Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1896 — United Mine Workers. [ARTICLE]

United Mine Workers.

The national convention of the United Mine Workers of America opened at Columbus, Ohio, with an unusually large attendance, the various districts of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio being fully represented. President P. H. Penna presided, and congratulated the delegates upon the fact that the membership and the financial condition of the organization were strong* er to-day than at any time in its history, despite the fact that in December last the treasury was so depleted as to warrant the raising of the question whether a convention could be held this year. Secretary-Treasurer Mcßryde, in his report, said the coal trade was better prior to 1890, when this association was formed, than it is now. The value of coal on ■board the cars at the mines for 1890 wa* 3110,420,851, and for 1894 the value wa* less than in 1890, although th* product was greater by 7,500,390 ton* This condition, so detrimental to both miner and operator, was caused by th* of the survival of the fittest. Th* two Virginias and their cheap coal had much to do with effecting the changed conditions. Formerly all their coal went to the Atlantic seaboard. To-day ther* is more West Virginia coal in Chicage than Ohio coal, though the former has ta jpass through Ohio en route to Chicago.