The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-19
Willing to Grant the Miners Two
Thirds of Their Demands,
THEY SEND WORD TO PRESIDENT
RATCHFORD, BUT HE DOES NOT
THINK THE STRIKERS WILL Ac-
cEPT ANYTHING LESS THAN
THE IS PER CENT. INCREASE
ASKED FoR-HANNA's MINES
WILL NOT JOIN THE MOVE
MENT.

Cleveland. o. Aug 1S-Telegrams we're
sent from here this evening to the PENN
savanna mines, controlled by twenty. five.
OF the leading coal operators, ORDERING,
That the mines be opened and opera lions
"esun Immediately at an advance of 10
cents per ton to the miners
This decision WAS taken TODAY nv the
operators who were in conference here all
OF Monady and Tuesday. Ninety eight per
cent of all the coal operators were pre-
sent.
The meeting was called at the instance
OF certain of the executive officers of the
republican national committee, who
hoped that an amcable settlement of the
strike between operators and miners
could he obtained The suggestion of the
Republican managers was that, if neces
sary to secure settlement, the op. rators
should make complete surrender and
grant the 10 per cent increase demanded.
The operators resolved to offer the min.
ers an increase of 10 cents per ton, max
ing the price paid per ton ga cents
The miners demand 60 cents The
oifer signed by the coal operators was
sent to President Ratchford, at Column
bus. Tuesday he gave this answer: "I do
not think thnc the miners will accent
anything less than 10 cent increase We
can get 10 cents if we wait However, [
shall present the proposition to the min
ers, and it will be given fair considera-
ton The conference thereupon dis
cussed the sit"ation in all it's points. d
II Hanna and II r Young, the representa-
tives of NJ a Hanna s. Company, urged
the other operators to wait and not take
hnsty action. The prevailing sentiment
OF the large majority of che operators was
against remaining idle my longer and by
an almost unanimous vote the operators
decided to open the mines Immediately.
The firm of NJ A Hanna s. Company
refused toabide by the decision.
The operators will import new laborers
to their mines. aud will, if necessary,
employ armed forces to protect them
from any violence. Where it is possible
union miners who are willing to go to
WORK without authorization from head
quarters VIII be re-employed, but it is
thought by the''operators that despite the
sufferings of the miners in certain sec.
lions 1t is likely that comparatively few
OF these can he obtained
The operators before adjourning drew
ny statement which was signed by all
OF the operators, 1t reads as follows:
An enthusiastic meeting of the oper-
ators of tie Pennsylvania mines was held
in Cleveland :. tc day anf it was deter
mined that the mines in the Pittsburg
district should he started at once and
operated without further delay
The miners have taken the hiph-
handed posi- tion that nothing but an u n
reasonable price for mining will satisfy
their demand, and have been unwilling to
treat with the operators on any fair
grounds There is no other course left
open to the operators at this time.n
1t was determined that allAcoal sold at
the 54-cent basis OF mining this year
must be mined at that price. No change
In the price of mining will he considered
until the contracts made at the 54-cept
:'asis of mining are filed and the uni
fcrmlty agreement Is completed.