiana county commit
teeman my have exhibited, and no mat
ter how valuable his political services
may have been to some Indiana con-
gresham or senator. it is simply useless
and absurd to appoint him United States
consul at Manchester, England. unless
he has a thorough knowledge of the
manufacture of textile fabrics; or to ap-
point him consul at Lyons, France, I'M
less he is practically acquainted with the
manufacture of silk, and can speak and
read the Frence language.
TIL University of Chicago can aid in
tending candidates for consular appoint
ments, to fit themselves for prospective
consular positions, to certain extent.
A knowledge of the methods employed in
the consular service may be important
and modern languages may be taught.
In the technical department, a rudiment-
airy and theoretical knowledge of the diff
ferent lines of manufacture can be i'm
parted, and will equip the prospective
consul with enough information to prevent
him appearing as a complete Ounce, when
he makes his debut as a commercial rep
resentatve of Uncle Sam, but no college
training or private tutelage or examining
can make him a practical expert whose
services to his country will be of sub
stantial value.
Solid work and actual experience in the
held of his labors can alone make com
petent consular officials, and a young
man who enters the service should be
compelled to serve an apprenticeship to
the business and receive promotion ac-
cording to his merit and intelligence I'm
til such plan is adopted the consular
service will remain a refuge for frayed
politicians, and a soft snap for the in
competent porteges of influential bosses.
Never has an active, intelligent, re-
liable c nsular service been so urgently
required by the country as at present
Commercial expansion has increased the
necessity for such service and forced
the question of its Improvement upon the
business men of the United States and
when congress sees fit to deal with the
consular question in business-iike way
the commercial interests of the country
will be benefited to an extent of which
only the manufacturing 4-:porters alone
recognize the extent.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01
THE PASSING OF THE BICYCLE
CRAZE

A notable feature of the summer season
just past has been the marked decadence
OF the bicycle craze" so-called. Many
enthusiastic devotees of the wheel who
in former seasons pedaled industriously
for the mere love of the thing have
abandoned their wheels or use them only
occasionally. For the cyclist who rode
for pleasure alone, the fad has lost its
charm, and he has resumed once more
the garb and manners of civilization.
But the bicycle has not disappeared, by
any means. It has simply come to be
regarded as thing of practical, every
day use, and as such will probably re-
main. As swift, convenient and eco
nomical method of locomotion for an in
dfvidual it is unequa1ed. 1t enables COL
lectors city statesmen, canvassers and
| others whose business requires that they
shall cover an extensive territory in their
days work, an inexpensive and conven-
lent mode of locomotion, and it
is far superior to horse and
buggy. For working people it is
! cheaper to ride a bicycle to and from
their work than it is to pay street car
/ fare, and, except when there is snow on
the ground, they can be Independent of
| the street car service
The bicycle has made it possible for a
workingman to make his home in the
| intermost suburbs of city, where his
family can have plenty of room and pure
air. 1t is therefore not at all, probable
that the bicycle will disappear but it
| will be put to more rational uses
The decline in the craze is marked by
! the figures given in the reports of the
| United States treasury department. as to
the expectation of bicycles for the past
four years. In 1896 the bicycle exports
1 We're valued at $1.SsS,0l2; in 1887 the value
was $7,0O5,S23 which was high water
mark for the craze; in 1898 the value was
$6,S46,529; in 1899 it was IS. 75SSS0, and in
1890 it fell to So. SOL. CPS.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01
MISS DAISY LETTER,
Hense From India, Admits That She
Killed Big Wild Bear.

Home From India, Admits That She
Killed a Big Wild Bear.
New York Journal
Radiantly beautiful as ever, and with
the glow of health upon her cheeks,
Daisy Letter, acc npanied by her moth
er, returned from abroad on the Oceanic,
AS she tripped lightly down the gang
plank, attired in a heliotrope gown, with
hat to match she was a center Of ad-
| miring glances.
Miss Lester and Mrs. Lester wece met
at the pier by Joe" Letter. Alter the
Letters trunks had been examined by
the customs inspectors, mother, son and
daughter drove to the Waldorf-kstoria
i enjoyed my stay in India ever 50
much" said Miss Letter II came home
by way of Paris, where I met mother.
she having left India prior to my depar-
ture. AS you know, 1 spent some time in
Paris.
Il want to deny that ridiculous story
that while on a boar hunt near Delhi I
saved the life of my escort This is the
silliest nonsense. Why, never saved
anybody's life.
''Of course 1 would be exceedingly glad
! to admit having rescued one from danger,
If it were true, but 1 certainly don't wish
to be credited with gallant deed which
1 never performed
Eyes, it is quite true that I killed a
wild boar near Delhi, while on a pig
sticking expedition with Sir Bindtn
Bloods party, and, if you don't mind my
saying it, I'm rather. proud of my feat
cit was one of the largest boars killed
in that vicinity in long tome. Just as
the animal lowered his head to charge
my pony I speared it. I had its head
mounted and have brought it with me to
this country.
"Am I engaged to be married?" said
Miss Letter, who holds the record of be-
ing the most variOusly reported of young
American women, in answer to ques-
ton. "Oh, goodness, no. 1 do wish that
those gossip mongers would stop betroth-
ing me to every gentleman @lom 1 hap
pen to meet.
The newspapers, too, ought to cease
talking about me- 1 don't see why I
should receive so much publicity, any
way L don't Ike it at all. It's most an
noying."
Miss Letter and her mother will re-
main in this city only few days, after
which they will go to their home in Chi
cago.
When, year and half ago, Daisy
Letters parents discovered an affair Of
the heart between their daughter and
Bob" Walbach, of Washington, they
squelched it by taking Miss Daisy away
to England. There she was presented to
tie queen, anu was Drought out IN Lon
don society and created something of
sensation by her many personal charms.
When Miss Daisy's brother-in-law,
Lord Curzon, went out to Bombay to be-
come viceroy of India, Lady Curzon took
her sister with her. BY her beauty, vi
vacity and wit Daisy Letter stirred Bonn
bay, Simla, Calcutta and other Indian
cities
Miss Letter will probably revisit India
next year
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01
STORIES OF THE STREET.

He was in a state verging on collapse.
A friendly lamp post, firmly planted
would have beer g. welcome support, but
instead a maze of tracks that in the dim
distance seemed to twine and wriggle as
if in ghouiish glee surrounded him.
1t was o'clock last evening and the
big stores pouring forth their thousands
jostled and knocked him, while the street
cars catering to the demands upon them
whizzed by up, down, right and left He
wanted a car and he wanted it bad The
street cleared and as a motor with q
trailer attached came up he made a grab
for it.
''Y'll have to hurry, yelled newsie.
No welcome car steps greeted his web
bling feet, his limp form instead find
ing a resting place on the ground, while
his head threatened to scoop big chunks
from out the paving.
A friendly copper Strengthened him
out and leading him to the sidewalk pre-
pared to give him a friendly lecture.
"-hicIm all right, -hic what is this
-hic, Seven corners? Knew I'd get mix
ed when I hit shat, -hic place"
This is Sixth and Wabasha Where do
you liver" II
"-hic, Mime hic4apolis.'
That's what II thought retorted the
copper, every time you fellows come
here you jag UP.
That's -hic what my wife said, but
-hic fooled her! You got -hic wife?
bet -hic she -hic just like my -hic
wifer' e.
An interurban here hove in sight and
the officer. without ceremony, put him
aboard but not without a parting shot
from the jag
It's all right, g-hic- Ger. III sea the
governor, -hic about this
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01
MONDAY, OCT. 1, 1900.
EX-SPEAKER DARE'S BAD MEM
ORY

The attempt to make political capital
out of Van SAINTS legislative record. is g.
sample OF the desperation of his. oppon-
ents. The only time that Mr. Van SAINT
served IN the legislature he was speaker
or the house, and the speaker is not ex-
pected to and rarely does cast a vote on
pending measures"
The above extract is from the Star
News, of Elk River, edited by Hon. A
N Dare, speaker of the house of ren-
resentatives during the 1899 session of the
state legislature.
Mr.. Dare's memory must be defective,
or else he would remember that Capt s.
r. Van SAINT served in the legislature of
1898 as one of the representatives from
the Fifteenth district, and again in the
1895 session, when he was speaker of the
house. The Clio b e, In commenting on
the ineradicable propensity of Capt. Van
SAINT to dodge the vote on several irnror-
tant labor and other bills, referred entirely
to the actions of Capt. Van SAINT during
the session of 1883, when he was not speak
ter- While as to the speaker not voting.
with all due Difference to the failing men,
DRY of ex-speal1er Dare, the speaker Of
the house, as the house journals show,
is almost invariably recorded as voting On
the final passage of measures.
But the question of how Capt. Van SAINT
did or did not vote on bills when he was
speaker in 1895 has not yet been discussed
by the Globe
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01
PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR UNITED
STATES COESULS.

The university of Chicago will institute
next spring, course of special study in
tended for the benefit of young men who
aspire to serve their country in the for
eign consular service The example of
the university in this matter might be
followed with profit by other educational
institutions.
The United States consular service has
greatly improved during the past few
years, but Just as long as consular ap-
pointments are bestowed upon political
partisaas for purely political reasons
without regard to the fitness or ability of
The appointce, the service will continue
TO suffer from the incompetence and
ignorance OF men totally unqualified for
the important and exacting duties they
are called upon to discharge
Men whose sole recommendation is their
political pun are still too often thrust
into important consular positions, where
SPECIAL knowledge ana training is abso-
iuteIy eqeaee in order TO make the
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-01

where near as many kilograms as have
other less important summer visitors.
What he has received have not been in
cipher and were plainly of no very great
Importance. - 5.
Orders emanating from the FeIls' to
the postmaster Of Newbury soon after
Col. Hay arrived, provided that only let
tors bearing evidence by the frank OF
being important should be put in tile
Fells' mail bag, the bulk of the matter
to be held until such time as It was de-
sired SO for the past two months the
greater part of Col. Hays mail has re-
manned piled up in the postoAice.
Whether Secretary Hay is III full ac-
cord with the foreign policy which IS
being pursued by the administra ton
under the personal direction of President
Mckinley or not. it is apparent that he
has had no hand in the exchange of dip
lcmatic notes recently"