The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-04
END OF THE COAL STRIKE.
AGREEM ENT MADE WHICH SIMPLT
AWAITS RATIFICATION.

The Miners to 60 to Work Mt n 05 Cents Rate
Until Jan. 4. when n New wage scale VIII
Bo Nihdc-Omcern OF the Union Urge tho
Men to Accept tho Tcrms-No Arbitration.
COLUMBUS, o., Sept. 3.-Tho end Of the great
strike OF tho coal miners, begun July 4, undoubt-
eddy Is at hand. and within ten days the $50 900
striking miners will be at work. What brought
the committee representing the largest mines
In the Pittsburg district to the miners Execu-
two Board at n Joint conference this morning.
Tho terms Of tho proposition were that tho
miners should resume work at once at a rate Of
65 cents n ton in the Pittsburg district and SO
cents in the Ohio field, with corresponding ad-
vanccs in the other States. This rate ia TO DO in
effect until January, 1895, when a new rate.
which shall be agreed to prior to that time by
tho miners and operators in joint conference.
shall go into effect and remain in effect for n
year.
This proposition was offered by the operators
as their ultimatum, and after q conference be-
tween tho member Of tho miners Executive
Board. the announcement was made that the
proposition would 10 accepted. This action on
the part OF the miners officials must be ratified
by the miners themselves. and with that pur-
pose in Wow a national convention of the
miners has been called TO be held in this city on
Tuesday and Wednesday Of next week.
The circular calling the convention was issued
tonight. 1t recites the basis OF settlement and
recommends that the miners agree to the propo-
Sition. Tho call is signed by all the members OF
the National Executive Board. This plan does
away with arbitration entirely.
When the conference met this morning the
first proposition Of the operators, to pay the GI.
cent IA Ia pentipp arbitration Nybi,h abD,,lJ do
eide upon a rate between 60 and go cents,
was again offered. but was rejected by
the miners. The latter then suggested that
work be resumed at tho G4.cent rate, and
tho award OF the arbitrators should be some
rate between g. and 90 cents. This
proposition was rejected by the operators, who
then offered their ultimatum. which was &C.
copied. Tho operators and miners officials ap.
pear satisfied and feel confident that this action
will he ratified by the miners convention.
President Ratchford in an interview tonight
said that In his opinion there was no doubt that
the convention called would ratity the action OF
the conference. Ho also said that tho miners
would resume work In one week from this time.
He said The agreement reached to-day was in the
nature OF a compromise. and that 1t secured for
the miners IN Ohio and Pittsburg an in.
crease of IL cents a ton until next
Jannaryi when a new scale would be agreed
the price demanded and probably as good a ro.
suit as could have been secured by arbitration.
Mr.; Ra,chfori spoke OF tho good feeling which
had prevailed. and seemed to be more than
pleased that hostilities were 80 near at an end.
Thomas A. Young, representing NJ. A. Hanna
suit OF the conference anu the probability OF an
acceptance OF the terms agreed upon between
the Operators and miners officials by the
miners themselves. said the agreement seemed
10 be satisfactory TO all parties, and he had
bb S r a9He, , an% b the action aG,ioa taken would
work within ten days. He said the
operators could not afford to pay any more. but
have all that was possible in justice to the
Operators
SO far as can be learned Mr.. Do Armi.t Is no.
a party to this agreement. and it is likely thai
he wi. have TO treat with the miners officials
.PirrsBrRe. Pa. Sept. 3.-secretary William
Warner. received word tonight from Patrick
Dolnn that the National Executive Board had
Of NJ. A. Hanna & Co, AMI had called a conveu.
ton Of miners to ratify their action. uolan has
te!egrnphcn Warner that he would leave Column
bus Tonight.
Warner says he thinks it probable that Dolan
will calI mass meetings of the miners to give
voice TO their opinion OF the compromise. Tine
miners are too poor said Warner. " for each
local assembly to send "a delegate to the con,
y%ention. IL may be that two or three men vii,
district"
The rank and file OF the miners are opposed &c
been camping at the DE Armitt mines are deter
mined 10 accent m,on% hut tho wage ratio they
with hope. so hat The difficulty now will be tc
convince them that they ought TO accept the
compromise.
|; is almost certain. however. that the minerl
will 'Ercc 10 tn" seit clnont. cspc. Tally IL War
ncr's plan VI holding mass meetings should bt
adopted. WcrcthcluCIl unions TO hold an election
OF delegates by secret ballot il Is likely that a
delegation opposed to the settlement would bt
sent 10 Columbus. BY the mass meeting plar
the officials can appoint n chairman in favor Of
a settlement and iayorab Die resolutions can theI
b. adopted. The officials want a settlement.
nc operators UNI OrUlliy agreement Will nov
shall bs adopted the miners will be compelled L
strike next year to maintain tho wage rate, al
the settlement is TO hold good only until Dec. 81
1t now rests with the operators to prevent tbs
annual wage disputes by signing the uniformity
agretment, thus following W. p. De Armitt's er
ample. With fair weights. no company stores
and cash payments the operators and miner
can easily agree every year on u fair wage rate