The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-30
iDlLNS STATEMENT.
He Replies to the Aspersions ofths
Mine Owners.
CHARGES VIOLATED PLEDGES.

He Declares That Operators Agreed
to Pay the Rate Demanded Under
Certain Conditions Which Had Been
FULFILLED by the Miners.
Plttsburg, Aug. S0.-Before going to
the St. Louis convention last night Pat
rici, Dolan, district president Of the
United Mine Workers, expressed him.
self very freely concerning the state
ment of the press committee Of the coal
operators. The statement charges M.
D. Ratehford. the national president,
with making certain assertions that
are untrue. 1t gives the details Of the
offers made by the operators. and
shifts the burden Of the blame to
- Ratchford.
ut Is unfair to the miners and their
officials to have such statements go
before the public. for they are mis-
leading and in the main untrue" said
Dolan. LET me tell something con-
corning what passed between US at that
conference When Ratchford had given
his ultimatum and the operators were
excited, and some of them very much
out Of humor, took the floor. told
them that I looked into the faces Of
many operators who had repeatedly
told me that If the miners officials
succeeded in bringing about a suspen-
sion In certain mines that were paying
a lower rate they would agree not only
to pay 60 cents. but 81 a ton. told
them that we had brought about the
suspension they asked for, and they
knew I referred to the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal companys mines.
1t seemed absurd to them to accept our
proposition to go to work at the SO cent
rate pending arbitration. I explained
to them that we had brought about n
suspension of the mines that seemed
to bother them so much, and wanted
them to keep their promises.
"Of course, 1t Is well known that they
would not listen to our proposition.
then appealed to them to use their eff
fort to bring about a conference of OPP
orators and miners in all the states in
volved. told them that every one pres
ent should make an honest effort to
bring about such a conference and as
sured them that the miners officials
the parties interested together. If
after every other effort had been ex-
hausted to bring about such confer
ence had failed, l told them that
would be willing to cut loose and act
independently for the Pittsburg dis
trict and have the support of the local
organization. Now, If this was not fair,
l would like to know of an argument
against 1t. They refused to be as good
as their word on the first proposition
and on the second did not even exhibit
desire to bring about a conference of
the various states, as I suggested. We
are In favor of bringing the question to
an honorable and fair settlement and
on just basis. This effort to put the
odium on the miners Is as unfair as 1t Is
unjust, and the public should know 1t.
1t has been decided to start cam
paign among the miners of the Wheel
ing division of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad.
1t was learned today that the Gas
tonviIle miners who were served by an
official of the Pittsburg and Chicago
Gas Coal company with notices to va
ton. Nearly all of them forfeited
wages aggregating $1,000 when they
went out on strike. under conditions
imposed upon them by the ironclad
contracts they had signed. They claim
the money is due them and they intend
to remain in the houses until the &C
counts are squared.
Incidents around the camps at the De
Armit mines were not exciting yester-
day. The strikers entertained the usual
number of Sunday visitors attended
church and quietly made preparations
for the weeks work, which is expected
to be full of active operations This
morning Captain Bellingham. with 25
men. went to the Peterson mine where
the men at work. the strikers say, arc
filling New York and Cleveland Gas
Coal company contracts. The other
members Of the camp made the usual
morning demonstration against the
Plum Creek minors.