The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-26
COULD NOT AGREE.
-- y
Operators Were Divided and Their
Organization Dissolved.
IT IS A DECIDED CHANGE OF FRONT.
Lake Shippers Arc Still Considering
Plans for Action.
HASTE is Nut NECESSARY.
The Operators Claim They VIII start
the Mines When They Arc Ready.
Within Twelve Days.
HASTE is NOT NECESSARY.


decided change of front since yester-
day. internal discussions, mixed with |
!ear on the par. of some. caused split |
IN Their forces and a change OF base. ON |
It's face the mcve looked to many like
temporary surrender to the United Nine |
Workers Of America This, however. Is
denied In tho most emphatic terms by the
most prominent lake Shippers. who say
they are gotnP to start their mines and
supply the demand from the Northwest.
ard not stand idly by and let large vol-
| ume of business so TO operators of other
| States. They publicly state that they are
willing to wait a week or ten days before
| a decided move Is tnade. They clam this
will give uher ample time to get the lake
trade.
| Some of the operators In the meeting
were frank enough TO state that the situa-
ton at the present time in all branches
OF labor is critical and that Naey have no
cesire to make any move that would cast
odmm ON the operators OF the Pittsburg
| district. 1t was under these conditions that
| the operators went into session this morn
| ing. There were many who had not syn
| ed the agreement 10 share their proper
ton of the expenses that might accrue In
| the efforts to start the mines and they
were tho icudest in the appeals to hold
aloof and await developments. 1t was
proposed that notices, printed In various
languages, embracing briefly the position
of the operators. DO circulated, and also
that final notice TO the miners be pro-
mulgated 10 the effect that the m,nes
were ready to be operated as soon as the
men expressed a desire to 81 TO work.
This proposal was barely entertained and
was voted down. showing that many of
the operators had receded from the stand
thoy had taken. A motion to discharge
all committees and adjourn sine de was
made and prevailed
In the afternoon a meeting of the lake
shippers was held The session was short
and as a result the following was issued:
"The organization composed OF all the
coal operators. which has been in session
at the Monongahiela hotel. adjourned this
morning sine die This puts the affairs
into the hands OF committee appointed
under an agreement which was entered
into at Cleveland and which has since
been ratified and strengthened by the sig
natures of a large body OF the railroad
ooal producers Of this district This com
mittee has power to act"
All efforts TO ascertain who composed
this special committee were futile. j. b.
Serb who presided Mt the meeting. was
emphatic in asserting that the OPERATORS
who had originally gone into the compact
at Cleveland 10 break the strike had not
changed their intentions. In AN interview
he said:
II wish TO say in all sincerity that the
GENERATORS who originally made the move
toward starting their MINES have not
changed Their intentions. 1t Is true that
the organization which has been in sesa on
iCT the past lew udNS has bNNAa - s'~'.AJ
abandoned. The old organization has not
been abandoned and will continue the
work on Ihe lines originally mapped out,
II Is true that there is NJ need cf being
. in a big hurry. We have plenty of time
in which to searf the mines and get cur
y share of the bus.nese. We have at least
| u NE
i Get into shape. Tbs position taken by the
officials OF the miners will be one they
" II regret. IL does not seem r!Sht mol
q fair to Ms for operators IN other States ts
u have rien a; work al lower rate an'
!, supply a r-ade that r,ghtfully belongs t'
the p.ttsburs district But rest assur2t
~ thar the mines OF many OF the operator
ID OF the Plttspulg district will run wAen w
Il. have fully Getermn ned upon our plan o
" action. Just when this resumption Is Il
take place am not prepared to say no
at uberty to state. The coal operator
r feel that they have right, justice. law AM
order on their side and are fully deter
mined to resume business when the prope
time comes, which VIII bs soon"
The Cleveland operators left for thei
homes tonight. ami it is probable that an
other meeting will be held In cleyela7'
within the next few days.
In West virginia.
"A Wheeling, W. Va. August 24.-organ
Il ,zers hogan active work in this State agail
today At Paramount another camp ma
lbeen established. and tomorrow marchin