The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-25

about q settlement with the officers OF the
miners. The proposition Of Mr. Ratchford
could not be accepted, because Il means an
advance OF a7M cents IN wage cost and
would entail an irreparable loss upon the
producers, Tho price at which coal con-
tracts have been taken for this year were
enforced by the conditions which ruled the
markets In open competition from other
producing fields. IL should be remembered
that the operators are confronted constant
~ with two forces, the pressure Of buyers
TO get tho lowest prices, which ID deter
mined by rennorcclcss competition and BY
tho miners who demand the highest wage
rates at all times. In addition to thesc
two factors, Is the cost OF transportation to
the markets.
Amieable and ccnciliatory methcds hav.
ing failed to convince or move the leaders
the responsibility for whatever prIvations
fellow the miners and their families must
rest on the miners. The operators have
exhausted all honorable means OF a settle
meut OF n strike which has eu,ailcd so
much misery upon the miners and those
dependent upon them and which they In
common with the public deplore and would
gladly change on basis that would not
be disastrous to themselves.
The miners officials have rejected pro-
positions made for an agreement The OPP
erators can only ask the miners to consider
whether they are justified in continuing
line OF action which is dlctatorial and are
willing TO work st a price which impartiar
arbitrators may decide 10 be fair and just
under existing circumstances, board
actuatcd by The impulses OF equity and
Justice and having the sympathy OF hui
manty In the scale In favor of the miners.
Mr. Ra,chford, president OF the United
Nine Workers. has been here and has gone.
He did not come willingly and did tot
treat with the operators on terms that In
dicated any desire TO protect the iutcrcats
and welfare OF the miners of tho Pittsburg
district. He openly claimed. repeating what
lie said In the Joint convention of miners
and operators in pittsburg in December,
1896. that the operators of the district
had more work than their share OF the
trade, that some of Il was being taken
from them and that more would be- He
claimed the operators had larger share %!
the lake tonnage than they are entitled to
and that they would not be permitted to
retain it,
In view OF the fact that Mr. Ratchford
lives in Columbus, Ohio, which is the home
OF the leading operators OF the Hooking
valley and the largest competitors for the
lake coal trade the plttsburg operators
have tn meet a position taken by the Ma
tonal president OF the United Mine Work.
ers' organization. which Is striking and
startling. Tho position In especially strlk-
ing In view OF the further fact that the
operators of tho Heclng valley have paid
the miners organization more than $780,
600 annually for me past four years. Mr..
Ratohford says the operators OF tho Pitts
burg district have more business than
they are entitled TO ana Two are now ar
ranging to take some OF Il from them"
Coming from their National officer and
leader, this is a singx1sr declaration for one
who processes to be anxious for the wei
fare of the Ptttsburg district coal dIggers
How can there he more work for them
II Mr.. Ratchford makes good his declara-
ton?