Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1885 — GENERAL. [ARTICLE]

GENERAL.

The national convention of coal-miners, in session at Indianapolis, adopted the following resolutions: Resolved, That we recommend the establishment of a national union, to be known as the National Federation of Miners and Mine Laborers. Resolved, The membership of this association shall bp composed of all miners and mine laborers of the United States and Territories who will subscribe to the constitution anti laws of the federation, and be governed by them in all their parts and conform to the principles on which they are based. Resolved, That the executive and legislative power of this association shall be vested in an executive board, to' be composed of five members at large and one mem her from each of the bituminous coal-producing States and one member from the anthracite district, and in the general convention the board shall guide the action of the association upon all auestions of importance to its members. lit-solved, That the objects of the association will be:1. To promote the interests of the miners and

mine laborers, morally, socially, and financially, for the protection of their Health and their lives; to spread intelligence'■among them; to remove as far as pcssibl ’ the causes'of strikes, and to adopt, wherever and whenever practicable, the principles of arbitration and restriction; to urge upon all miners and mine laborers the necessity to become citizens, that we may Secure by the use of the ballot the services of men friendly-to labor, both in our, State and national legislative bodies; to create a tund for the support and protection of members of the association. 2. To obtain legislative enactments for the more efficient management of mines whereby the lives and health of our members inky be better preserved. ,a. To shorten the hours of labor in the mines. 4. To protect all members who are unjustly dealt with by their employers while endeavoring to carry out the behests of the association. 5. To assist all similar organizations which have the same object in view--to wit-sjaiutual protection of members, and the protection of labor against the encroachments of capital. Latest advices from the civil war in Pern are that the Government troops retain possession of lea, and that the Cacerist forces have been obliged Igy lack of provisions to abandon tbeir advanced positions at Canta.. . .Henry Martin & Co., leather dealers, of Buffalo, N. Y., who failed recently, owe $267,691.65, and have-assets of $8,903.65. C. A. Van Bokken, an American citizen who has been released through the efforts of Secretary Bayard from a Haytian prison, in which he had been confined fifteen months in defiance of treaty obligations, is at Washington to urge that the government demand indemity for the outrage. The business failures during the week numbered for the United States 184 and for Canada 19, as compared with a . total of 165 the week previous. Bradstreet’s, in its weekly trade review, - says: /

The condition of general trade, as reported by special telegrams, is quite as favorable as that mentioned at any jwevious date within seven weeks past. The steadiness and strength manifested in the demand tor dry goods and for woolen fabrics have encouraged many dealers at Eastern distributing centers to look for steadiness in the movement, It may be added thatdhe gain in the demand for pig-iron tends in some degree to inspire the confidence manifested in various quart >rs that the turn in the tide has at last taken plaee, and that the increase in the consumption of staple commodities may preservey steady growth. It is a welcome sign that no boom is discernible in any direction. The increased distribution of goods is formed of a larger amount of moderate-sized orders and in many instances of unexpected duplicate demands. The American pig-iron market is firm. Sales at New York average about three thousand tons daily,. With a continuation of this business a moderate advance is likely. All the steel rail mills are at work, and $297; 30 are freely quoted. Ear-iron is in much-better request, find the iron trade as a whole feels the influence. Eastern agents and jobbers of dry goods continue to do a fair business, but as retailers are fairly well stocked sales are not as large as they have been. 7

Mrs. Julia Godfrey, wife of the Rev. Samuel Godfrey, of Lafayette, Ind., began a suit for divorce on the grounds of cruelty, and asked for the custody of her children and $40,000 alimony.... Oscar Rammelsberg began a libel suit claiming $20,000. damages against the Cincinnati Enquirer, which had connected him, instead of his brother, with a suit begun by a young woman' for “money loaned, nursing, and attendance to his r00m.”... .Chas. L. Chamberlain, of St. Louis, began a suit for $160,000 damages against the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad for injuries received at Woodbury, lowa, ten years ago, by which lie was - permanently disabled Three men were shockingly during a fire which destroyed the oil factory and warehouse of Swan & Finch at New York, causing a loss of $35,000. The sugar works of the American Glucose Company at Peoria, valued at $150,000, were reduced to ashes. A large winery and distillery, with its contents, was consumed at Fresno, Cal.; loss, $120.000-. The Indian Chief Big Bear, who took part in Riel’s Northwest Territory rebellion, has been sentenced to the penitentiary for three years.