The Red Cloud chief., 1897-09-24
THE STRIKES ENDED.
$1,000 MEN RETURN TO
THE SHAFTS.
President Ratchford Declares the Result
u Great Victory for Trades Unions
West virginia aud Illinois Strike VIII
Not End at present.

wAsHiNGroS, Sept EN-. d. Ratch-
| ford, president of the United Mine
Workers Of America, who Is attending
o special meeting OF the officers OF the
National Federation OF Labor, gave
out the following statement to-day:
To-day will see about 5000 miners
resume work in the bituminous coal
fields of the central states. The strike
generally ends to-day. This Is the
middle OF the twelfth week OF its
duration. 1t was brought to a close
at our convention held ut Columbus,
Ohio, on the sth TO the 18th of the
present month, the ten days time be-
ing given to allow miners and opera
tors TO come together in Illinois and
West Virginia to meet the prices fixed
-65 cents n ton IN Tittsburg,
e cents in Ohio and Indiana
the same to continue till the end
II December. The mining situation
Is not likely t o become disturbed again
until the beginning OF next year. at
which time we hope TO tie able to set
Tie wage differences amicably and
without the necessity of IA strike. 1t
is we'll understood that the fight will
continue from the present time in all
fields and against all operators who
refuse 10 meet the rates. The great
est trouble will be found in West Nir-
-inis and a portion of Illinois. | am
still hopeful, however, that the pro-
duccrs in those fields will conform to
the change and put their mines in ope-
ration. Failing TO do this we will
fight them as we have done until the
beginning of next year, at which
time, it Is said, their present contracts
will expire.
VICTORY FOR TRADES UNIONS.
II am well satisfied with the agree
ment reached, and feel that it is the
greatest victory gained by trades I'M
.ons for years. OF course the victory
is not altogether n OF the miners.
While they have done the striking,
trades unions aud organized bodies
have supplied the necessar.es without
which the miners could not possibly
succeed. 1t is a victory for organized
labor, and not for any particular trade,
and we want our friends who have
helped us to feel that IL is their vic
tory as well as ours. l feel very
grateful for the assistance given us by
the American Federation of Labor
and the kindly disposition shown us
at all times by Mr.. Gompers and the
members OF his executive committee
Asked as TO the situation in West
Virginia and Illinois, Ratchford said:
my advices from West Virginia are
TO the effect that our miners are stand
Ing firm, are well pleased with the
agreement reached and cvince n de.
termination to fight their battle to the
end. Our purpose is to bring the
miners and operators Of that state to-
gether In a joint convention, hat a
uniform mining price may be fixed
and paid for the same vein Of coal, and
q fair relative price for other veins
within the state. AS to Illinois, a con-
v~eution Of the Illinois miners is being
held now. / have not had any ad-
vices from there, but can safely pre-
dict what they will do. They will
continue the struggle until fair prices
are established. The greatest diff
Guilty in the way of advancing the ILL
nois district, is the fact that contracts
were taken last spring, based upon a
low mining rate, as they were in Pitts
burg and elsewhere. But this is a
matter that we cannot be responsible
Cor: is q matter of business to the OPP
orator himself. No man has a right
10 sell another mans labor one year
In advance without consulting the
laborer.
A SURE WAY TO STOP STRIKES.
I'VE believe that there is hut one
sure way to keep Town strikes and
disputes, which are no advantage to
either side, and hat is that the miners
and operators interested from the
various states to meet annually, mu-
tually fix prices for each district that
are fair and just, and each party to
the agreement observe it faithfully
until n subsequent agreement takes
It's place. During the eight years
that this system was in vogue, strikes
and distua bences of a general charac-
ter were unknown. and the causes
which give rise TO them IAN again be
removed as soon ms the operators in.
terested will see their interests in
this light"
ST. LorIs, Mo, Sept "o-Pursuant
TO an agreement reached AT the mass
meeting Of miners in Belleville, ILL.,,
Sunday, work was resumed in a nun.
Der Of additional mines in the Belle
vile district to-day. This agreement
was that all should go to work who
could get the scale Of 37}g cents a ton.
mine run. The operators who have
not yet agreed TO pay the scale are
Reinecke, Brandenburger, Donk
Brothers, Crown Coal company, Scott
Coal company, Wilderman, ST. Clair
and the Consolidated Coal companies.
Choyiuski and Goddard.
SAN Francisco, Sept. 22.-Joe
Choynski and Joe Goddard have been
matched "a meet in this city in Novem,
Der before the National club.