Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-25


Pittsburg. Pa. August 24.-The final
effort to arrange a plan for ending the
big coal strike has proved failure
and the strike goes on.
At noon a conference between
committee Of coal operators and min
ers' national and district officials
closed and the conference adjourned
without date. The miners represen-
tatives did not recede from their orig
inal proposition to settle the strike by
arbitration and start the mines at the
69-cent rate.
The operators offered to divide the
difference between "a and So cent
rates. making the price at which the
mines should start 6112 cents per ton,
but this was rejected. Then addition
al propositions were made. One was
TO start the mines without fixing 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 said they had been fooled too
often to trust the operators again.
They declined to work for a month,
giving the operators the output that
length of time without knowing what
wages would be paid
A proposition was then made to op-
crate the mines for ten days without
fixing the price. and allow a board OF
arbitration to fix the price for that
kme.
President Ratchford insisted that
Rothing but the 69-cent rate could be
S6ssiblv. accepted -Tbs>n~Nyre equally
, determined. and every argument Of
the mine owners was met by the min
ers' leaders.
Neither side would concede 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 PROPOSE
lion remained unchanged. Besides our
proposition to arbitrate. we made them
1 second one along the lines Of bring
ng about a general conference Of min
srs and operators Of all mining States.
They refused TO lend their efforts. in
This direction, ana the strike will be
continued We have no other plans
for the future"
Immediately after the close Of the
morning conference J. b. Zerbe called
a meeting Of operators Cor . o'clock
this afternoon TO discuss the situation
and outline a place for future action.
From the tone Of the remarks Of some
OF the operators they favor the plan
decided upon az the Cleveland confer
ence TO make a fight and start the
mines with the old men if they can be
induced TO dig at 81 cents or TO import
mfn TO take their places. There are
otbers. however. who say they viii not
aba in carrying out this plan and favor
acomplete surrender The outlook af-
Rer the adjournment Of the conference
seemed 10 be encouraging for the min
ers. There is no question as TO the
isnxiarv of the operators to start their
mines aand nearly every coal company
in the Pitttsburg district was repre-
sented at the Mononglhela House dur
1 Ing the conference.
The ouerators' conference was in
-sc-et session for several hours, and
v,be7 the doors were opened their
mess agent announced that the mines
would certainly be started with the old
5igrers. if possible. with imported men.
~ the old men refuse 10 work.
A committee was appointed. com
-ose3 of representatives Of every firm
The district 20 map out the mode
~ procedure for the resumption. This
C,-,r,ir+ae will meet tomorrow morn /
5rg for this purpose. The statement (
concerning the joint conference issued F.
by the operators press committee to- I
night follows; -...-. - 49,.
@,nrrfOrs ana LAc NA-4NlttLr VA Ntt- t--.--
Crs failed TO agree and adjourned .
SDalIv. The miners were represented /
Nv their national and district officers. /
0-,srator ]. B. Zerbe was chosen chair /
IAN of the conference. and W. {. /
rosrce. of the miners. secretary. Mr.. T
ze~be stated that ii was desired 10 /
br;ng about a settlement of the strike .
ar Ratchford stated that he and his /
associates were empowered To- enter /
foin discuss ard decide upon any prop
csi+ions the operators might submit.
chairman Zerbe asked that the ques-
NJ OF Interstate agreement be Walv- ]
- and this was asseated 70. {
.s1Tr Ratchford then stated the terms
Don which the miners would return
4. work saving that they would go 10
--orlr at once on the 69-cent rate be-
lng paid until such time as a board
- arbitrators could make an award Of
NJ would be a fair PAGE rate, any
paid to the mi1ers above the