Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-25
FAILS OF ITS PURPOSE
Conference to Settle the Pittsbure
District Coal Scale Empha.
sizes the Disagreement.
NET AND EMPLOYEES FAR APART,

Latter Practically Declare 60 Cents an I'm.
possibility and the Mine Workers Per.
emptorily Reject Anything Else-One Of
the De Armit Mines Entirely Closed, the
Men Agreeing with the Strikers -Alder-
man Sets Aside the Contract FORGETTING
Wages OF Strikers.
Pttsburg, Aug. 25-Following IL the
operators statement Of the proceedings
In the conference yesterday between
the mine workers officials and a COM
mittee OF the operators in an attempt
to reach a settlement Of the coal mine
strike in the Pittsburg district, leaving
out the preliminaries. and coming at
once to the object Of the gathering: The
first thing done was to waive the oues-
ton OF an interstate agreement. Ratch-
ford then stated the terms upon which
the miners would return to work, say
Ing that they would 60 to work at
once on the 69-cent rate being paid
until such time as a board Of arbitrator
could make an award Of what would
be a fair wage rate. any excess paid
to the miners above the award Of the
arbitrators to be deducted from the pay
OF the miners. following the award.
Operators Decline to Accept.
The operators stated their reasons
why this could not be accepted, and in
lieu thereof submitted four propositions
for arbitration-onet that the men should
return TO work. leaving to arbitrator
what rate shall be paid: one leaving
the question Of rate open until after
an award has been made; one that the
arbitrators decide within ten or twenty
days. the miners remaining idle, and
one that the arbitrator have thirty
days In which to decide, the miners re-
naming idle. All those were peremptorf-
ly rejected by the miners representa-
tives and the conference adjourned.
THE operators feel that in submitting
these various propositions for a settle
ment by Cancellation or arbitration they
have exhausted effort in trying to bring
about settlement with the officials of
the miners
Objections to the Miners Proposal.
The operators then say that Ratch-
fords proposition could not be ac-
copied because it means an advance Of
2Ii9 per cent. wage cost and would en-
tail irreparable losses upon the pro-
ducers. The 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. "Amicable
and conciliatory methods having failed
to convince or to move the leaders, the
responsibility for whatever priva ton
follows to the miners and their families
must rest upon the miners officials The
operators feel that they have exhausted
all honorable means of settlement OF a
strike which has entailed so much mis-
cry upon the miners and those de-
pendent upon them, ard which they, in
common with the public, deplore and
would gladly change on a basis that
would not be disastrous to themselves"
lmputatiOn Against RatchfOrd.
After stating that Ratchford was an
unwilling attendant at the conference
the document says: I'm view Of the
fact that Nir. Ratchford lives in Co.
lumbus. which is the home OF the lead
Ing operators Of the Hooking Valley
and the largest competitors for lake
trade the Pittsburg operators have to
meet. the position taken by the national
president of the United Mine Work.
ers' organization is striking and start
ling. This. in view of the further fact
that the operators of the Hooking VAL
ley have paid to the miners organiza-
ton Gas stated by one Of them) more
than 100000 annually for the past four
years. Mr.. Ratchford says the operators
OF the Pittsburg district have more
business than they are entitled to and
we are now arranging to take some Of
II from them Coming from their ma
tional officer and leader, this is a singu-
lar declaration for one who processes
to be anxious for the welfare of the
Pittsburg district coal diggers."
Ratchforl Declines to Talk.
Ratchford was seen after the confer
ence and said he had nothing more to
add for publication at this time. He
intimated that he was expecting a
lengthy statement from the press COM
mittee Of the operators. and IL the state
ment demanded a reply 1t would be
forthcoming. He and Secretary Pearce
left last night for Columbus. Dolan
said he was very sorry that no con-
clusion had been reached. Many of the
operators seem to think that it would
be humiliation for them to make con-
cessions." he asserted. The time to talk
about humiliation has passed. / am of
the opinion that if the operators had
acceded to our requests, which were
certainly fair, they would not have
stamped themselves as towards. but as
gentlemen who are DESTROYS Of doing
what is fair and just"