Evening journal., 1897-08-30
DOLAN'S STATEMENT
Mine Workers Official Answers
..--- 1.-THE Coal Producers.
SAYS THEY BROKE THEIR PROMISE
The Document Is In Reply to ACCUSE
tions Made by the Operators Against
National President Ratchford-Ac-
cused of Misrepresentation.


Pittsburg. Aug. 3O.-Before going tc
the st. Louis convention Patrick Do
Ian, district president of the United
Mine Workers, expressed himself very
freely concerning the statement Of the
press committee of the coal operators OF
Saturday The statement charges M.
D. Ratchford, the national president,
with making certain assertions that are
untrue. 1t gives the details of the Of
fers made by the operators and shifts
the burden OF the blame to Ratchford.
1T is unfair to the miners and theiI
officials to have such statements go 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 that conference.
When Ratchford had given his ultima
tum and the operators were excited, and
some Of them very much excited, took
the floor. l told them that l looked into
the faces of many operators who had
repeatedly told me that if the miners
officials succeeded in bringing about a
suspension in certain mines that were
paying a lower rate they would agree
not only to pay 50 cents, but 81 a ton.
Il told them that we had brought
about the suspension they asked for,
and they knew 1 referred to the New
York and Cleveland Gas Coal compa-
ny's mines. 1t seemed absurd to them
to accept our proposition to go to work
at the 60 cent rate pending arbitration.
explained to them that we had
brought about a suspension in the mines
that seemed to bother them so much
and wanted them to keep their prom
ises.
"Of course it is well known that they
would not listen to our proposition.
then appealed to them to use their ef-
forts to bring about a conference OF
operators and miners in all the states
involved. / told them that every one
present should make an honest effort to
bring about such a conference and as
sured them that the miners officials
would do all in their power to bring the
parties interested together.
IF after every other effort had beer
exhausted to bring about such con-
ference had failed. 1 told them that
would be willing to cut loose and ac'
independently for the Pittsburg district
and had the support of the local or
ganization. Now, If this was not fair
! would like to know of an argument
against it.
Refused to Keep Their Word.
They refused to be as good as theii
word on the first proposition and OF
the second did not even exhibit de
sire to bring about conference of tn
various states as I suggested. We ar
in favor of bringing the question to al
honorable and fair settlement and on
Just basis. This effort to put the odiur
on the miners is as unfair as it is un
Just, and the public should know It,"
1t has been decided to start a cam
paign among the miners of the Wheelin
division of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road The miners formerly employed d
the Anderson. Hackett, Germania, Not
tingham, Snowden, Gastonville an
First Pool mines viii hold a mass meet
ing at Finleyville Wednesday morning
II has been learned that the CASTOR
Vile miners who We're served by a.
official of the Pittsburg and Chicago Ga
Coal company with notices to vacat
their houses will resist the eviction
Nearly all Of them forfeited wages ag
gregating $4,000 when they went out o
strike under conditions imposed upo
them by the ironclad contracts they ha
signed
They claim the money Is due them
and they intend to remain in the house
until their accounts are squared. TIL
meeting Wednesday Is to be addresse
by NJ. b. Garrick, Cameron Miller an
others.