The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-01

Illinois Coal Mine Operators Fail to
Settle the Strike.


Settle the Strike.
SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,. May 31-The confer
ence Of coal operators of Illinois. called to
attempt settlement of the strike. ad-
journed sine die this afternoon having
complished nothing The operators say
Every man for himself and the devil take
the hindmost''
The conference passed resolutions deplor-
ing the fact that the southern operators
refused to meet with those from northern
Illinois, and announcing that the
latter were ready to fix
scale satisfactory and fair to all
operators. Charles Ridgely, president of
the Consolidated mines fatty refused to en-
ter the conference, and sent word to that
effect. Members criticised Mr.. Ridgely Sc
verely, Claiming a settlement could be ef-
fected at this meeting if he would go in
Several motions to adjourn were made and
as quickly voted down. c. M. Swallow, rep
resenting the Danville field, said he would
speak in behalf of his section, that they
would not enter the conference because the
Consolidated mines were not in; that if
Ridgely would come into the conference the
Danville men would agree to anything that
might be done. Mr.. Swallow also stated
that he had been authorized to speak in a
like manner for the fields in central and
southern Illinois. They all knew it would
be squeeze if they allowed settlement
to be made unless the Consolidated and
larger mines were forced to enter the agree
ment with those now in the conference.
F. w. Tracy, of this city, deplored the
failure of the conference, and as the reso-
tuition offered by Mr.. Sweet simply in
the interest OF northern operators he moved
its death. which motion prevailed. Said
Mr.. Tracy: 1--WE are not conquered by the
mi q do
nothing unless every operator in Illinois
agrees to do something with us"
Mr.. Spellman, OF Danville. said: This
meeting proves that the operators of Illinois
intend to run their own business We
can't do thing here: let us go home and
making a motion TO adjourn sine die, he re-
tired. This motion was then unanimously
adopted. The conference adjourned.
Several of the operators were seen after
the conference adjourned and the consensus
of their opinion is that 1t is every man for
The southern Illinois operators say they
will now go home and try and effect a set
tlement with their own men on the best
terms they can secure. They are mad
against the northern operators and the
Consolidated operators in general, and Pres
idept Ridgely fd IN PPaTtGvar and say If It
would have been settled to-day before din
ner.
State President Crawford and National
President Mcbride. of the miners. say the
situation now reverts to its first inception.
They make no specific statement as TO
what will be done They said they would
not like to be responsible for any future
actions OF the men. They were out TO stay
even though IL stopped every engine in the
United States. and every cook stove in the
land They had offered a flag of truce,
done all in their power toward effecting
settlement. and had been repulsed. The
whole matter was with the operators and
they were to blame for all future proceed
ings.
Tonight President Mcbride of the United
Mine Workers, left for Columbus, o. Be
fore leaving he and Vice President Penna
addressed monster meeting of miners.
Both speakers attributed the blame for
failure of to-day's conference OF the oper-
ators to tbe refusal OF the Consolidated