The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-25
MINERS REMAIN OBDURATE.
THE CONFERENCE FAILS AND THE
STRIKE Is CONTINUED.

secret Meeting to leGin Opera
tiOns-OId Men VIII BE Given IA
Chance to Return If They Will.
Operators Claim TO he Hampcred
by "RcmorscIess Competition"
They Claim Inability to Pay the
Rate Denlandcd-RatchfOrd Con-
dcmncsl-DoIan Speaks.
Pittsburg, Aug 24.-The final effort to
arrange a plan for ending the big coal
strike has proved a failure and the strike
goes on. At noon the conference between
committee of coal operators and the
miners national and district officials clos
ed, and the conference adjourned without
date. The miners representatives did not
recede from their original proposition to
settle the strike by arbitration and start
the mines at the 50 cents rate. The oper-
ators offered to divide the difference be-
tween 81 and 50 rates, making the price
81, which was rejected.
Then additional propositions were made.
One was to start the mines without fix
ing any price for thirty days, and then
to pay the rate agreed upon by the board
of arbitration. This was also refused by
the miners. They claimed they had been
fooled too often to trust the operators
again. They declined to work for a
! month, giving the operators the output
for that length of time, without know
ing what wages would be paid. A propo-
sition was then made to operate the
| mines for ten days without fixing the
price, and allow board of arbitration
to fix the price for that time. President
| Ratchford insisted that nothing but the
| 69-cent rate could be possibly accepted.
The operators were firm, but the miners
were equally determined and every argu-
ment of the mine owners was met by the
miners leaders. Neither side would con-
cede another point and it was decided to
end the conference. President Ratchford
had but little to say on the matter, but
gave out the following statement:
I'VE have disagreed. Our proposition re-
mained unchanged. Besides our PROPOSE
ton to arbitrate we made them second
| one, along the lines of bringing about a
| general conference of miners and opera
! tors of all the mining states. They refus-
! cd to lend their efforts in that direction,
and the strike will be continued. We have
| no other plans for the future"
Immediately after the close of the min
! ing conference, J. B. Zerbe called a meet
! ing of operators for 2 o'clock this afternoon
| to discuss the situation and outline plan
4 for the future action. The operators were
! in secret session for several hours and
| when the doors were opened their press
| agent announced that the mines would
| certainly be started with the old dggers,
| if possible, with imported men if the old
men refuse to work. A committee was ap-
pointed. composed of representatives, of
every firm in the district to map out the
mode of procedure for the resumption. This
! committee vii. meet tomorrow morning
| for this purpose.
The operators press committee issued
statement ton ght. 1t detailed the several
| propositions made both by the operators
and miners officials which have already
! been described.
In regard to proposition Of Mr. Ratch-
| ford, il says this could not be accepted,
because IL means an advance of 27la per
cent. in wage cost and would entail ire
parable losses upon the producer. Atten-
| tion is called to the fact that the operat-
ors are confronted constantly with two
forces, the pressure Of buyers to get the
lowest price, which is determined by a
! remorseless competition, and by the min
ers, who demand the highest wage rate at
all times. The strikers are warned that
they Will De responsive Tor Whatever iiS-
asters may follow to themselves and fam
lilies The statement concludes with Sc
we're arragument of the position taken by
President Ratchford
President Patrick Dolan, after the con-
ference said he was very sorry that no
conclusion had been reached Many Of
the operators seem to think that it would
be humiliation for them 20 make conces-
sions. he asserted. The time to talk
about humiliation is passed ] am Of the
opinion that II the operators had acceded
TO our requests. in which we were GER
tainly fair they would not have stamped
themselves as towards, bar as gentlemen,
who are dcsirous Of doing what is fair
| and just. They have absolutely refused 10
meet our demands, and there Is no other
course for us 70 pursue. We must con-
tinue The strike with unabated vigor.
in accordance with this statement Sec
retary Warner mapped out an itinerary
TOR new organizers that arr 20 be put in
the hcld. Fayette City Port Royal, Char
leroi Belle Vernon. mining towns Of Mcr-
Ger county. arc included In the list 1t is
proposed 20 keep an at work and push or
ganization with undated vigor.
j. r. Zcrbe declared to-day that " the
operators should concede the 69-ccnt rate
that twelve Of the largest companies would
lose at least $4,000 This was not to be
thought OF.
THE DAY WITH THE CAMPERS.