The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-09-13

PITTSBURGH. Pa, Sept. l2.-The
Pittsburgh district coal operators be-
lIeve that this week will find many
mines In this region in full operation,
and to further this belief. the majority
OF the mine owners have announced
that their pits will be opened IN the
morning In readiness for all of their
men, who may wish to ignore the ten
day proviso OF the Columbus settle
ment. II is believed that many OF the
strikers will take advantage of the OPP
portunity,
Secretary Warner OF the miners as
sociation, however, says the Columbus
agreement will be strictly adhered to, II
IS not believed though, that the officials
of the district win raise their hands to
stop the men from going to work imme-
| dlately.
A district convention of the miners
has been called for Wednesday morning
at which matters OF vital Importance
are to be discussed"
The convention Is presumably called
TO devise ways and means for contin-
uing the fight against such firms as stu
refuse to pay the district price, and II is
thought the advisabillty OF breaking the
ten day provision and returning to work
at once will be acted upon.
The settlement at Columbus on the
basis that the striking miners return 10
work after an idleness OF ten days was
ostensibly to give the miners OF other
states time to gain the consent OF their
operators to the agreement, but the OPP
orators here think 1t was In reality 10
steal enough OF the trade OF Pittsburgh
operators to pay them for the enforced
| idleness through the strike.
Mr.. Ernest saeger, OF the firm OF os-
borne G. Saeger, made forcible state
ment on the situatlonaas follows:
at is time the miners OF the Pits
| hurgh district were educated to the fact
that our competitors OF the west arc
making cat's-paw Of the miners OF
the Pittsburgh district.
1.-THE loss OF ten working days at TINS
season OF the year may mean an ex-
cessive loss to operators, which also IN
cludes the miners OF this district. we
are mutually Interested and a loss In
tonnage to the operators means cor
responding loss to the miner.
"pittsburghs coal trade is hamperel
by east, west and south and must find
passage through the lakes by rail- and
water. The bulk of Ohio coal finds an
outlet by rail. while a fraction OF 1t Is
shipped through the lakes Indiana and
Illinois coal is confined to rail Ship
| ments.
"The intent of the settlement and the
opposition OF the western miners to a
settlement OF the strike is apparent. The
longer the lake shipments are delayed
the greaEer the chances are the Pitts
burgh operators will be unable to NIL
| their contracts. Every ton of coal not
mined in Pittsburgh to supply these
contracts will be mined by western MI
ners during the winter, while the Pitts
burgh miners will be forced Into Idle
| ness.
81 will make this statement freely,
that the miners Of this district will suf-
| fer more destitution this coming winter
| than ever before, By waiting ten days
they are only increasing the suffering" "
| ]. c. Dysart. one of the members OF
the committee having the settlement OF
| the strike in charge, expressed himself
| Indignantly on the ten days clause.
| lie 1ut lOsb VI ANllhug WIN
to the miners OF this district means a
loss OF almost half million dollars In
wages. 1t may mean loss OF a million
dollars IN coal shipments, which money
would largely go to labor and railroad
companies, and would be deposited in
this city"
The Pittsburgh operators are discuss
Ing proposition they intend making to
the men, offering them inducements to
break away from the national orBani-
zatlon and form separate association,
taking In only this district, the idea be-
ing to fight the Ohio and western fields
II is known that the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company has had
erected close to Sandy Creek mine q
temporary boarding house for the pur-
pose, II was supposed, of housing Inn
ported workmen. Tonight II is said
many OF the old men are sheltered In
the new house and intend to go to
work in the morning. The district OIL
clals arc hastily arranging for q special
demonstration In the morning in order
to, II possible, prevent the threatened
stampede.