The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-30

PITTSBURGH. Aug. 29,-Before go
ing TO the st. Louis convention to-
night, Patrick Dolan, district president
Of the United Mine Workers, expressed
himself very freely concerning the
statement OF the press committee OF the
coal operators OF yesterday. The state
ment charges NJ. D. Ratchtord, the ma
tIonal president, with making asser-
tIons that are untrue. II gives the de-
tails of the offers made by the opera
tors and shifts the burden Of the blame
on Ratchford.
ut is unfair to the miners and their
officials to have such statements so be-
fore the public, for they are misleading
and in the main untrue" said Dolan.
LET me tell something concerning
what passed between us at the confer
ence. When Ratchford had given his
ullmatum, and the operators were ex-
cited, and some OF them very much
out OF humor, took the floor. told
them that l looked in the face Of many
operators who had repeatedly told me
that IL the miners officials succeeded
IN bringing about n suspension In GER
tain mines that were paying n lower
rate, they would agree not only to pay
slxty-nine cents, but 81 n ton. told
them that we had brought about the
suspension they asked for, and they
knew referred to the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company's mines.
II seemed absurd to them to accept our
proposition to go 10 work at the sixty
nine cent rate pending arbitration. 1
explained to them that we had brought
about suspension in the mines that
seemed to bother them so much, and
wanted them to keep their promises
"Of course, 1t is well known that they
would not listen to our proposition.
then appealed to them to use their
efforts TO bring about a conference Of
operators and miners in all the states
involved. told them that everyone
present should make an honest effort
to bring about such a conference and
assured them that the miners officials
would do all in their power TO bring the
parties interested together. IT, nfter
every effort had been exhausted to
bring about such conference had failed,
] told them that would be willing to
cut loose aud act independently for the
Pittsburgh district and have the sup
port OF the local organization. Now, II
this was not fair, would like TO know
OF an argument against II. They re-
fused to be as good as their word on
the first proposition, and on the second
did not even exhibit desire to bring
about n conference Of the various
states as / suggested. We are In favor
OF bringing the question TO an honor
able and fair settlement, and on a just
basis. This effort TO put the odium on
the miners on the arbitration question
Is as unfair as 1t Is unjust, and the
public should know It."
II has been decided to start cam
paign among the miners OF the Wheel
ing division OF the Baltimore & Ohio
railroad. The miners formerly en-
ployed in the Anderson, Hackett, Ger
mania, Nottingham, Snowden. Gast6n-
VILE and first pool mines will hold n
mass meeting at Flnleyvllle Wednes-
day morning. 1t was learned to-day
that the Gastonvllle miners, who were
served by an official OF the Pittsburgh
and Chicago Gas Coal Company with
notices to vacate their houses, will re-
sist eviction. Nearly all OF them have
forfeited wages aggregatlng $4,000 when
they went out on strike under condi-
tions imposed upon them by the iron
clad contracts they had signed. They
claim the money Is due them and they
Intend to remain in the houses until the
accounts are squared. The meeting
Wednesday Is to be addressed by VI. y.
Carrlck, Cameron Miller and others.