Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-09-08
TO ACCEPT s. CENTS.
Outlook for a Speedy Settlement
of the Trouble in the Coal
Region is Bright.

Pittsburg, Pa, Sept. 4.-District Pres
ident Dolan of the United Mine Work
ers returned from Columbus 1T o'clock
this morning and went at once to the
headquarters, where he held consulta
ton with the other district officials.
When the conference closed call was
issued for delegate convention in this
city next Tuesday at 10 o'clock a. M,
to consider the Columbus proposition.
The cali advises the delegates to come
uninStructed.
When President Dolan was asked as
to the probable outcome of the cOnven-
ton he said that he had decided to ex-
press no opinion or say anything on the
subject until he met the miners rep
resentatives in the convention next
Tuesday cit is not policy said he.
for me to say anything now, but |
have no doubt that the convention will
decide upon what is best for the miners"
District Secretary Warner, Cameron
Miller and other members of the eXecu-
tive board also declined to talk.
Meetings will be held all over the dis
trict on Monday to elect delegates and
discuss the situation. 1t is believed that
the general sentiment will be to accept
the terms and go to work and await an
other advance on January /. which Is
assured If the uniformity agreement is
accepted by 90 per cent. of the operators.
Some of the miners favor a continuance
of the strike for the 69-cent rate but they
will likely be convinced by the more con-
sentative men that the terms are as sat
isfact0ry as can be expected at the pres
ent time. 'Fhe acceptance of these terms
will also prevent the importation OF new
men into the district
1t is known that the operators are pre-
pared 10 carry out their threats and
some Of the miners contend that the re-
lection Of the proposition will result in
disaster
The operators are all pleased with the
result Of the Columbus conference. They
look upon it as q virtual settlement of
the long strike and announce that they
will be ready to start the mines as soon
as the convention of miners has ratified
the agreement reached yesterday:
Wheeling, W. Va. Sept. 4.-While the
striking miners of West Virginia will
have 2 voice in settling the coal strike
according to the call of the national
board. this is but little consolation. as
they have no hope that any advance III
wages will be secured in this state, or
that many of them now out will even
get jobs.
With the miners in Pennsylvania and
Ohio working, there are more men now
employed in West Virginia than will be
needed TO supply the demand In spite
of this the Fairmont and kanawha val
ley strikers. are keeping up the fight and
are gaining recruits daily. Trouble is
looked for with good reason about
Clarksburg, where the operators are
making strenuous efforts to start their
mines. The strikers are determined and
show more inclination to use force to
prevent resumption than has been seen
anywhere else since the strike began.
Columbus, o., Sept. 1.-The miners
executive board and 4 committee repre-
senting the operators of the Pittsburg
district reached an agreement last even
ing. As a result a circular was prepared
for the immediate transmission to the
locals calling a national convention of
miners for September g. to be held in
this city, to consider the acceptance of
Ga cents pending arbitration, or to call
the strike off and accept 50 cents.
President Ratchford expressed himself
as perfectly satisfied with the outcome
of the joint conference just closed, and
was especially we'll pleased because of
the mutual good feeling which dominant
ed both factions. When asked Wheth
er ali the Pittsburg operator were rep
resented at the conference Mr.. Ratch-
ford replied that there was a sufficient
majority 70 bind the whole and re-
marked incidentally that it would be inn
possible to treat with some of the OBJ
streperous small operators.