The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-18

was called to order this morning seomed
as far apart US they ever wero Not
ovcn a modus vlvondl whereby tho
country may DO supplied with coal and
the question OF wages discussed at an.
other timo vas expected.
Tho convention was called to order
shortly alter o'clock and Chairman
Zero called for report OF tho confer.
onco committee. Every delegate In
historic Case hall know Just what 1t
would be, that no agreement could DO
reached, and there wore no surprises In
that
Tho miners had been Informed by tho
morning newspapers OF tho belief ex.
pressed by tho operators that President
Mcbride could not keep tho men on
strike much longer, and thoy proceeded
10 dispel what thoy called . dclusion
upon tho part OF their employers. They
pointed to the facts that strikes 80
complete and lar rcachlug In their ~.
suits are not declared OF By the strikers
when thoy have 30 much to encourage
and so little to discourage them. Sec
rotary ]. McBryde has insisted all along
that no settlement can be made, be.
cause tho operators haYo not yet fo.t
the rigors OF compete tie-up:
Many operators started homo last
night, leaving their proxies, and some
went away this morning, so TINT the
convention. whom 1t was called to order,
consisted OF not moro than threo hun.
dred delegates. There were i0l on the
fret day.
Tho small operators expect tho larger
ones to mako an effort 10 break the
strike. they, especially those from Pltts-
burch. who have taEon contracts to do
liver about 100000 tons OF coal to rail-
roads and for tho lake trado for from
81 30 to 50 II prevented 4 settlement.
last season coal for fueling vessels sold
from 50 25 to 80, but this wear before
navigation was fairly opened on operat~
ing company took tho contract to fuel
vessels for 81 90. One OF tho western
roads gots its supply ut Green Bay,
Wis. for 81 9S from local firm, litor
being shipped by rail and water over
1000 miles. Such contracts US those
have so far prevented a settlement Of
the veXod question.
ARGUMENTS or 10TH SIDES.
After the joint conference committee
had reported that they could not agree,
Operator II. l. Chapman, Of Ohio, and
o member Of the conference committee,
made o briet address. lfo rccounted
the history OF the committee meeting,
and said that tho operators offered n 65
and 5G-cent scale, while the minors otill
held out Tor 20 and 70 conts. He said
that in Wow Of the present depression
and the strained condition OF manufac-
turing interests, tho operators could not
concedo the advance asked.
President Mcbride was the first
speaker for tho miners. he said he
~as willing to have vote taken on tho
compromise offered by tho operators,
but he would guarantee that the miners
would be unanimous against 1t Con-
tihuing, tho speaker snid: "Aa q na-
tive born citizcn, blush to think that
the business interests arc builded upon
tho starvation and degrading wages
paid the laborers reprcaent. We
want you to give US living wages and In
crease the price OF your coal 40 you can
get fair profit There can bo no COM
promise along tho lines Of starvation
wages. Tho minors make no threats,
but they a:and together, peacoably,
earnestly and determined as ever and
will 20 on 40, finishing the present fight
and prepared for future fights"
Following President Mcbride, I. L.
Robbins, OF Pennsylvania, secured the
floor and nude strong address for tho
operators.
Vice President Penna. Of tho minera'
association. took the floor and spoke 10
their behalf, making an able argument
to ahow that tho operators were in
position TO pay living wagea%%uo as at
any time in the past.
PLEADS 70 PEACE.
Col. W. P. Rcnd. OF Chicago, then go.
cured tho floor He said he came to
pour oil on the ",roublcd waters"
lie urged both sides to make some
concession, and said that the 60 and &C.
cent basis for mining was too low. and
proposed comprom'se Of 60 and 90
cents. He ecored the miners' associa-
t!on for refusing to permit miners to
work in tho nines where the operators
had conceded tho demands OF their
men. and said that the czar OF Russia
would not dare to Issue zuch al crbi-
trary ukaso. Turning TO the miners no
said: You miners must consent 10
compromise Hcale. II not, these opor.
ators will fight you until you aro de-.
feated. am your friend. Lot nc i'm.
ploro you TO come together. You miners
abandon your false position. You OPP
orators give tho mtncrs moro. Say you
ngree on G0-ccnt basls for Ohio"
Colonel Rend's remarks were ap-
plauded BY tho operators and many
miner..
Mr. R. h. johnson, Of Hooking,
rnorcd to refes the matter back TO tho
committee on conference, to report OF 8
p. Il.
Tho Chair decided .hr. Mr. Chap.
mans motion to ngrco 10 The repos: was
before tho house.
President J. A. Crawford, Of tho iii.
nois mincrs' association, made q short
address, in which hn referred to Colonel
Rends statement about bis war record,
and said he had done 4. 10 strike tho
shackes of 1000, 900 slaves.
After several speeches from both
eiflpg Cn,nrsI Dauj rnoyad tbo. 49,