Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-17
NO HOPE OF AGREEMENT
Little Prospect of Ending the Coal Miners
Strike.
Operators Offers Refused by the Men,
Who Declare That They Want
'IivfnE Wages" {lt

CLEVELAND. Ohio. May 17.-This is the
glOomiest day of the big coal conference
and possibly 1t will be the last. The miners
and operators before the convention was
called to order. seemed as far apart as
they ever were. and at the hotels where
the operators are quartered the belief
seems to be general that when evening
comes the conference will end without the
conferees having reached anything ap-
preaching a settlement
The convention was called to order short
ly past 0 o'clock and Chairman Zerbe called
for report of the conference committee
Every delegate in historic Case Hall knew
just what it would be, that no agreement
could be reached.
The miners had been informed by the
morning newspapers of the belief expressed
by the operators that President Mcbride
could not keep the men on strike much
longer and they proceeded to dispel what
they called delusion upon the part of
their employers.
They pointed to the fact that strikes so
&C mplete and far reaching are not declared
on by the strikers when they have SO
much to encourage and so little to discour-
age them. Secretary Patrick j. Mcbride
has insisted all along that no settlement
can be made because the operators have
itOt yet lett TlSOTS Oh a complete te-up.
Many operators started home last night
leaving their proxies and some went away
this morning, so that the convention, when
1t was called to order. consisted of not
more than 300 delegates. There were 40l
On the first day. The small operators ex-
pect the larger ones to make an effort to
break the strike, as hey. especially those
fl ON Pittsburg, who have taken contracts
to deliver about 100000 tons of coal to rail-
reads and for the lake trade for from 81 10
to s2.lI, prevented settlement. Last sea-
son coal for vessels sold from S225 to $2.5
but this year, before navigation was fairly
cpenedan operating company took the con-
tract to fuel vessels for s1.90 One of the
western railroads gets it's supply at Green
Bay. Wis. for $l9S from a local firm. after
being shipped by rail and water over 1000
miles. Such contracts as these have so
far prevented a settlement of the vexed
question.
After the joint conference committee had
reported that they could not agree, Operator
H. l.. Chapman Of Ohio, and a member of
the conference committee, made brief ad-
dress. He recounted the history of the
committee meeting, and said that the opera
tors offered G5 and SO cents scale, while the
miners still held out for 20 and 75 cents.
He said that In view of the present de-
preston and the strained condition of
manufacturing interests, the operators
CCu uld not concede the advance asked. s
President Mcbride was the first speaker
for the miners. He said he was willing to
have a vote taken on the compromise Of
Iefeu Dy tne operatoTS, OUT ne WOulQ guar
antee that the miners would be unanimous
against II.
Continuing, the speaker said LAS ma
tive-born citizen. begin to think that busi-
ness interests are builded upon the starva-
ton and degrading wages paid the laborers
/ represent. We want you to give living
wages, and increase the price of your coal
SO you can get fair profit. There can be
no compromise along the lines Of starvation
wages. The miners make no threats. but
they stand together, peaceably. earnestly
and determined as ever. and will go on SO,
finishing the present fight and prepared for
future fights"
Following President Mcbride F.. L. Rob
bins Of Pennsylvania secured the floor and
made strong address for the operators.
Vice President Penna Of the Miners AS
ISOLATION then took the floor and spoke in
their behalf. making an able argument to
show that the operators were in as good
position to pay living wages now as at any
time In the past.