The Indianapolis journal., 1897-09-22

the Central States. The strike generally
ends to-day This is the middle of the
pTough to close al at our Convention hed
at Columbus, O., on the Sth TO the 18th of
the present month, the ten days being CIV
en- to allow miners and operators to come
together in Illinois and West Virginia to
meet the prices hxed--65 cents ton in
Pittsburg and Sc cents in Ohio and Indiana,
the same to continue till the end of De-
cember. The mining situation is not likely
to become disturbed again until the begin
ming of next year at which time We nope 10
be able to settle wage differences amIcaDly
and without the necessity OF strike. IL
is we'll understood that the fight Will con-
tinue from the present time In all helds ana
against all operators who refuse to meet
the rates. The greatest trouble Will De
found in West Virginia and portion OF
Illinois. ] am still hopeful, however, thaL
the producers in those fields Will conform
to the change and put their mines in opera
ton. Failing to do this, we will hght thern
as we have done until the beginning OF
next year, at which time 1t is SAID, their
present contracts will expire.
Il am we'll satisfied with the agreement
reached and feel that it is the greatest VIC
tory gained by trades unions for years. " "
course. the victory it not altogether one OF
the miners. While they have done the
striking, trades unions and organized ooples
have supplied the necessaries, Wlthout
which the miners could not possibly sue
ceed. 1t is a victory for organized lapor'
and not for any particular trade, ana we
want our friends who have helpeo US " "
ours. l feel very grateful for the ASSIST
ance given us by the American Federation
of Labor and the kindly disposition shoMn y, Z
us at all times by Mr.. Gompers ana tue
members of his executive committee.
Mr.. Ratchford was asked as 70 tne Slut
ton in West Virginia and Illinois. lie stiu a. !,
MY advices from West Virginia are 10
the effect that our miners are stanullS
firm; that they are Well pleased with the
agreement reached and evince a deteI d
tion to fight their battle to the end Our
purpose is to bring the miners and opera
tors of that State together in JOINT con-
Vention, that a uniform mining price Aldy
he fixed and paid for the same vein OF coal
and a fair relative price for other VEINS
within the State; in short, nX niuiii5
rate that will give to West virginia lar
competing opportunities ana nothillg MI 9i,S
"As 10 illinois q convention of the lln-
nois miners is being held now nave isol
had any advices from there, put can St safe
ly predict what their action WIZ pe, ivy
will continue the struggle until reiatise 5Ia,
nrices are established. The greatest UNI ii
Guilty in the way of an advance IN tue III III.
nois district is the fact that cohIractS wv e
taken last spring based upon low mining
rate as they were in Pittsburg ana else
where But this is q matter tnat we ,Ii caH-
not be responsible for-is q mayer oa y . :
ness to the operator himself. no Hlttn itas
a right to sell another man $ lapor one year
in advance without consulting the lapoISIi =, -
While we have always deferred ~, 10 +;llo .ro
claims Of men along those lines, the i tlille
has come when no further conslderdlloeii, !
can be given them, because tne Wases Ps,'dd Prd
to the miner is below the living point a,ao aaao
the preservation of lie taxes PIeeeueno0
over business affairs. 49, nil,
"rhe fixing of a mining rate that VIII VIII
give fair competing opportunities IS the
object of the miners organization every
.uSere We have been working to bring
the Meecg Operators Of the several states togeth-
er with this end in view Though our et, f
forts have been futile, we Will contlhWue W 70 20
a1vanne that policy. believing that there
haEIto Is but one " sure way to keep down strikes
and disputes, which are no adyantage th al ear TO
either side and that that IS Tor the nlHers e,,
Sta States op to meet annually mutually fix prices
for each district that are fair and lust. ana "a
each party to the agreement to observe ~ II
faitbf1IIv until a subsequent agreement
takes its place During the eight years
that this system was in vogue strikes .a ana
disturbances of a general character were
to them can again be removed as soon as
the operators interested will see their lnter-
ests in this light"