Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-19
SENT FOR RATCHFORp,
Pttsburg Coal Operators Want to
Have a Talk with the Head
Of the Miners
BEFORE THEY BEGIN AN OPEN WAR

On the Strike in Their District-If an
Agreement Fails the Real Crisis Will
Commence Right Away-Mines To BE
Opened and the Men Who Will Work
Protected Regardless of Consequence
Court Makes the De Armit Injunction
Permanent-COxey Going to West vir-
ginia to Help the Strike.
Pittsburg, Aug. LIT is learned that
In connection with the coal operators
meeting last night Colonel w. P. Rend
and the F. L. Robbins company had a
long conference with President Dolan,
OF the miners, the result of which was
a joint telegram to National President
Ratchford, asking him to come here in
another en6eavor to settle the strike.
Pittsburs. Aug. 19.-The meeting of
the Pittsburg district coal operators
which was begun at Cleveland Tuesday
night was concluded here last evening
shortly after midnight. None of those
attending the meeting would divulge
the proceedings. The only statement
given out was the fact that the action
taken at the Cleveland meeting was rat
ihed and even emphasized, and that the
president, Peter NJ. Hitchcock, had been
empowered to appoint a committee who
will seek a conference with the miners
officials looking to a settlement of the
strike. 1t is understood that the basis
to be urged for a settlement by the OPP
orators is the 54-cent rate fer mining
and should the miners refuse to accede
to this and their old employees decline to
return to work the operators will at
once import men and start their mines
at any hazard.
will Actively Fight the Strike.
AS it is extremely unlikely that an
amicable arrangement can be effected
the mine owners have agreed to share the
expense attendant upon the starting of
tn mines and no eXpedient will be over
looked in the accomplishment of the OBJ
ject aimed at-the breaking of the strike
The mines to be experimental with have
not as vet been selected, but it is said
| the break will be made at four different
places widely scattered throughout the
district in order to as much as possible
disconcert the strike leaders. The meet
ing last night was representative, in
Guiding among its attendants fifteen
of the largest coal firms in the district.
Thomas E. Young, representing the NJ.
A. Hanna & Co. interests, mingled with
the operators before the meeting, talk
ing to a number of them and also with
! President Dolan, of the miners but he
| did net enter the conference. He gave
no reason for not joining and left the
hotel.
May Begin a Bloody War.
Cleveland, Aug. 10. The decision
reached by the operators of the Pitts
! burg district at their conference here to
open their mites regardless Of the con-
sequences will probably cause serious
trouble. According to local coal men it
| is the intention of the Pittsburg opera
tors to engage Pinkerton men to protect
their non-union men. This action on
their part will probably precipitate a
terrible climax to the great strike, and
the operators admit that blood will
probably flow. In speaking Of the prob
able result Of the operators decision
LOTUS Cuddy, of the Cuddy-M Mullen
Coal company. said: IF it is found nee
| essary to do so a whole army of detec-
tives will be employed to protect our
| men, and if the worst comes they will
| be supplied with Gattling guns and 9TH
| err equipments to convince the strikers
| that we mean business. There will be no
delay in inaugurating this movement,
| and the first step will be taken Thurs
udyr although 20 IOl care 10 state
what the first action will be-"
Plenty of Men To BE Obtained.
Cuddy's statement is upheld by ]. P
| Zerbe, president of the Ohio ard Penn
| sylvania Coal company, who said: 1--WE
are determined to open our mines again
| in spite of the strikers, and / see no rea-
| son why we should not succeed. There
! are plenty of non-union workmen in the
| country who are willing to fight for
| their protection, although 1 am of the
| opinion that We will be able to protect
| them ourselves. think that when the
| old miners find that they cannot prevent
the mines being opened they will go back
| to work again peaceably."
YESTERDAY WAS OPERATORS DAY,
Clinching OF That Injunction Seems tn
Have Discouraged the Miners.
| Pittsburg, Aug. 19.-Yesterday was
| operators day, and from present ap-