The San Francisco call., 1897-08-24
SX7Y-KlKE CENTS OR MO COAL.
Miners Refuse to Meet the Operators
Half Way Tending Settlement
by arbitration

PITTSBURG, Pa, Aug. 23.-The coal
operators and miners held conference
to-day which was not encouraging to
those who wish to end the strike. The
operators gave way right along, hoping 10
induce the miners representatives to
agree to some kind of settlement
For every point the operators gave UP in
the interest of peace the miners advanced
their own claims. Another meeting will
be held tomorrow, but unless the miners
show a more conciliatory spirit the idle
mines will be started with non-union
men, with all the consequences such a
proceeding implies.
Each side will agree to arbitration pro-
viding its own terms are accepted. Early
in the day he operators learned that the
miners insisted, in case of arbitration
that the miners get 69 cents ton pending
the decision OF the ar rbitrators. The oper-
ators made the following proposition:
I'VE will agree to arbitrate the question
of wages, and pending decision we will
pay to miners 621S cents ton, thus split
ting the difference between 81 and 50
cents. The arbtrators are 10 render their
decision within thirty days. AS ac-
cording to custom two weeks wages
are withheld from miners, there will
be no payday for thirty days On pay
rendered their decision, we will pay m in
ers for their work any additional wages
the arbitrators may award to them up to
so cents. Shonld the arbitrators award
less than 6lH cents, we agree not to de-
duct the amount from the miners wages"
This proposition was rejected by the
miners.
During the afternoon Colonel w. P
Rend and President Ratchford got into
al in ha
had lett the conference because Ratchford
would not agree 10 arbitration unless all
the competitive coalfields were repre-
sented and the miners were allowed,
pending arbitration, a 69-cent rate.
After Rend left the operators tried to
convince Ratchford thai the Indiana and
Illinois mine-owners would consent to in
terstate conference. At last Dolan made a
proposition. The miners epresentatves,
he said, wanted an in ate conference, If
possible. Ii the Indiana and Illinois
operators refused TO come in, then the
miners officials would consent to discuss
The question of settlement with the Pitts
burg operators. The miners would not
consent 10 bitration unless the operators
would agree to pay 69-cent ra te pending
decision. When the m iners' officials went
to supper they lett the operators to confer
together.
These were so hopeful that the miners
would consent to waive their Intention
Tor an interstate agreement that they ap-
pointed com mittee to confer with them
after supper. A committee OF operators
and miners talked together until 1920
P. NJ. and adjourned until 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning.
Members of the operators committee
said that all idea of an interstate confer
ence had been abandoned. but Ratchford
and DOlan said this was not true and
they still hoped TO have conference of
the four States interested.
At midnight the operators committee
issued the following statement: 'At a
Joint meeting of the committees various
propositions were submitted as a basis for
arbitration. The point at issue is the rate
which shall be paid pending decision by
the arbitrators. No agreement being ar
rived at and the conference desiring time
to consider the proposals made the con-
ference adjourned until to- morrow"