Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-08-05
COAL OPERATORS.
The "True Uniformity" Plan Agreed
to at q Conference.
STRIKERS MARCHING ON ROANOKE.
Serious Trouble Feared and Deputy sherins
Sworn in-The Strikers Threaten to
Stay Until Every Miner
Ii Out.

P1rrsBuReH, Pa, July s9.-The "true
uniformity" conference Of coal oper-
ators Of the Pittsburgh district con-
cluded its work last night at 9;l5
o'clock after a two-days' session OF
close and persistent work, and the re-
suit is on its face decided triumph
for the strikers. Just previous to ad-
journment Judge Owens announced
that Col. Rend had authorized him to
state that any agreement OF the con-
ference would receive his hearty CO.
operation and he would sign 1t II 95 so
or even 20 per cent of the operators
were sincere in their sanction OF it.
The agreement, as adopted, provides
for cash payment OF wages, 1000
pounds to the ton, check weighmen on
the tipples, miners to be credited with
the full quantity Of coal contained in
the mine car, abolition Of company
stores, semi-monthly pay days, uni
form price for picking in the thin and
thick vein districts, and veins not ex-
ceeding ~ inches The commission
is to be chosen annually and shall be
known by the name Of the uniformity
commission. II shall be composed OF
nine members, the thick and thin vein
operators having proper representa-
ton. The agreemcntshall not become
effective unless signed by % per cent.
of the operators on or before January J.
1898. The operators, with few excep-
tons, want IL distinctly understood
that the passage Of an agreement
whereby all operators are to adopt
q similar system and are to pay the
same relative price for mining has moth
ing to do with the great strike 1hey
wish the miners to disabusc their
minds of any such theories. The oper-
ators have also shut out the miners
leaders from taking any part in the
conferences that may take place
through questions arising between the
operators and miners, by inserting a
clause Ia the agreement, stating that
the commission shall be composed Of
workmen employed by the subscribers
Heretofore the miners officials have
represented the miners, but now the
miners are to grapple with the ques-
tions in dispute alone.
Meantime the miners themselves are
not encouraged breaks in the ranks Of
the river men and general feeling OF
encouragement over West Virginia
have combined to quench enthusiasm
in a remarkable degree One prime
factor in bringing back this condition
of affairs is thought to be the nactlon
of the Wheeling convention IN devils
ing ways to stop coal shipments from
the disputed territory. On all sides
the conference was confidently looked
upon by the men as presenting aspeedy
solution of the West Virginia problem
and means OF making the tie-up gen
eral. The issuanccof long resolutions
instead was In the nature of boom
erang.
This morning will witness one of the
most interesting and what some conf
IDENTIFY predict will be the last mass
meeting of the present strike. All
efforts have been concentrated on De-
Armit's mines and labor officials are to
rally the men from all over the coun-
try. Eugene V. Debs and President
Ratchford, of the United Mine Work
ers, will be among the chief speakers,
while there will be host of lesser Of
aicials and organizers. The demonstra-
ton is planned as peaceful one, and
with the idea Of making one last effort
to bring out the working miners by
the strongest kind of moral suasion
All sorts of rumors are in circulation
concerning this meeting. One is that
force will be used should moral suasion
fail to bring the DeArmit miners out
In support of this it is reported that AT
least 500 miners are at Turtle creek
now and small parties are constantly
arriving to augment the crowd Tho
men carry clubs and have provisions
for a two or three days outing
STRIKERS MARCHING ON ROANOKE
MErAMoRA, ILL.,, July 29.-TwentN
deputy sheritfs have been sworn in tt
90 Immediately to Roanoke, where al
invasion of coal miners is expected
from Minonk, Streator, kangley We
mona, Toluea and Rgtiand, with tn
purpose OF forclnt tne miners 10 JON
the strike A telegram from Minonl
says 800 men have left there and VIII
meet others at Benson, the entire fore
to number 500 or 1000. They threaten
to stay at Roanoke until every mine
is out, The marching miners carr,
provisions sufficient for several days
-------------
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 30. Oak HI
in the vicinity of Turtle Creek, Plul
r,aaIy aud SANDY Crock of De Armi