The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-25


by the miners representatives and the
conference adjourned.
EIhaustsd Every EHori.
'The operators feel that in submitting
these various propositions for settles
ment by Cancellation or arbitration,
they have exhausted effort In trying
to bring about settlement with the
officials OF the miners. The proposition
OF Mr.. Ratehford could not be accept
ed because II means an advance OF 27h
per cent. in wage cost and would entail
irreparsble losses upon the producers
The prices at which coal contracts have
been taken for this year we're enforced
by the conditions which ruled the mar
kets in open competition from other
producing fields. 1t should be remem-
bered that operators are confronted
constantly with two forces-the pres
sure OF buyers to get the lowest price.
which is determined by a remorseless
competition, and by the miners, who
demand the highest wage rates at all
times. In addition to these two fac
tors is the cost OF transportation to
the markets,
"Amicable and concillatorY methods
having failed to convince or to move
the leaders, the responsibility for what
ever privation follows to the miners and
their families must rest upon the min
ers' officials The operators feel that
they have exhausted all honorable
means of settlement OF strike which
has entalled so much misery upon the
miners and those dependent upon them.
and which they In common with the
public, deplore, and would gladly
change on q basis that would not be
disastrous to themselves, The miners
officials, having rejected the proposition
made for an agreement, the operators
can only ask the miners to consider the
existing conditions and ask themselves
whether they are justified in continuing
a line OF action which is dictatorial, and
are willing to work at a price which i'm
partial arbitrators may decide to be
fair and Just under existing conditions
board actuated by the impulses OF
equity and Justice and having the sym
pathy of fumanity-in the scale In ia
vor OF the miners
RRtchford's Position AssuiIed.
"Mr. Ratchford, president of the Uni
ted Mine Workers, has been here and
has gone. He did not come willingly,
and did not treat with the operators on
terms that Indicate any desire to pro-
tect the interests and welfare OF the
miners OF the Pittsburgh district. He
openly claimed, repeating what he said
In the Joint convention OF miners and
operators In Pittsburgh In December,
1895. that the operators OF the district
had more work than their share OF the
trade; that some of II was being taken
from them and that more would be. He
claimed the operators had a larger
share OF the lake tonnage than they are
entitled to- and that they would not be
permitted to retain II.
I'm view Of the fact that Mr.. Ratch-
ford lives in Columbus. which is the
home OF the leading operators OF the
Hooking Valley and the largest compet-
ltors for lake trade, the Pittsburgh OPP
orators have to meet, the position taken
by the national president OF the United
Mine Workers organization Is striking
and startling. This, In view OF the fur
ther fact that the operators OF the
Hooking Valley have paid to the min
ers organization Cas stated by them).
more than 100000 annually for the past
four years. Mr. Ratchford says the OPP
orators Of the Pittsburgh district have
more business than they are entitled to.
and we are now arranging TO take some
OF Il from them Coming from their
national officer and leader, this is q sim
gular declaration for one who processes
to be anxious for the walfnre of the
Pittsburgh district coal digger How
can there be more work for them II Mr.
Ratchford makes good his declaration?"
President NJ. D. Ratchford when seen
after the conference. said no had moth
ing more 20 say for publication at this
time He lntlmated that he was eN-
pectlng n lengthy statement from the
press committee of the operators and II
the statement demanded a reply, 1t
would be forthcoming. He and secre-
tary w. c. Pearce left tonight for Col
umbus.
President DoIRn'H Attitude.
President Patrick Dolan said he was
very sorry that no conclusion had been
reached. MANY of the operators seem
to think that It would be humiliation
for them to make concessions" he as
serted "The time to talk about humil-
latlon has passed. I nm of the opinion
that II the operators had accedcd to our
| requests which were certainly fair, they
| would not have stamped themselves as
| towards, but as gentlemen who are de-
girous Of doing what Is fair md just.
| They have absolutely refused to meet
our demands. and there Is no other
| course for US 10 pursue. We must con-
| tlnue the strike with unabntcd Vigor"
In accordance with this statement
| Secretary Warner mapped out an itln-
| crnry for new orHanlzers that are to be
| nut in the field. Fayette City Charleroi.
| Port ROYAL Belle Vernon, Vcstu, Wam-
mum and the mining towns Of Mercer
county are included In the list 1t Is
| prnpgscd 20 keep at the work and push
oruanlzatlon with unahated vigor.
| J. u. Zerbe declares this evening that
II the operators should concede the six
V-pine cent rate some twelve OF the
largest would lose at least S250,0OO, This
wna not to be thought Of The proposal
TO call for n general conference had
been rejected because Il would he n
waste OF time, 90 far as Indiana nnd IL
llnols are concerned, and because the
ohio operators are anxious to have the
plltBburghefa either lose their contracts
or mn them at loss,
struck In Spite Of Themselves
DUBOIS, Pa, Aug. a.-rhc Rochester
ana London mines at this place, quit
worI, the morning. notwithstanding TIM,
thoy decided nt n meeting held last night
10 continue. The agltators for the Pltta-
burgh region had been working unceas-
lngiy FOR week 20 get the men out and
| hove eurcpodpd, I'm the face NJ the fact