The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-08-25

BITRATION. ?,
Pittsburg. Aug. 24.-The conference
between National President rs. d. Ratch-
ford, National Secretary w. C. Pearce
and District President Patrick clan, rep
resenting the miners, and the coal oper-
"tors of the Pittsburg district, called to
consider some plan of settling the strike,
was highly sensational. The first row
was caused by some small operators who
were refused admission to the confer
ence. They were finally admitted.
There was considerable preliminary
sparring over what both sides were there
for. President Ratchford said his idea
was that the conference was to arrange
for 6u Interstate conference. The oper-
ators told him the main thing was to get
the mines started, and if the miners ofIi-
Gals were satisfied the question of wages
would he submitted to arbitration. In
the meantime the mines could be started
President Ratchf"rd said the miners
would net agree to anything less than 60
cents pending arbitration.
Col. w. p. Rend stirred up trouble at
this point. President Ratchford had re-
ferred to the conference of labor leaders
at st Louis next Monday and said it will
likely result in Il general suspension of
all work all over the country. Colonel
Rend claimed this would he an insurrec-
ton. and said:
"Thn circular letter you issued calling
for that st. Louis meeting was treason.
II there is general strike of wage
earners ia all trades 1t will he an insur-
Iection, and this country will have
another civil war. am satisfied If this
strike continues there will be blood shed,
and the blood of the people killed will be
upon your head. You don't want. to
settle the strike. You are an anarchist
and traitor to the cause of labor. The
people of this county are ready to hang
anarchists, and am ready to help them
pull the rope"
While Colonel Rend was speaking he
was shaking his clenched fist at President
Ratchford, who remained cool. Coming
out of the meeting, Colnoel Rend said he
was afraid TO trust himself with Ratch-
ford. In the lobby of the hotel he at
tracted large crowd with his denuncia-
ton of the sti il e leader. He said
| 81 would not have said anything if it
hadn't been for the way 1 was wrought
up over the cool manner i'll which that
man Ratchford talked of having strike
that would completely paralyze the busl-
ness of the country. Continuing this
strike is n crime, and to involve many
thousands of other nrn would be Urea
sonable. If the strike as planned by
Ratchford occurs it will be an insurrec-
ton. and Ratchford coolly,says he is will
ing to head one if necessary"
Colonel Rend made serious charges
against President Ratchford, who was at
the head of the miners organization in
Ohio during the last strike.
After Colonel Rend had left the meet
inc the In
tiyes continued the discussion on the
price that should be paid pending arbi-
tratior. After reiterating the statement
that it must be so cents or nothing. the
miners officials left the meeting to allow
the operators To caucus. The meeting
afterwards adjourned until evening.
After the afternoon meeting President
Ratchford gave out statement. After
denying the charges relating to the 1894
strike he said:
Colonel Rend misunderstood me on
the instruction matter. What l said
was that If the St. Louis conference does
what believe it will. it will bring about
a general strike in all branches of labor.
not altogether out of sympathy for the
miners, but for an eight hour work day
and REIMBURSEMENT of the wage question.
| Rend said that this would be an insurrec-
ton. l said hoped not. our intention
| being to meet conditions the coal opera
tors and courts forced on us by the most
conservative methods practicable. and
meet them we will When l spoke OF
labor defending labor he called me an
anarchist"
At II o'clock tonight the conference
adjourned without having reached n con-
clusion. The miners representatives
insisted on being paid 60 cents per ton
pending the arbitration OF the strike,
which President Ratchford says will take
sixty days. The operat ors want ray pend
ing arbitration, the rate to be agreed on
afterwards by the arhitrators. The con-
ference will continue tomorrow.
PROPOSITION REJECTED.
Pittsburg. Aug. 24.-At the coal oper
ators meeting this afternoon the miners
| ultimatum to return to work mt 90 cents
per ton pending arbitration was rejected
| The operators will not carry out their
self-adopted article ct the Cleveland con-
ference and will open the mines immdi-
ately. If the old men do not accept their
terms new disgers will be imported