The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-08-27
COAL OPERATORS
Will Start With Imported Diggers if the
Old Men Refuse to Work.
The Mine Owners Issue a Statement Con-
corning the Failure of the Joint Confer
ence to Effect Settlement of the
Strike-Trades Union Conference.


Strilxe-Trades Union Conference.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Aug. 25.-The oper-
atOrs' conference was in secret session
for several hours and when the doors
were opened their press agent an
nounced that the mines would certain
ly be started with the old diggers if
possible, with imported men if the old
men refused to work. A committee
was appointed composed of representa-
tlves of every firm in the district to
map out the mode of procedure for the
resumption. This committee will meet
Wednesday for this purpose
The statement concerning the. Joint
conference issued by the operators
press committee Tuesday night follows:
The conference committees of the
| coal operators and the officials of the
miners failed to agree and adjourned
finally. The miners were represented
by their national and district officers.
Operator j. b. Zerbe was chosen chair
man of the conference, and w. C.
Pearce, of the miners, secretary. Mr.
Zerbe stated that it was desired to
bring about settlement of the strike.
Mr.. RatchfOrd stated that he and his
associates were empowered to enter
tain, discuss and decide upon any pro-
positions the operators might submit
Chairman Zerbe asked that the Ques-
ton of interstate agreement be waived,
and this was assented to.
Mr.. Ratchford then stated the terms
upon which the miners would return
to work, saying that they would 90 to
work at once on the SO cent rate being
paid until such time as a board of ar
DltratOrS could make an award of what
would be 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.
! The operators stated their reasons why
this could not be accepted, and in lieu
thereof, submitted four propositions
for arbitration, one that the men
should return to work, leaving to arbi-
traitors what rate shall be paid; one.
leaving the question of rate open, until
| after award has been made; one
that the arbitrators decide within 10 or
20 days, the miners remaining idle, and
one that the arbitrators have 80 DAYS
in which to decide, the miners remain
ing idle.
All these were peremptorily rejected
by the miners representatives, and the
conference adjourned.
The operators feel that in submitting
these various propositions for a settle
ment by Cancellation or arbitration
they have exhausted every effort in
| trying to bring about a settlement
with the officials of the miners. The
| proposition of Mr.. Ratchford could not
be accepted because it means an ad-
vance of 2715 per cent in wage cost and
would entail irreparabIe losses upon
the producers. The price at which
coal contracts have been taken
for this year were enforced by
the conditions which ruled the market
in open competition from other pro-
ducing fields. 1t should be remembered
that operators are confronted constant
! ly with two fOrces-the pressure of
buyers to get the lowest price, which is
determined by remorSeless competi-
ton, and by the miners, who demand
the highest wage rate at all times. In
addition to these two factors is the cost
of transportation to the markets
In response to the call for meeting
of leaders of the several trades unions
of Allegheny county, issued by the dis
trict miners officials, very representa-
tive gathering delegated from about
fifty unions) assembled in X. of L. hall
Tuesday night to take action on the
big strike
President Ratchford and the district
officials explained in detail the conduct
of the strike and the reasons for what
action has been taken. The meeting
discussed the subject thoroughly and
at midnight adjourned after having
heartily endorsed the action of the Off
Gals and unanimously adopted resolu-
tions condemning the court and sher-
if for protecting armed assassins,
issuing injunctions by the court at the
will of favored corporations and call
ing on the workingmen of the county
! to hold themselves in readiness for a
general suspension of all work in mills
and factories and workshops if the
sheriff's and courts persist in defying
the constitutional rights of a free peO-
pie.