The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-30
RATcHP0RD ANSWERED.
An Explanation q what ths Miners Call
Living Wages.


to-day has the following: Local eoal'op-
orators read with much interest the
statement of NJ. D. Ratchford, national
president Of the United Mine Workers. as
published In The Post of yesterday, They
take exceptions to many Of the asser-
tons made, and last night their press
committee issued the following:
Mr.. Ratehford's promised proclamar
ton has been issued and some OF the
statements made by him call for answer
from the coal operators, whom he mis-
represents Mr.. Ratchrord states that
the operators never asked for confer
ence, but declared a determination to
build stockades, and to employ gatllng
guns and Plnkerton detectives. This is
false, and Mr.. Ratchford knows II. He
says this is the action of men who fear
discussion Of the question at issue II
so. why did Mr.. Ratchford decline to ac-
cept any one OF the four propositions
made by the operators at the Mononga-
hela house meeting, all OF which have
been published as taken from the min
utes of the meeting and approved by w.
c. Pearce, national secretary OF the
United Mine Workers. and secretary OF
the meeting? VIII any rational person
undertake to say that men could submit
a fairer proposition to adjust contro-
versy? Did not Mr. Ratchford himself
fear to submit to an impartial board of
arbitrators? What use to submit diller-
ences 10 arbltFators when one of the par
ties demand, as a condition OF arbilra-
ton, that the other surrender all phat
was demanded In the first place?
',AIr. Ratchford says the miners must
have living rate OF wages. What does
ne mean by The term living wagesF
Does he not know that any industrious
miner in the Pittsburgh district daiiy
earned, under a 5i-cent rate, higher
wage than Is paid 10 q majority OF the
mechanics in the mills and factories in
Pittsburgh, and that the mine laboreIs
received higher wage per DAY IMAM IS
paid for common labor by any railroau
or manufacturing company east OF the
Rocky mountains?
INF. Ratchford further asserts that
the operators did not invite him to a con-
ference. This is simply untrue. Patr!ck
Dolan, local officer OF the miners or
ganization, was empowered by w. T.
Rend, +, M. Osborne and Geo. Schlue-
derberg to arrange with his Official as
sociates for u conference, Mr.. Ratch-
ford chose to conduct the correspondence
which followed, through Mr.. Dolan, and
In which he is on record as having re-
fused TO confer on any other basis than
an Interstate meeting. Mr.. Ratchford
knows IL he knows anything about the
coal industry, that the wage rate In the
Pittsburgh district Is the basis upon
which the rate is determined in all other
states; he knows also that the interests
of the Pittsburgh operators are distinct,
and are antagonized by the producers OF
all other districts; that the operators OF
all other states would, in the interstate
agreement, work unltedly to the Injury
of the Pittsburgh operators, as well as
the miners whom they employ. He ad-
mits that what the Pittsburgh operators
have maintained from the first, namely,
that settlement OF the strike IN the
Pittsburgh district would bring about
settlement in all other sections on ba-
sis OF the rate agreed upon for the Pitts
bHrgh district,
THE fact is, Mr.. Ratchtord is an Ohio
man: he was for three years president Of
the Ohio miners organization; he Is In
terested in the welfare OF the miners OF
that state, Ignoring the rightful claims
of those In the Pittsburgh district. Being
supported by the Ohio operators, who de-
sire to have the lake tonnage Of Pennsyl-
vanla reduced so that they can double #
later, MIR. Ratchford places himself In
the position of being the willing or the
ignorant tool OF the Ohio operators. He
has told the Pittsburgh operators more
than once that they enjoyed too large q
part OF the lake business; that they
would not be permitted to retain It, and,
as q step in the direction OF divertthg
from them that which their energy and
enterprise have gained, he has repeated
ly consented to have the miners OF Ohio
dig nearly 100000 tons OF coal each
year at rate OF cents lower than u
paid In the Pittsburgh district, although
Ohio ships to the lakes less than 100000
tons. In other words, in order that Ohio
may market $4,000 tons Mt the lake side.
which would be marketed there anyway,
because domestic coal, the miners OF
Ohio are required to dig 100000 and
more tons at 0 cents per ton less than Is
paid for digging coal in the Plttsburg
district, where the work Is less laborlous
and the conditions mora favorable for
making larger tonnage output per man
per day and hence higher earnings.
west Virginia producers get their
coal mined for less than 25 cents ton;
Ohio operators for cents ton less than
the Pittsburgh operators pay, and those
OF Tndiann and Illinois have rates cCrTe-
spondingly low In order that they may
have the better Of the Pittsburgh com
petltors, while the rail freights exacted
from the Pennsylvania producers place
them at a disadvantage for transporta-
ton as well as for the digging OF their
coal. Operators desire to pay a high wage
rate, but they must meet business condl-
tons as reflected from the markets, in
which they are Obliged to sell their coal,
or go out OF business. The fact that
profits are not high Is attested by tho
record OF the number OF coal companies
which are now In the hands OF receivers,
and in the further fact that an officer OF
one OF tho largest companies testified
under oath that the profits on i,000,006
capital and about 100000 tons Of coal
was only IS, 600, or less than per cent,
Notwithstanding favorable access to the
markets and other exceptional advaht-
ages"