Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-09-04
ARBITRATION REFUSED.
The Coal Strike In the Pittsburg
District VIII Continue.
THE MINES WILL BE REoPEEED,

Say the Operators, but the Strikers
Declare That the Men to work Them
Cannot he seoured-Operators Hold
the Labor Leaders Responsible.
Pittsburs. Aug. 4a-The final effort
60 arrange a plan for ending the big
coal strike has proved a failure. and
the strike goes on The conference be-
tween a committee OF coal operators
and miners national and district off,
Gals closed yesterday. and the confere-
ence adjourned without date The min
ers' representatives did not receds from
their original proposition to settle the
strike by arbitration and start the
mines at the SO cent rate.
The operators offered 20 divide the
difference between 50 and SO cent rates.
making the price at which the mines
should start e1M cents per ton. but
this was rejected. Then additional
propositions were made. One was TO
start the mines without fixing any
price for 80 days. and then to pay the
rate agreed upon by the board OF ar
bitration- This was also refused by the
miners. and they said they had been
fooled too often to trust the operators
again They declined to work for a
month. giving the operators the out
put that length OF time without know
ing what wages would be paid
A proposition was then made TO
operate the mines for ten days. with
out fixing the price. and allow board
OF arbitration 70 M the price for that
time. President Ratchford insisted that
nothing but the 69 cent rate could pos
sibly be accepted. The operators were
firm. but the miners were equally de-
terrnined. and every argument OF the
mine owners wac met by the miners
leaders. Neither side would concede
another point. and II was decided to
end the conference
The outlook after the adjournment
OF the conference seemed to be encour-
aging for the miners. There Is no ques-
ton of the anxiety OF the operators to
start their mines Nearly every coal
company In the PittsburK district was
represented at the MoDongahela House
| during the conferences
The operators conference was in se-
cret session for several hours after
| the Joint conference. and when the
doors were opened their press agent
announced that the mines certainly
would be started. with the old digsers
| II possible and with imported men II
| the old men refuse TO work A COM
mittee was appointed. composed OF rep
resentatives OF every firm In the dis
trict. to map out the. mode OF pro-
/ ceedure for the resumption
In an address to the public given out
last night the operators say In part:
"Amicable and conciliatory methods
having failed TO convince or to move
the leaders. ths responsibility for
whatever privstion follows TO the min
| ers and their families must rest upon
the miners' officials. The operators feel
| that they have exhausted all honorable
means OF settlement OF a strike which
has entailsd 80 much misery upon the
miners and those dependent upon them
and which they IN common with the
public deplore. and would gladly chanss
on basis that would not be disas-
trous 10 themselves
mr.. Ratchford. president OF the
United Mine Workers. did not treat
with the operators on terms that indi.
cate any desire TO protect the interests
and welfare OF the miners OF the Pitts.
burg district Ne openly claimed tina,
the operators had more than theil
share OF the trade: that some OF IL wa
being taken from them. ana that NOR
would be. He claimed the operators
had a larger share OF the lake tonnagS
than they are entitled 20. and tha'
they would not be permitted 10 retair
it"
The campers at Turtle Greek wen
very much elatsd yesterday over
, rumor afioat among the strikers tina
+. b. DeArmitt. superintendent OF TIT
Oak Hill mines. went 60 some OF TIT
italian strikers and offered TO pa,
them half OF the money they forfeited
and 81 cents a ton for digging coal 1
they would return 60 work this morn
ing. This. the strikers. say IL an evi
dence OF weakness on the part OF tn
officials OF the company. who. the.
claim, are apparently anxious to hav
the strike settled now at any price. s
that they can get their mines work
ing. Superintendent DeArmitt coul
not be found to affirm or deny the re
port