The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-08-20
OPERATORS
COMBINE ]
Pittsburg District Mine Owners Effect
Permanent Organization.
In ORDER TO BREAK THE STRIKE.
But They VIII First Try to Arbitrate.
Meantime the Strikers Remain in the
Camps, Having Been Prevented
Prom Marching by the
Deputies.

Pittsburg, Aug 2O.-The coal oper-
Ators followed up their meeting Of Wed |
nesday night by conference yester-
day afternoon. which was kept secret
until evening. The meeting was well
attended and a permanent organiza-
tion was effected. The fact that the
coal operators Of the Pittsburg district
have not had an organization for more
than year was talked over, and It
WAS decided t. form an organization
for the special purpose of breaking the
strike. Peter NJ Hitchcock, president
of the Moon Run Coal company, was
made president; c.. M. Balm, of Nor
gan, Moore &, Balm, was chosen sec
retary, and j. c. Dysart, of the Char
tiers Block Coal company, treasurer.
The aggregating output represented at
the meeting was 100000 tons a year
An agreement was drawn up which
provides that the signers shall pay as
sessments, based on the producing ca
pacity of their mines, to a fund to be
raised for the purpose of paying the
expenses of the strike. The telephone
was kept busy all afternoon, and many
!. Pittsburg operators sent word that
they would sign, even though not pres
ent at the meeting. A committee of
seven was appointed to carry on the
campaign.
Colonel W. p. Rend said after the
meeting: I'VE propose to operate our
mines, and If our own men will not
work then others will take their places.
I would much rather that a confea-
ence be held and the troubles adjusted
before we take the step we intend to,
/ hn -fg
| will be the means of operating the
mines at our pleasure"
| The operators are evidently in favor
Of arbitration in preference to an open
| ing of their mines. This was evidenced
! yesterday when Messrs. Murray and
| Osborne, representing the meeting,
wired National President Ratchford,
at Columbus, asking If Saturday next
! would be suitable for a conference at
! Pittsburg of both sides,
The Rend and Robbins interests on
Wednesday night telegraphed Ratch-
| ford, asking him to come to Pttsburg
to try and settle the strike. District
President Dolan followed the telegram
to Columbus, and has been endeavor-
ing by personal persuasion to bring
about such a meeting. Dolan yesterday
/
ing to confer but preferred not to
meet with the Pittsburg operators only,
| but an interstate representation
The telegram sent by the meeting
yesterday insisted that Indiana an
Illinois would not consent to a con-
ference, and it now remains with Presi-
dent Ratchford to say whether or not
he will meet with the Pittsburg oper-
70 ~
low the decision there made.
1t is believed that a conference will
be held here on Saturday, because just
after the session of the operators had
adjourned Colonel Rend received a
telegram from his son, Joseph, who is
| in Columbus saying: "Dolan says
Saturday will be selected for confer
ence and executive board will be In
session tomorrow"
1t is inferred from this that Ratch-
ford has concluded to attend the con-
ference.
Should the arbitration meeting not
be arranged for it was decided by the
operators at last nights meeting that
Immediate preparations for starting
their mines with non-union men shall
. be begun. In that event the mines will
mines will be selected for the initial
movement, as none of the pick mine
operators care for hostillties to begiT
at their mines,
The striking campers at Plum Greek
and Turtle Greek marched again yes
terday, after the program arranged
In couples 100 feet apart, The deputies
formed line across the road and
came up. Each side wanted the other
to take the aggressive, but both fac
tions were wary, and neither advanced
beyond a certain point. The strikers
then returned to camp, but a few o.
them later managed to escape the depu
ties and got among the miners, doing
considerable missionary work. 1t was
decided to march again today.
The deputies have been gradually
closing IN on the camps, and will con
tinue doing so until "the men win no
t be able to leave the camp" This woul,
b virtually place them under arrest
r Women are doing good missionar!
o work, although they did not march a.
o anticipated. They are still making
as uncomfortable as possible for th
deputies and working miners. If tn
attempt 10 pass the uepulles Is sue
cessful, the women will Join the rank
tomorrow,
The farmers from the surrounding
= country contributed large donations o
, provisions and garden truck to tn
. campers yesterday. The number o
:. men now In the two camps is 175. Man!
y of the men who were discharged from
active service are still in the neighbor
hood Of the camp, while some hav
started across the country to thel
homes and others are endeayoring L
II secure work In the Irwin district, An
other mass meeting at Plum Creek /
talked Of, and may be held at tn
camp either tonight or Monday night
s. The officials of the New York an,
It Cleveland Gas Coal company are jubi
e liant, and say II their men are lef
10 alone the mines soon win be In fu
N operation, superintendent DeArmlt
If would not say how much the outpu
a was increased yesterday but said
was substantial Eight cars Of lum
and slack was mined at Plum Creel
ID and about 12 cars at Turtle Creek.
C. As a result Of Cameron Mnlers ei