The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-09-10

CONVENTION
Settlement Of the Strike Delayed by
Talking Delegates.
PRESIDENT RATCHPORD HOPEFUL.
He Believes That the Miners win Ratify
the Compromise Effected by the Rep
resentatives of the Strikers
In the Pittsburg
District.

Columbus, o., Sept 1O.-The miners
convention remained in executive ses-
sion until late yesterday afternoon, ad-
journing until today without having
taken a vote on the proposed settle
ment. President Ratchford said to a
reporter last night; You may pre-
diet with every degree of certainty
that a settlement will be reached, and
that the action Of the national board
in recommending a settlement will be
endorsed. The delegates are begin
ming to see that the best thing they
can do is to accept the proposition of
the operators and return to work at
the price offered. While the convention
should have finished it's business to-
day, it was impossible to do so. Nearly
every delegate desired to say something
regarding conditions in his own local
ity, and the convention had to permit
them to have their say. When they
have finished the convention can get
to work"
The arguments that have been pre-
sented by the officials and members
of the executive board in favor of a
settlement have had great weight with
the delegates who have come to the
convention uninstructed, and even
some of those who came with in
structions have gone so far as to COM
municate with their constituents ask
ing to be relieved of instructions, that
they may be free to vote as they deem
best. Should this drift Of sentiment con-
tinue until a vote is taken the propo-
sition for a settlement will undoubtedly
be accepted.
The question as to whether a set
tlement on the lines proposed can be
made general appears to be the stumb-
ling block at this time. If the delegates
from Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia
and portions of Ohio were assured that
the settlement would be beneficial to
them as well as the miners of the Pitts
burg district they would not hesitate
to vote for a settlement. The Illinois
miners ha not changed their posi-
ton, and positively decline to accept
the terms of settlement proposed by
the national board. The officials have
partially met the argument of the Illi-
nois miners by saying that If the Illi-
nois delegates will agree to a settle
ment, so that the miners OF other states
can resume work, the Illinois operators
will be forced to pay the price by their
competitors In other states. Should
Illinois agree to this arrangement In
diana and West Virginia win fall in
| line without hesitation.
The committee on resolutions Is about
equally divided on the question of a
settlement and will probably present
| two reports to the convention. There
were some fiery speeches in the execu-
tive session Of the convention by dele
| gates from Ohio, Illinois and West Vir-
! ginia Secretary T. L. Lewis, of the
| Ohio miners, said that no matter what
action the convention took, 1t would
not settle the strike, and Organizer
| Ray, who has been at work in Wes
Virginia, charged that the conditions il
that state were largely due to 1t beinl
overrun by non-union miners from
Ohio and the Pittsburg district, H'
said If these two districts had been or
! ganized properly there would have beer
no trouble in bringing the West Vir
ginia miners into line,
A proposition to admit addltlona
delegates from Pennsylvania caused
a stormy discussion, The Illinois dele
| gates objected on the ground that Il
one state was allowed the privilege
1t should be accorded to all. The mat
| ter was of material Importance, as to
admit new delegates might change the
vote, and the opposition was so strong
that the motion to admit the additional
! Pennsylvania delegates was voted
| down.
! An effort win be made by the officers
| to bring the convention to a close to-
day provided the prospects Of a IA
vorable vote on the proposition for a
settlement are ripe.