The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-07

ment BetWeen Csptain Rsnd aud His Min
0Ta
Columbus, Ohio. September 1.-The
national executive board Of h United
Mine Workers has adjourned until to-
morrow morning without reaching a
conclusion OIL the proposition OF the
Pittsburg operators, and it is impos-
board had a stormy session this after
noon and there appears to be a very
decided difference Of opinion among the
members as to the best course to pur-
sue. The proposition Of the Pittsburg
operators applies specifically to that
district, but in effect all other dis
tricts are concerned. The proposition
is that the Pittsburg miners shall re-
turn to work at a Ga cent rate pending
arbitration, the conditions Of the arbi-
shall not be fixed at more than 50 cents
a ton nor less than so cents. Under
such conditions, the miners maintain
that they would probably not secure by
arbitration more than IS cents. Here
is where the temper Of the Pittsburg
miners has been asserted. They want
50 cents and there is some doubt
whether they could be induced to ac-
cept less without a vigorous protest
and a long drawn out controversy. The
Ohio miners wan all they can get, nat
urally, but what they insist upon most
is the maintenance Of the differential
Of 9 cents in their favor, which they
have held so long.
Pittsburg, September 2.-Judging
from the surface Indications, it seems
reasonably certain that President
Ratchford, Of the United Mine Work.
ers, and his colleagues in office will re-
ject the offer of the operators to return
to work at the "a cent rate pending ar
bitration. Great influence a been
brought to bear upon the strike lead
ers from this district to induce them to
assume such an attitude. The senti-
ment among the miners here is so in
tense for "a 50 cents or nothing set
Element that all the local labor lead
ers now in the city have advised
strongly for a continuation of the fight
along the present lines and to the bit
ter end.
D. w. Van Eman, of G~astonville,
manager of the Pitsburg and Chicago
Gas Coal Company, went to Washing
ton this morning, for the purpose Of
securing deputies. The company, he
says, is determined to start the mines
Tuesday next, and the miners now Oc-
cupying the company's houses there
have been notified to vacate on that
day, as new men will be put in them
unless the old force goes to work by
that time. 1t is said there was at first
a demand for fifty deputies. 1t was ex-
| pected that Senator Tillma who is Wis
fling Roavar Pa inst below the citv
would take a hand in strike matters,
but in response to a telegram of Sec
rotary Warner today, asking him to
come to Pittsburg, the senator replied:
Come to Beaver if you want to see
me-" Warner does not consider the
trip necessary.
Colonel w. p. Rend today met his
thousand miners through a committee
of twelve men selected for the purpose
at Mcdonald, Pa. There was an i'm
mense gathering Of miners, their wives
and children about the place Of con-
ference. The best feeling prevailed and
Colonel Rend announced after the con-
ference that there was a full and can
did discussion of the merits of the last
plan proposed for settlement Of the
strike. He says the committee that
waited on him assured him that the
| plan had their cordial support and they
felt that the body of the miners would
indorse it if submitted to them. No ac-
ton was taken by the men, but Col
onel Rend is confident that if, left to
their own inclinatiOns his men would
resume work tomorrow at ga cents,
pending arbitration. Another meet
ing will be held tomorrow at which it
is said resolutions will be adopted de-
claring that Colonel Rend'S men will
return to work at the rate proposed to
| the COlumh1S conference