Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-10
rsprc1AD TELEGRAM 70 THE D1srAroH.

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.l
COLUMBUS, April 9.-The coal miners of
Ohio held meeting here to-day in response
to a circular sent out by District 135,
knights of Labor, showing a: disposition to
harmonic the differences in the event Of
the failure of the Miners Progressive Union
to fix a scale. Mr.. Dempster, of Pittsburg,
represented the knights of Labor and pre-
sented their case. His proposition was to
meet the operators in joint convention and
endeavor to fix the scale for the ensuing
year.
The matter was discussed for some time,
and the operators finally decided to have
nothing to do with the Knights Of Labor.
The operators then proceeded to prepare a
proposition for submission to the Miners
Progressive Union, and appointed a com.
mittee for that purpose. In brief, it now
looks as if the proposition would meet with
favor and that the scale for the ensuing
year will be fixed, and the interstate agree.
ment, which was dissolved at the recent
meeting, will be restored. A similar prop.
osition has been made by the Pennsylvania
operators John Mcbride received the
communication, and will present it to the
miners, in connection with that of the Penn
sylvania operators.
A CONFERENCE IN PITTsBURG.
The Miners Union Executive Boards of
Ohio and the Western Pennsylvania dis.
tricts will meet committee of the operators
from the two States at Pittsburg next Mor-
day, when final action will be taken. The
% Il
vantage, because the principal part of the
coal there is mined in summer for shipment
to the Northwest and the lake trade.
John Mcbride tonight prepared the fol-
lowing to be issued to the miners at large:
COLUMBUS, O., April g.
To-day the operators of Ohio and the Pitts
burg district have submitted the following
proposition upon the price of mining for the
Hooking Valley, 621z cents for the first six
months and 6Ih cents for the last six months
Pittsburg district M and 7679 cents for the
At the late joint convention the miners
representatives offered as prices fol-
the year, Hooking Valley; s. cents
refused to accept the proposition, and now that
they offer us a settlement upon straight q:
cents per ton reduction below the rates which
have prevailed for the past two years. and theil
proposition being almost if not altogether the
equivalent of the one made by us, L would
urge upon our miners, that the operators. .offel
be accepted.
A FAVORABLE OFFER.
1 urge the acceptance of the operators prop
osition, not because believe any direct beneft
will accrue to the operators or miners by rea
son of such reduction, but because it guaran
tees, even with a continuation of dull trade
| such as we are now having. peaceful and har
monious relations between miners ant
mine operators. prevents an Indiscrimi
nate fight for advantage and insure.
an adjustment of all disputes during Itht
coming year by methods of arbitration anC
conciliation. 1t will also re-establish the join
movement of miners and operators, and this
together with the absence Of strife and bitter
ness which must come to many parts of the
| competitive districts without an agreement, il
well worth our sacrificing 21a cents per ton.
If no agreement is reached between this and
May l other strikes in many parts of the dis
trict are inevitable, and large sums of money
! from working miners to aid those who are con
tending for price, and who suffer not only from
loss of wages, but too often from h1nger'l
| gnawing pains. The vote of miners at the diff
ferent mines in the competitive district upoI
the circular issued by us Immediately after the
adjournment of the joint convention indicates
a very general desire to maintain scale rates
but in nearly every case we are urged to use al
honorable means in our power to avoid
strike.
CONSERVATIVE ADVICE
The position of the miners delegates to thu
joint convention was heartily indorsed, and Il
is owing to this, to the general stagnation ir
trade, and to the inability of miners to carry {
strike to successful termination at this time
and under existing conditions, that ask yor
| now to be guided by my advice and accept thi.
reduction of "a cents per ton below last year.
rate.
My honest judgment is that if you make thi.
| concession now in the interest of peace anC
| harmony the future will demonstrate the wis