The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-17
MINERS OFFICIALS CIRCULAR
Stating the Reasons for the Settlement
Made at Columbus.

COLUMBUS, o., Sept. l6,--A circular
was issued to-day by the national exec
utive OF the board OF the United Mine
Workers 10 the miners of the country,
setting forth the reasons for the recent
settlement OF the great strike. Three
conditions are cited under which 1t was
expected the strike might be won;
First That the miners would quit
work In sufficient numbers to create a
coal famine.
Second : That a sufficient number
would agree with us to call a Joint con-
ference OF miners and operators from tho
fields involved, to mutually agree as to
higher prices for mine work,
Third-That the fear of loss OF con-
tracts or the inability in some large and
influential district to fill contracts this
season II work was not resumed soon
would lead TO negotiations and PROPOSE
tlons TO terminate the struggle
The circular states that the national
executive board was induced TO agree
to settlement for the following rea-
sons:
That the markets were being supplied;
that the suspension was not growingi
that miners could not be induced to re-
spond promptly to the needs OF the hour,
and that those who did respond were
fast approaching the point Of exhaustion
and could not continue the fight much
longer That the supplies were becom-
Ing limited, that pressing want could not
be appeased, causing a resumption in
many cases at operators terms. That
organized labor was called upon to de-
vote time, men and money to their own
AFFAIRS and could not be reasonably be
expected TO continue indefinitely to fight
our battles. That the sufferings OF the
hungry men, blameless women and in
nocent children appealed to us not to
continue q struggle where the result
would only be disastrous, entalllng
greater miseries and more hardships.
These conditions were recognized by
your executive board and district presi-
dents for some time, were explained to
the convention In detail and are pre-
sented to you as further information on
the conditions surrounding the contro-
versy.
"1'he following states, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Indiana, will resume work IN
full and q portion OF Illinois at the expi-
ration OF the ten day limit by the con-
ventlon so as to give all districts affected
an opportunity to comply with the con.
dItlons prescribed by the convention. II
West Virginia and a portion of Illinois
will refuse TO do so and the fight will
have to be continued, your. representa-
tives have provided that assessments
shall be levied on those working to main
tain the idle miners.
"On the question OF three -fifths the
price of pick for machine mining, your
board made every effort possible to &C.
cure consideration of that matter, but
we're met with fat refusal from the
operators to go into that question al this
time for the reason that the uniformity
agreement pending in the Pittsburgh
district provides for the arbitration of
the question in the near future when II Is
hoped the facts and figures then present
ed will demonstrate more fully the trua
relationship Of prices both for pick and
machine mining. When this is dore. ous
case In our judgment viii be streahta
ed by the additional data furnished and
by being reinformed by pick mine opera
tors who will lead In the arbitration pro-
ceedlngs and make our fight theirs"