The times., 1897-08-24
No AGREEMENT REACHED
Strikers Leaders and Operators
Committee Cannot Agree.
THE DEMANDS OF RATCHFORD
Insists That the Miners Must Be
Paid Sixty-1ine Cents n Ton Peni-
ing Any A Arbitration Proceedings
A Compromise Proposition of the
Arbitrators Rejected.

Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 23. AT IL O'Clock
the conference between the officials Of
the United Workers. of America and conc
mittee Of operators of the pittsbugs dis
tnct began al the Nonongahela House.
The mine workers were represented by
National President N. ID. Ratchfnrd, Ma
tionaI Secretary ". c. Pearce and District
President Patrick Dolan. The commit
tee representing the coal dealers consisted
Of j. Dysart chairman; George ".
Schluederberg, Frank NJ. Osborne, Col
W r. Rcnd, j B. Zerbe, J. n. o'NeiI,
N A. Andrews, W. p. De Arrnitt aud ".
p. Borney.
President Ratchford arrived this morn
ing ae said he was here at the request
of Nj noIaa. Rot at the invitation OF the
coal operators of the Pittsburg district
He considered The prospect of the miners
winning the strike better than they ever
were Continuing, he said six weeks
ago not an operator wanted TO arbitrate
| Now they ell appear anxious for 1t. We
are willing 10 hear what they have to say
am in favor OF having a conference, but
not 70: the purpose Of local arbitration
hope tuaay-s conference win lead to Il
| general conference for the entire country
! | VIII refuse to ariitrate for the PittShurg
miners alone If the operators want the
miners 10 return TO work pending settle
rient Of The strike, they can do 50 atthc
| 69-cent rate, ard not cent less. We
want living wages II the operators refuse
10 pay that, or If they want 10 aroitrate
for lower prices, there is simply nothing 70
arbitrats
At the Monongahela House, where the
conference was being held, great many
operators were assembled. Dissatisfac-
| tion was expressed by a number OF them
at the composition Of the committee repre-
senting the operators. It was claimed that
the committee did not properly represent
the entire district, and several operators
wanted To know why they We're ret in
vited TO attend the conference A dis
cusslon in the hotel lobby resulted IN
note being sent to the conference, stating
that the operators would not bind them
selves To agree TO the act 'on of the com
mittee with the miners officials
The reception OF this note brought the
conference to a speedy termination hefore
! practically anything had been done.
/ n llEENAaE " Elt bt BcAd bctiADAAO"B DuA
| unless the miners show mere conciiiatory
spirit the idle mines Will be started with
non-union men, with all the consequences
that slch proceeding implies.
Each side viii agree to arbitration, pro
viding it's own terms are accepted 1t eau
he stated positively, ON good authority,
that the operators made the following prop
oslion:
1--WE viii agree to arbitrate the ques-
ton of wages. Pending decision VIC
win pay TO the coal miners 81 l-2 cents
per ton, thus splitting the difference
between ga and So cents The ar
bftrators are 20 render their decision
within thirty days. According TO Gus
tom, two weeks wages are withheld from
the miners, there viii be no pay for
thirty days. On pay day, supposing tho
| arbitrators to have rendered their de-
cision, we will pay the miners for their
work any additional wages that the arhi-
traitors may award to them up 70 SO
cents. Should the arbitrators award less
than 81 I-2 cents we agree not 70 de-
duct the amount from the miners wages .
This proposition was rejected by tho
miners representatives, temporarily, at
least.
After supper the committee OF operators
and the miners officials met and talked
together Until 1890 p. M, and then ad,
journed until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
AT midnight the operators committee
issued the following sta atemenG:
AT the joint meeting of the committee
OF operators and miners various PROPOSE
tons submitted as basis for arbitration
we're discussed. The point at issue is the
wage rate which shall be paid pending
q decision by the board of arbitrators
No agreement being arrived at, and the
Conferees desiring time TO consider the
proposals made, the conference adjourned
until lie O'Clock tomorrow