The Chipley banner., 1897-10-02
THE GREAT STRIKE ENDED.
RATCHFORD SAYS AN AMICABLE
SITUATION PREVAILS.
SATISFIED With The RESULT.
Things VIII he Serene From the Present
Until the BsEinpins Of
Next Year.


United Mine Workers Of America.
gave out the following authorized
statement to the Associated Press Tues
day:
ers resume work in the bituminous
coal fields Of the central states. The
strike generally ends today. This is
the middle Of the twelfth week Of its
duration. 1t was brought 70 . close
at our convention held ct Columbus,
Ohio, on the 9th TO the 11th Of the
present month, the ten days time be-
ing given TO allow miners and opera
tors 70 come together in Illinois and
West Virginia to meet the price fixed
-65 cents . ton in Pittsburg, &c cents
in Ohio and Indiana and the same to
continue until the end Of December.
The mining situstion is not likely to
be disturbed again until the beginning
of next year, when they hope to be
able to settle the question amicably
aud without the necessity Of strike.
'I am we'll satisfied with the agree
ment reached and feel that IL is the
greatest victory gained by trades
unions in years. While they have
done the striking, trades unions and
organized bodies have supplied the
necessaries, without which the miners
could not possibly succeed. II was a
victory for organized labor and not
for any particular trade. and we want
our friends who have helped us to
feel that it is their victory as we'll as
ours. I feel very grateful for the as
sistance given rs by the American
Federation OF Labor, and by the
kindly disposition shown at all times
by Mr.. Gompers and the members OF
his executive committee"
Mr.. Ratchford was asked as to the
situation in West Virginia and Illi-
nois. He said:
"The greatest difficulty in the way
of an advance in the Illinois district
is the fact that contracts were taken
last spring, based upon low mining
rate, as they were in Pittsburg and
elsewhere. But this is q matter that
we cannot be responsible for; it is
matter OF business to the operator him
self. No man has o right to sell O
mans labor one year in advance with
out consulting the laborer.
"While we have always deferred to
the claims Of men along those lines, the
time has come when no further consid-
Grafton can be given them, because
the wages paid TO the miner is below
the living point and the preservation
Of life takes precedence over business
affairs.
my advices from West Virginia are
TO the effect that our miners who are
standing firm, are we'll pleased with
the agreement reached and evince
determination 70 fight their battle TO
the end. Their purpose is to bring
the miners and operators OF the state
together In joint convention, that
uniform mining price may be fixed and
paid for the same vein Of coal, and q
fair relative price for other veins with
in the state. In short, fx . mining
rate that will give to West Virginia
fair competing opportunities and
nothing more.
Fixing q mining rate that will give
fair opportunities is the object OF
miners organizations everywhere.
We are working to bring operators Of
the several states together with this end
in view. Though our efforts have been
futile, we will continue to advocate
that policy, believing there is such q
way to keep down strikes and disputes
which are Of advantage TO neither side
and that is for the miners and opera
tors interested from the various states
to meet annually, mutually fix prices
for each district that are fair and just
and each party TO the agreement TO OBJ
serve 1t faithfully until subsequent
agreement takes its place. During the
eight years this system was in vogue.
strikes and disturbances OF a general
character were unknown, and the
causes which gave rise to them can
now be removed so that the operators
interested will see their interests in
this lioht