The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-16
COLD WATER
Is Being Thrown on the Strike
Arbitration Scheme
By President RatchfOrd, of the
United Mine Workers.
HAS NO FAITH IN 1T.
He Remains Away and Will Not
Meet the Commission.
Saws 1t Is All Plan of DE Ar
mitt to Gain Time.

Pittsburg, July 16.-True uniformity
may eventually win in the Pittsburg
mining district, through the efforts of
the peace commissioners, but it will
take time.
1t is expected that it will require sew
eral weeks, perhaps a month to secure
the signatures of the operators to the
proposition and General Little has ad-
vised that no time limit be put on the
movement as at the former attempt.
In the meantime the miners officials
say no efforts will be spared to force
the strike to a successful issue. The
lines along which the arbitrators expect
to work is to get the 13 lake shippers
interested first. These will be banded
together to force the smaller operators
into line by well known business meth
DDS. Every wire will be pulled to
bring firms and men into line.
The position of the miners officials
in this new phase of the strike move
ment is queer. NJ. D. Ratchford, the
national president will have nothing to
do with it. He has persistently refused
to come to Pittsburg for a conference.
In his communications to the district
officials he has said he did not believe
it could be brought about and he has
otherwise thrown cold water on the
scheme.
President DoIan and Secretary War
executive in the movement and propose
to give it their hearty support. Cam
eron Miller, as an ex-official and one
of the officers taking an active part in
the last movement of the kind, will also
give the plan some attention.
Mr.. De Armitt, in naming the list of
operators in the Pittsburg district has
included those with mines on the Penn
sylvania road in the so mile limit. He
will undertake to secure their sigma
lures to the document and those whom
L e-frr !, holt
agreement can be reached with where
by they will not compete for the west
ern trade.
Governor Hastings yesterday signed
the weighing bill, introduced by Repre-
sentative McWhitney of Homestead,
compelling operators to pay for coal
mined before screened which IS known
as run -nine~cOal. This removes one
clause from the uniformity agreement,
as uniform screens was one of the lead
ing features. The operators will have
attorneys review the law to ascertain if
it is constitutional and it will play an i'm
portant part in the agreement. The
operators, almost to a man are opposed to
it.
Columbus, O., July 16.-Mr. Ratch-
ford says this morning:
Il have encouraging word from the
Paramount, w. Va, district Several
there are making good progress They
give the names of some of the suspend
ed mines"
such suspensions, Mr.. Ratchford said:
THE agents would not give the
names of small ones. They were direct
ed to go into the heart of the district
and work on the big mines. Whatever
the big mines do will influence the
small mines"
Being asked about Mr.. De Armitt, Mr..
Ratchford said: His policy has al
ways been to put up something that
looked feasible, and get the operators
and miners to work it., while his COM
pany's mines continued. His purpose
now is to prolong the strike and reap
the harvest but in this he will not
succeed AS soon as the West Virginia
coal is shut out. steps will be taken to
stop De Armitt.'
Cleveland, o., July 16.-An advance of
45 cents on all coal from the West Vir-
ginia fields coming into Cleveland was
made this morning. The increase was
forced by the Baltimore & Ohio which
raised it's freight rates on West Vir-
ginia coal As cents making the rate to
Cleveland 81 so, instead of $1.05. 1t was
reported yesterday that such an ad-
vance had been made but the valley
people otherwise. the Baltimore & Ohio
denied it at that time.
1t affects all roads to which the Bal
timore & Ohio transfers West Virginia
coal.
Except for the foregoing the coal sit
uation presents no new phases.
The effect of the increased tariff of
45 cents on West Virginia coal by the
Baltimore & Ohio road will have the
SHSCl OI w est virginia coal
from competition and it is openly ad--
mitted that such was the purpose of the
advance.
The operators were claiming that ow-
ing to the existence of contracts affixed
figures they could not advance the rate
of mining without losing money If
they fill the contracts with West Vir-
ginia coal the advanced tariff will make
them lose money anyhow.
Therefore the railways advanced the
transportation charges for the express
purpose of furthering the settlement OF
the strike. The rate does not apply to
coal for lake shipment.
BULLETIN NO. l.