The morning news., 1897-07-28
COAL OPERATORS IN A CLASH.
COL. w. r. REND BOLTS THE UNI
FORMITY MEETING.

NhSS-A ne RANer operators HO}d n
Separate Meeting and Decide to
Take No Part in the Conferences.
The Conference 20 Take Up the
Proposed New Uniformity Agree
ment For Discussion To-day.
Pittsburg, Pa, July 27.-Eighty-uine coal
companies mines located la the Pittsburg
district were represented at the coal op-
orators uniformity meeting here to-day.
The operators who ship by river and those
owning mines in the Westmoreland field
were not present The river operators
held meeting at the coal exchange this
afternoon and decided to take no part in
the uniformity movement. No attention
was paid to the call by the Westmoreland
people.
Very little was accomplished at the two
sessions to-day. The old uniformity agree
ment with the new clause inserted were
reported on by a committee and the meet
Ing tomorrow will tax up the agreement
by clauses for discussion. Where changes
in the condition since 1896 warrant differ
ent provisions, committees will be ap-
pointed to draw up clauses that will cover
the points at issue.
The only sensational incident of to-day's
session occurred when Col w r. Rend
presented a minority report on the unifor-
nifty agreement denOuncing the procedure
OF the meeting in severe terms and boiling
the conference.
w. b. Gray called the meeting to order
at 1l:S0 o'clock, by nominating Alex
Dempster for chairman. Col w. p
Rend named George W. Schlendberg but
he declined to serve, and MIR. Dempster
was chosen to preside
Gen. John Dole was named vice presi-
dent, and made a short address, saying
the board was here as citizens, and had
no personal interest In the coal business
The members hope by Cancellation and
mediation to bring about a settlement
between the contendlng factions.
state lines have nothing to do with
the question" he said you have the
power here TO settle this controversy. As
Pittsburg goes, so will go the other
states"
After electlng Marshal H. Reno secre-
tary of the meeting, a committee was ap-
pointed to take up the proposed uniform
ity agreement, revise IL to suit the change
in the condition since it's first formulation
and report to.the conference at O'clock
The committee consists of w. b. De
Armit, George w. Schlendberg, Thomas
E. Young, d. s. Black, w. p. Rend, James
Armstrong, A. B. Andrews and r. M. Os-
borne.
A recess was taken until o'clock.
At o'clock the committee asked for an
other hour, and the meeting took second
recess until O'Clock, when the committee
reported the old uniformity agreement
with the new clauses and preamble pre-.
pared by the visiting arbitrators. The
report was read and Capt Strltler moved
that 1t be received and the committee dis
charged.
Col. Rend. demanded recognition for the
hearing of a minority report He prefaced
the report with a few remarks on what
he termed the bunco intention of the meet
ing. Col. Rend said he had been mlsled
by Gen. Little as to the purpose of this
meeting. He understood that II had been
called with view of Fastening a settle
ment of the strike and was assured Of
that at a conference with the general
on Monday night When he got to the
meeting. he learned that the strike was
not to be taken into consideration or dis
cussed In connection with uniformity.
Col. Rend took the minority report with
him. and Chairman Dempster decided that
as Col Rend had left the meeting and
taken the report with him, II was not part
of the record Of the session and could not
be acted upon.
w. p. DeArmitt said he wanted It dis
tinctly understood that the call to adopt
uniformity did not have anything to do
with the strike, as he did not propose TO
arbitrate anything while under fire, nor
admit that the operators we're towards.
DIR. Anderson advised that the report OF
the committee be taken up ad seriatim
An effort was made to do this, but the
operators did not seem 20 grasp the text
of the agreement, so J. b. Sererbe moved
that copies OF the agreement be printed
over night, and a copy be placed In the
hands of each operator by the morning
This was carried unanimously.
The preamble to the resolutions recites
the earnest desire Of the coal operators
OF Western Pennsylvania to devise honor
able methods to bring the strike to ter
mination, deplores the poverty and misery
OF the vast army OF miners and their fam
iies, and claims that the public has been
misled by crafty and false statements az
TO the causes responsible for the present
and past turmoil. The resolutions follow:
Resolved That we favor the speedy
adjustment OF this strike. and all ques-
tions and controversies connected there
with, by conciliation employed In a jolnt
conference OF miners and their employers,
and, that failing. by an adjudication by
tribunal OF arbitrators composed OF
three United States judges or three
other gentlemen OF national repute,
and IN whom the entire country can re-
pose confidence.
Resolved, That we favor the prlneipie
and practice of uniformity Ia It's true
and honest sense. but we are unalterablv
opposed TO II In the false and perverted
sense IN which II has been used TO cloak
sham schemes and transparent frauds.
Resolved, That we favor true and hon.
est weights and measures cash payments
and all other Just and equitable methods
In the prosecution OF the coal business.
fResolved. That we denounce as a foul
falsehood ana garing outrage the
charges and inslnuations so often publicly
made, that general dishonesty has been
practiced In weights ana measures In the
miping industry Of Western Pennsylvania.
Resolved. That the efforts 10 fasten on
the public mind these slanderous ana
atrocious charges are moral crime and
that We denounce the guilty author Of this
accusation as a moral criminal violating
Gods holy commandment: Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy noighbor.'
Resolved, That we are ready and willing
70 advance the wages OF the miners. but
find ourselves unable 10 DO this 10 the
fun extent demanded by them. viz, % per
cent, above the prices that we paid prior
10 the strike and now being paid BY ono
Of the largest coal companies On Western
Pennsylvania, and which company pre-
SCENTS the chief obstacle 20 the settlement
OF the present conflict"
After the resolution had been read the
chairman asked 20 have some portions