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Tisk Mass Meeting in Astley Grove. On last Thursday we had intimation that the miners would convene en masse to discuss and determine upon something relative to the notices which they received at the hands of their (as they term them) “bosses” a few days since. Wanting to get a good look at that class of men, and hear them, free and unre strained, discuss their convictions of right, we took it upon ourselves to seek a place among them. The meeting was held in Ash ley Grove, about a mile from town. Rather a cold day for an outdoor meeting we thought, but the miners seemed to enjoy it neverthe less. .At 10 o'clock a.m. groups of men were seen to come in from all directions and con tinued to come until about nine hundred gave honor to the occasion by their presence. I may be proper here to remark something touching the cause of this meeting and explain as nearly as we can the position taken by the operators. 1st. They have felt for some time that they were paying higher prices for mining than the price which the spring trade will com mand would justify. 2nd. That to pay the miners every two weeks was a useless and expensive inconven ience; that they frequently are required to borrow money to pay the miners, as but few of their own customers make returns sooner than thirty days after shipment. That once each month ought to be, and is amply often for payment to them for their services. For these reasons they have notified the men that on and after the twentieth of this month they must concede thn reduction of twenty cents perion and accept their pay but once each month. Shortly after our arrival on the grounds Hugh Savage, as president, called the meet ing to order. He is a gentleman of about fifty years, full face, bright eyes and a large tow beautiful teeth, over which protrudes a pair of lips better adapted to the Scotch pronunci ation, which makes, to our American ears, the word committee sound like “somsi-tee, with com and tee heavily accented, than putting on any Yankee finishes in his articulation. Mr. Savage presided with much ability and the attention given him by the meeting shows that he stands high in the estimation of the miners. Having received word that a repor ter for the MINER was on the ground with a request for admission he let the meeting know about it, which resulted in a unanimous ex pression that he should be permitted a place where he could set the proceedings. In front of the president were then assem bled the delegates present from each lodge in the district, numbering in all about twenty, (one from each lodge except Nos. 11, 22 and 25 which were not represented.) Each one of these delegates bore a report from his own lodge, which was given to the whole meeting in turn as follows: Delegate from Lodge No. 1.—We are in favor of a committee being held in readings should the operators desire a conference.” “We are in favor of the laws established four months ago, viz. $1.00 per ton when coal is selling for $2.25, and two-fifths of any advance.’ “We are in favor of receiving our pry every second Saturday.” We will permit those lodges who have not received any notice of reduction to work on just here, on motion of Mr. Taylor, two gentlemen were appointed as marshals, Delegate from Lodge No. 2.—“We are de termined to stand by the contract made four monts ago.” In no event will we adhear to the proposi tion to receive once a month only.” “We will resist these exactions to the last.” Delegate from No. 3.— We want to work one more day to get out our coal. We wil submit to monthly pay. We must continue to have the same pay we are now getting.”
Newspaper Details
Brazil Manufacture and Miner
Brazil, Indiana, US
Thu, Feb 20, 1873
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 27 Jun 2026
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