The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-28

Pittsburg, Pa, July 27-The long
looked-for conference of the Pittsburg
coal operators, which the joint arbitration
commission fully expects to adopt plan
which will settle the big miners strike,
was called for II O'Clock this morning in
the courthouse. The meeting was an
open one
TRUE UNIFORMITY"
AS yet the true uniformity plan,
which is being urged by the arbitration
commission is the only one presented for
action by the conference.
While the operators generally are apa-
thetic and have little faith in the success
full contamination of the commissions
wish, they are anxious to discuss and
adopt some plan which will put the min
ers to work True uniformity calls for
cash payments for every 1000 pounds %
coal mined, every two weeks. adjustment
of company stores and multiform screen.
The operators in the thin vein coal say
the Il cents difference in favor of the
thick vein coal is too much. and some go
as far as TO say it should be cut one
fought by the thick vein operators and
NAV be the first rock on which the con-
ference will split, as all the other points
mentioned have been granted in former
There are JOG railroad mines in the
Pittsburg district and these are operated
by SO firms. Thirteen of these are sa.a
to mine and control almost 80 per cent
of the coal mined in the district.
DEMPSTER PRESIDES.
W.P. Murray called the meeting to or
der at 1870 a. m. by nominating Alex
Dempster for chairman. Mr.. Dempster
was chosen TO preside
General John Little was chosen vice
president He made a short address,
saying the board was here as citizens and
had no personal interest in the coal bust
ness: They hoped by coneiliation and
mediation to bring about settlement
between the contending factions. State
lines had nothing to do with the ques-
ton. The operators had the power to-
settle this controversy. As Pittsburg
goes, so will go the other states.
After electing Marshall H. Reno secre-
tary, committee was appointed TO take
up the proposed uniformity agreement,
revise it to suit the changed conditions
since its first formulation and report to
the conference at o'clock.
At 1 clock the committee asked for
another hour and the meeting took re-
cess until o'clock, when the committee
reported the old uniformity agreement
and the new clauses and preamble pre-
pared by the visiting arbitrator.
The report was read and Captain S-eyt-
tier moved that it be received and the
committee discharged
A MINORITY REPORT
Colonel Rend demanded recognition for
the hearing of a minority report. He pre-
faced the report with a few remarks on
what he terms the contention of the
meeting. Cosonel Rend said he had been
misled by General Little as to the pur
pose of the meeting. He understood that
il had been called with a view of hasten
ing a settlement of the strike. and was
assured of that at a conference with the
general on Monday night. When he got
to the meeting he learned that the strike
was not to be taken into considerati ton
or discussed in Connection with uniformity.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
The resolutions follow:
Resolved That we favor the speedy
adjustment of this strike, and all ques-
tons and controversies connected there
with by Cancellation employed in a joint
conference of miners and their employers
and failing by an ADJUDICATION, tr.ounal
of arbitrator composed of three United
States judges or three other gentlemen
OF national repute and in whom the en-
tire country can repose confidence
Resolved, That We favor the principle
and practice of uniformity in its true and
honest sense, but We are unaltera>5ly OPP
posed TO it in the false and perverted
sense in which it is to be used to cloak
sham schemes and transparent frauds.
Resolved, That we favor true and hon
est weights and measures. cash payments
and all other just and equitable methods
Resolved. That we denounce as a foul
falsehood and glazing outrage the
charges and insinuations, so often pub
licly made that general dishonesty has
been practiced in weights and measures
in the mining industry Of western Penn
sylvania.
Resolved, That the effort to fasten on
the public mind these slanderous and
atrOcious charges. a moral crime, and
that we denOunce the guilty author of
TINS accusation as moral criminal. vio-
Ir1r-
shalt nos bear false witness against thy
neighbor.
Resolved. That we are willing and
ready to advance the wages of the miners
but find ourselves unable to 60 his 10 the
fun extent demanded by them-25 per
cent above the prices that were paid
prior 10 the strike and now being paid by
one of the largest coal companies in !
western Pennsylvania. and which com
pany presents the chief obs acae 10 the
settlement of the present conflict"
After the resolutions had been read the
chairman asked to have some portions
eliminated, but the colonel refused en-
pna.ically to allow single word to be I
dropped. and after a short contention
withdrew from the conference.
The meeting then adjourned until 10
o clock tomorrow morning. Tonight Cen ]
eral Little and others called on Colonel
Rend at his hotel and asked that he re- /
consider MS acton and enter the confer /
ence again to insure success OF the m eet- 7
ing. He replied that he would cordially
conference agreed upon if 80 per cent of I
the district operators would give their /
consent TO the same. He believes it i'm !
possible to secure 81 per cent for uniform
ity. as Mr.. De Armitt demands. and IS
wiling 10 do as 50 per cent of the oper l.
ators wish.
IN SECRET CONFERENCE.
Tonight, General Little and Judge /
Owens are in secret conference ut the I
Duauesne club. with Secretary William /
Warner and Organizer Cameron Miller. /
Nothing definite can be learned as TO the I
subject under discussion. but it is be- I
lieved that it has reference to having 4
the miners represented at the confer /
ence tomorrow. as there seems TO be con- |
siderable dissatisfaction with Mr.. De Ar !
mitt's announcement today that the con-
ference has no connection with the strike
and IS merely for the purpose of estab-
fishing uniformity. Many of the oper
ators think with Colonel Rend that the
meeting should devise some means to set
tie the strike as well as to provide for
uniformity. Reports to the miners Of
icials from throughout the district show
that everything is quiet. All plans are