The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-07-30
THREATENED pIaRuPTION
or the Goal Operators Association In the
Akron DiAtriot.

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Akron Distriot.
The Akron correspondent OF the Plain
Dealer writes under date OF July 28th:
While correspondents In different
parts OF the State agree that the antici-
pated coal miners strike In the Maasil.
lon district OF the Tnscarawas valley
will not affect the Akron district, q
trouble 10 brewing here that does not
alone mean reduction OF prices but
threatens to break up the operators as
ISOLATION under which business has been
conducted for some time past. II 10
true that the dozen or more mines here.
abouts are still running at 70 cents per
ton and without any notification OF q
reduction. This Ia, however, due 10 the
refusal OF the Excelsior Coal Company
TO Join In o demand for reduction TO
90 cents, and not because other operators
do not wish 10 Join the Masalll0n men.
Heretofore the Massillon and Akron dis
trlcts, which under the State division
belong 10 the Third dlstrict, have been
working under the same schedule OF
rates and have been In perfect harmony.
AT the present time, however, the Mas
utttoh pboihbbiu NV kbiHk ~ VII hhO
dependent plan, having broken away
from the Akron oper ators In their efforts
TO get the price OF mining down 10 90
cents per ton.
While the Akron operators are taking
no active part In thla move, yet II IL we'll
known that they will reduce the price
TO the same figure ~ soon as II In AZ
tempted by the MassillOn men. II, how
ever, the MaasillOn miners refuse TO ac
cept the reduction, II Ia likely the opera.
t0ra here will continue TO work with q
hope OF having q sufficient Increase In
trade to warrant them 10 paying the ex'
ira 10 cents per ton.
That the operators association will
lnd trouble In ltg camp Ia quite we'll
demonstrated by the following state.
ment made by Mr.. j. j. Wagner Of the
Excelsior Coal Company this forenoon.
He said that for the past several months
committees Of operators had been call.
Ing on his company semi.monthly for
the purpose Of getting them 10 Join In q
move for q reduction from 70 10 90 cents
per ton. This the Excelsior company
refused 10 do, Mr.. Wagner stating that
fair profits we're being made ut present
prices. He further said that they had
always lost money In strikes, and they
did not propose 10 quarrel any longer
with their men. The association had
not lived up TO the agreement.
"Why," said Mr.. Wagner. Nm three
days after the agreement was entered
into II was broken by some Of the oper-
at0rs selling coal 2b cents lower than
they had agreed TO-" Mr.. Wagner said
that their company would undoubtedly
como 10 the reduced prices, but they
would do nothing 10 bring II about. The
existence Of the association, he said,
was not essential 10 their welfare; In
fact, they got better along without II
than with II. Last February aud March
while the rest OF the operators were
lighting over the reduction, thelr com.
pany was working At the old prioo and
the result was q good business-eyen
some OF those who were lighting the
miners being compelled TO buy coal OF
them.
II 10 the tactics which stick out plain
ly In the above that will wreck the as
ISOLATION, and that have and are now
breeding III will.
The NAVARRO COAL MINERS.
The proposed reduction Of 10 cents
per ton for mining coal has oooasioned
much feeling among the miners at Ma.
varre, and the reduction is the chief
topic OF conversation among the men.
They were anticipating cut Of 10 cents
but were not prepared for the 10 cent
cut. II Ia said the operators will make
no 1ght, and that II the men refuse 70
accept the proposed rate the mines will
be closed. The miners in that section,
as far as can be learned, appear TO be
willing 10 accept the reduction. They
may, however, be compelled 10 20 out
| by the action Of the association, which
has not yet taken action on the subject,