The Indianapolis journal., 1897-09-08
VIII Be Permitted to Use Their Dis
cretion in Settling or PrOIOng-
ing the Great Strike.
VIEWS OF Mr.. RATCHFoHr
THINKS 1T WOULD BE WISDOM 10
DISCONTINUE THE FIGHT
And Advises Delegates to Accept the
Recommendation of the National
OMcers-Exciting Riot.

PITTSBURG, Sept. 7.-The convention of
mine workers to-day to select delegates to
the Columbus convention tomorrow was
one of the largest ever held and probably
has not been before equaled in excitement
and Importance. The future of thousands
of miners, their wives and children, de-
pended on the action of the gathering. AL
though the rank and file of the delegates
seemed imbued with the idea that the OPP
orators were ready to throw up their hands
and pay the 69-cent rate demanded by the
strikers, President Patrick Dolan by ex-
cellent diplomacy. tact and perseverance,
kept them so well within bounds that the
delegates from this district will go to CO.
lumbuS with instructions to use their dis
cretion in the settlement of the difficulty
President Dolan was well aware of the fact
that if the delegates went to the Columbus
convention instructed to hold out for the
69-cent rate, another struggle more bitter
than ever, with hunger and starvation for
many, was imminent. To him, almost alone.
belongs the credit of having the delegates
go unhampered by resolutions and free to
act as they think best for the good of the
miners of the Pittsburg district Dolan's
idea was to have the delegates go to CO.
lumbus untrammeed, where they could
consult with delegates from other States
and with the national officials. He inti-
mated that there would be many questions
and facts to be considered that have as
yet not appeared on the surface.
From another source it has been learned
that Dolan VIII make big fight to-mor-
row on behalf Of the mining industry of
western Pennsylvania. 1t is stated that at
the conference with the operators at Co
lumbus last week he was apprised of GER
tain facts which led him to believe that not
only the operators, but the miners, of this
district have been Disseminated against
and fight Will be made for justice and fair
ness. Whether or not the entire battle will
be fought out is an open question, but it
is known that the basis for a permanent
settlement in the Pittsburg district next
December will be well defined and thor
oughly understood Tomorrow If the issues
too finely drawn, it is intimated that
there will be secession from the national
organization by the tittsburg district. BY
many this move seems probable Dolan has
the sympathy and support of the majority
of the operators here and If he succeeds in
rallying the miners of other States to his
cause as well as he has succeeded at home
he will have won a great battle.
Dolan will use every endeavor TO bring
the convention lIllO lire LOT the acceptance
of the compromise rate and he knows he has
a task confronting him. Many delegates
from other States, notably Illinois and
Ohio, will go into the convention to-mors
row with a determination to hang out for
the 69-cent rate in spite of the wish Of the
national officers. Dolan knows this, and
in order to have his own district with him
he succeeded in choking eff a resolution
embodying the rate question by one of the
most eloquent speeches ever heard in the
city hall and gained the victory he fought
for. The following delegates at large were
elected: Thomas Kenny, Thomas Chatway
Paul Trimmer, Jacob Afolder, Frank Nc
Kenna. District delegates were elected as
follows: Patrick Dolan, Henry Walker
William Doods, j. w. Hindmarsh, VIM.
Miller, Charles Laird, Joseph Rae, William
George, VIM Warner John O'Neal, Came
ron Miller, John Drlscoll Peter Sample and
d. c. Blue. The delegates left tonight over
the Panhandle for Columbus in the best
frame of mind.
President Ratchford's Views.
MASSILLON, o., Sept. 7.--President
Ratchford, of the miners organization,
started for Columbus tonight to attend
the mass convention tomorrow He said
he believed the miners would accept the
60-cent rate and return to work. The
miners will meet the proposition like men,"
he said, "and will be guided by their judg-
ment rather than their desires Our execu-
tive council was unanimous in its recom-
mendations. each member. like myself,
feeling that it was his duty to make known
the actual condition and recommend ac-
cording to his judgment. With this done,
the case rests in the hands. of the miners,
and if they see fit TO continue the strike
the responsibility of their failure will be
their and not their officials. / do not,
however, anticipate any such continuance.
The miners will accept and resume wor}i
in few days. 1t was plainly apparent 10
u.s." Mr.. RatchfOrd continued. that the
operators would never pay 60 cents, the
price demanded. 1t would be cheaper for
them to cancel all contracts and keep their
mines closed until the first of next year.
Now, my advice to my fellow miners is to
accept the recommendation of their Off
GERS. If they reject il, they will have to
fight it out to the end, and fear the re-
suit The advance demanded by the miners
organization is IL cents q ton. The pro-
posed compromise gives us IL cents a ton,
or cents less than our demand The gain
to the Ohio miners alone, by multiplying
the increase by the number of tons pro-
duced annually, would amount to 81 10000.
Add 10 this propOrtiOnate advance TO all
branches Of labor around the mines and
4 will increase the amount 70 nearly
81 600 600 10 be divided between %. 900 miners
and mine laborers In this State alone.
Carry the line of reasoning TO the other
gains to the miners of those States will
exceed 80 900 900, or in the neighbor hood OF
$75 or $50 per man. ON Jan. l another in
crease, in my Judgment. VIII take place,
though / am unable 10 say what the
amount may be.