New-York tribune., 1897-08-30
PATRICK DOLAN REPLIES.
HE ANSWERS THE sTl0'EMENT OF THE
COAL OPERATORS.
HIS AC -oINT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THE
CONFERENCE-MINER IN Favor OF

HIS ACCOUNT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THE
CONFERENCE.-The IN Favor OF
FAIR AND JUST SETTLEMENT.
Pttsburg. Aug. 20.-Before going to the st.
Louis convention tonight, Patrick Dolan. dis-
trict president of the United Mine Workers ex-
pressed himself freely concerning the statement
OF the Press Committee Of the coal operators
yesterday. The statement charges NJ II. Ra'ch-
ford the National president. with making GER
tain assertions which are untrue. 1t gives the
details Of the offers made by the operators ana
shifts the burden OF the blame to Ratchford.
IT Is unfair to the miners and their officials 10
have such statements go before the pubic loi
they are misleading and in the main untrue
said Mr. Dollar lie: me tell something concern
ing what passed between us at the conference
When Ratchford had given his utimatum anu
the operators were excited. and some OF them
very much out Of humor I took the floor. told
them that looked into the faces of many oper-
ators who had repeatedly told me that II the
miners officials succeeded in bringing about n
SUSPENSION in certain mines that were paying a
lower rate they would agree not only to pay W
cents. but 81 ton.
II told them that We had brought about the
suspension asked for. and they knew referred
10 the New-York and Cleveland Gas Coal COM
pany's mines 1t seemed absurd 10 them 10 ac-
cent our propostion 10 go to work at the 6o-cent
rate pending arbitration. I explained to them
that we had brought about a suspension III '"e
mines that seemed to bother them so much anu
wanted them to keep their promises
"Of course II is well known that they Wouiu
not listen to our proposition ! then appea'eu
70 them to Use their efforts to bring apou' d
conference of operators and miners in all the
States involved. | told them that every one pres
ent should make en honest efor' |" "''e
about such n conference. and assured them '"a'
the miners officials would do all In their power
10 bring the parties Interested togetner' Ai'o'
every other effort had been exhausted 10 "'''s
about such a conference | iold theW 'iia'
vould Inc willing to cut loose and act inde-
pendentlv for the Pittsburg district and have
the support Of The local organization.
Nov. II this was not fair, would like to
know of an argument against 1t. They reiuseu
to he good as their word on the MS phri, prUrJ
sition and on the second did not even eNhIp'' p
a desire to bring about a conference OF thc
various States. as ! suggested. we are III iaNp ~ !,
Of bringing the question to an honorable ana
fair settlement and on a just basis Inns cio'l
TO nut the odium on the miners is as uniair as
it Is unjust and the public should know IT,
1t has been decided to start campa'e,i aI,iIs
the miners Of the Wheeling division or the Baili-
more and Ohio Railroad. The miners formerly
employed in the Anderson. Hackett 'erihanIa. am
N1ttngham SnOwden. Gastonville ana f,rst
Pool mines will hold a mass-meeting at rlhlev,
VILE on Wednesday morning. 1t was learned
to-day that the GastOnville miners VINO were
served hy an official ~ the Pittsburg ana Chl-
cago Gas Coal Company with notices 70 Nacate
their houses will resist the eviction Nearly an
OF them forfeited wages. aggregatinS Sou"'
when they went out on st'ike under condltons
imposed upon them by the ironclad contracts
they had signed They say that the money is
due them. and they intend 10 remain IN M Inc
houses until the accounts are squared. the
rontino an Wednesday is to he addressed by Nj.
p. Garrick. Cameron Miller and others