The record-union., 1897-08-24
THE COAL STRIKE
IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Begins 10 Look as Though a Settle
ment Was Near.
Operators and Miners Officials Hold a
Conference.
Should They Reach a Favorable
Agreement the Trouble Will at
Once End-Owners of Big Mines
Favor Higher Wages-Miners
Creating Trouble in Ohio.

PITTSBURG, Aug. 23.-Miners tc
resume work at the 54-cent rate
pending a decision of a Board of Arbi-
tration
Miners to resume work at an inter
mediate rate between the rates de-
manded and the ONE paid before the
suspension, pending a decision of q
Board Of Arbitration.
Miners to resume operation without
price named, pending a decision by a
Board of Arbitration.
These three propositions were sub
mitted to the Special Committee OF
railroad operators of the Pittsburg dis
tIict at a conference held tonight
Miners to resume work at 69-cent
rate pending the decision of a Board
of Arbitration.
This is the proposition submitted by
the officers of the miners to the Spe-
clad Committee
The propositions We're talked over
in an informal manner by both sides,
when an adjournment was taken until
10 O'Clock tomorrow morning.
The operators hope that one of their
propositions will be accepted, while the
miners officials say they will not re-
cede in the least from the position they
have taken. President Dolan, however,
after the conference, said that all were
going to take a good sleep, and he was
satisfied that they would come to some
definite understanding within ten min
utes after meeting in the morning.
Tt was a lively meeting of operators.
During the forenoon there was a split
among the producers. The miners
officials wanted to now if every oper-
ator in the district was represented.
They had received a negative answer,
and in return said there We're down
stairs John Shields and others, who
were not represented. They adjourned,
and promised to have the rest of the
operators present. At the forenoon
session there We're present one behalf
of the miners National President
Ratchford, Secretary Treasurer w. G.
Pearce, District President Patrick Do-
Ian, F'irsIt-vice President Edward Nc
Kay and Secretary VIM. Warner.
The conference between the miners
officials and the Executive Committee
of the coal operators was held at IL
o'clock this morning. The miners We're
represented by President Ratchford,
President Dolan and Secretary War
ner. The operators committee was
composed of J. c. Dysart, c. w.
Schiudenberg, J. N. O'Nefl, J. B. Zerbe.
F. M Osborne, U. A. Andrews, w. P.
Bonney and w. P. Rend.
President Ratchford in an interview
said he wanted it distinctly understood
that he had never been asked by the op-
orators to confer with them. 'The
statement, he said, that / had re-
fused a conference is not correct. I
am here now at the request of Mr. Do
Ian. We will only agree to the oper-
ators' proposition if they will pay SO
cents. That is the lowest rate the
miners will accept. 1t must be go cents
or the strike will be continued until
the demands are granted. If the Pitts
burg operators settle upon our terms a
general conference will not be neces-
sary."
Previous to the conference a large
number of operators congregated in the
corridors of the Monongahela House.
There was much dissatisfaction among
them. Many were opposed to breaking
the strike by importing men and quite
a large number urged the acceptance
of the miners terms. 1t was claimed
that it was not the Pittsburg operators
who wanted to compromise or break
the strike, but that it was the large
mine owners and lake shippers.
The conference ended at noon, after
an agreement had been made for a gem
eraI conference of operators and miners
officials at 2 O'Clock this afternoon. The
miners officials insisted upon all the
operators being present, and it was
decided to make the conference an
open one.
The operators who had been kept on
the outside were jubilant when this de-
cision was arrived at. Some said they
would favor the granting of the 69-cent
rate at the opening of the conference il
it was seen that the miners officials
would not consent to a compromise to
let out the operators who have com
tracts based on a 54-cent mining rate.
The striking miners encamped about
the De Arrnitt mines wore permitted to
march in small gorups today but not
allowed to get within speaking distance 2
of the working miners. There was no
evidence that the deputies intended, as
camp. In fact, Samuel Young, who is in
charge at Plum Creek, said TO Captain
Bellingham that there would be no more
arrests until a decision was had in the
cases of the five men arrested Saturday.
Captain Bellingham has rented barn
at Center, and will have fifty men quar-
tered there all the zine. SO that they
may be able to get into the town the
first thing each morning
All the men in the camp will be sent
out this afternoon on scouting and mis-
sionary work. 1t is the intention to
visit the house of each miner. Captain
Bellingham has strong hopes that this
scheme will greatly increase the ranks
&C the strikers.
About go strikers succeeded in elud-
ing the deputies during the right and
visited the working miners at their
homes. They claim to have converted
a number of the miners. who said they
would cult tomorrow, but would have
to work to-day as it vas payday
Samuel De Armitt, when seen before
the opening of the mine, said that he
thought he would have an increase in
bis force to-day. He anticipated there
would be at least $50 men in the mines
rFIic os6 r,sao NO -, +I,o