The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-08-28

Miners nnd Operators Fail tn Reach
nm Agreement.


Pittsburgh, Pa. Aug. 25.-The final
effort to arrange a plan for ending the
big coai strike has proved failure and
the strike goes ON. At noon the con-
ference between n committee of coal
miners and operators, national and dis
trict officials, closed and the conference
adjourned without date. The miners
representatives did not recede from
their original proposition to settle the
strike by arbitration and start the
mines at the 60 cent rate.
The operators offered TO divide the
difference between 81 and 60 cent rates,
making the price at which the mines
should start Ola cents per ton. but
this was rejected. Then additional
propositions were made. One was 10
start the mines without fixing any
price for 30 days and then 20 pay the
rate agreed upon by the board OF arbi-
tration. This was also refused by the
miners. who said they had been fooled
too often 20 trust the operators again.
They declined TO work for month.
giving the operators the output that
length of time without knowing what
wages would be paid. A proposition
was then made TO operate the mines for
ten days without fixing the price, and
allow n board Of arbitration TO fix the
price for that time.
President Ratchford insisted that
nothing but the 60 cent rate could be
possibly accepted.
The operators were firm. but the
miners were equally determined, and
every argument OF the mine owners
was met by the miners leaders.
Neither side would concede another
point. and II was decided TO end the
conference.
President Ratchford had but little 10
say on the matter, but gave out the fol-
lowing statements:
1--WE have disagreed Our proposition re-
manned unchanged. Besides our PROPOSE
ton 20 arhitrate. we made them a Sec
ond one along the lines OF bringing about
a general conference OF miners and oper-
ators OF all mining states. They refused TO
lend their efforts In that direction and the
strike viii be continued. We have no other
plans for the future"
The outlook after the adjournment
OF the conference seemed 10 be encour-
aging for the miners. There Is no ques-
ton as TO the anxiety of the operators
TO start their mines. Nearly every coal
company in the Pittsburgh district was
represented at the Monongahela house
during the conference.
The operators conference was In
secret session for several hours and
when the doors we're opened their press
agent announced that the mines would
certainly be started with the old dig
gers IL possible. with imported men IL
the old men refused 10 work COM
mittee was appointed composed OF rep
resentatives of every firm in the district
10 map out the mode OF procedure for
the resumption. This committee will
meet this morning for this purpose.
The statement concerning the joint con-
ference issued by the operators press
committee concludes as follows:
''Thc operators feel that in submitting
the various propositions for a settlement
by Cancellation or arbitration they have
exhausted every effort In trying TO bring
about settlement with the officials OF
the miners. The proposition OF Mr. Ratch-
ford could not be accepted. because Il
means an advance OF 2i1a per cent. In wage
cost and would entail lrreparable losses
upon the producers. The price at which
year were enforced by the conditions
which ruled the markets In open COMPETE
ton from other producing fields IL should
be remembered that operators are confront
ed constantly with two forccs-the pres
sure OF buyers 20 get the lowest price which
Is determined by n remorscless COMPETE
ton, and by the miners who demand the
highest wage rates at all times In addition
TO these two factors is the cost or trans
portation 10 the markets.
"Amlcable and concillatory methods hav-
Ing failed 10 convince or 10 move the lead
ers. the responsibility for whatever priva-
ton follows TO the miners and their fam
HES must rest upon the miners officials.
The operators feel that they have ex-
hausted all honorable means OF settlement
of strike which has entailed so much
misery upon the miners and those de-
pendent upon them. and which they, In
common with the public deplore aud
would gladly change on basis that would
not be disastrous 10 themselves The
miners officials, having rejected the prop
osition made for an agreement. the oper-
ators can only ask the miners 10 consider
the existing conditions and ask them
selves whether they are justified In con-
tinuing a line OF action which Is dicta-
torial and are willing 10 work at price
which impartial arbitrators may decide
TO be fair and just under existing con-
ditions, board actuatod by the Impulses
OF equity and Justice and having the sym
iNN"9 "a humanity ~ Ahe Atdlt IN fdNof or
the miners"
President Patrick Dolan said he was
very sorry that no conclusion had been
reached. Many OF the operators seem
TO think that il would be humiliation
for them 20 make concessions" he as
serted. THE time to talk about hui
initiation has passed. They have abso-
lutely refused to meet our demands and
there is no other course for US TO pursue.
We must continue the strike with un-
nbated vigor."
In accordance with this statement
Secretary Warner mapped out an itin-
erary for new organizers that are TO
be put in the field. Fayette City, Port
Royal, Charleroi, Belle Vernon, Vesta.
Wampum and the mining towns OF
Mercer county are included i'm the list.
IL Is proposed 10 keep at the work and
push organization with Undated vigor.
Springfield, H., Aug. 25.-The cleo
tric lignt works has closed NJ CorIir