The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-13
THAT TEN-DAY CLAUSE
PITTsBURG OPERATORS AND MINERS
MAY NOT ABIDE BY 1T.
Strike Settlement Denounced as a
scheme to Benefit the Producers
in Western States.

PITTSBURG, Sept. 12-The Pittsburg dis
trict coal operators believe that this week
will find many mines in this region in full
operation To further this belief the ma
jority of the mine owners have announced
that their pits will be opened in the morn
ing in readiness for all of their men who
may wish to ignore the ten-day proviso of
the Columbus settlement. 1t is believed that
many of the strikers will take advantage of
the opportunity. Secretary Warner, of the
Miners Association, says the Columbus
agreement VIII be strictly adhered to. 1t
is not believed, however, that the officers
Of the district will raise their hands TO stop
the men from going to work Immediately.
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 presum-
ably called to devise ways and means for
continuing the fight against such firms as
still refuse to pay the district price and
it is thought the advisability of breaking
the ten days provision and returning to
work at once will be acted on.
The settlement at Columbus on the basis
that the striking miners return to 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 operators think it was
in reality to steal enough of the trade of
Pittsburg operators to pay them for the
enforced idIeness throughout the strike.
Mr.. Ernest Saeger, Of the firm OF Osborne
d Saeger, made fOrcible statement on the
situation as follows:
1T is time the miners of the Pittsburg
district were educated to the fact that our
competitors of the West are making a cat s.
paw of the miners of the. Pittsburg district.
The loss of ten working days at This season
of the year may mean an excessive loss to
the operators which also includes the min
ers of this district. We are mutually inter-
eSted, and loss in tonnage to the operator
means corresponding loss to the miner.
PlttSburgS coal trade is hampered East,
West and South, and must find passage
through LlrS the lakes by rail and water. The
while fraction of 1t is shipped through
the lakes. Indiana and Illinois coal is con-
fined to rail shipments.
The intent of the settlement and the OPP
position of the Western miners to a settle
-Aent of the strike is apparent. The longer
the lake shipments are delayed the greater
the chances are the Pittsburg operators will
be unable to fill their contracts Every ton
of coal not mined in Pittsburg to supply
these contracts will be mined by Western
miners during the winter, while the Pitts
burg miners will be forced into idleneSS.
will make this statement freely, that the
miners of this district will suffer more des-
titution this coming winter than ever be-
fore By waiting ten days they are only
increasing the suffering.
j. G. Dysart, one of the members CT the
committee having the settlement of the
strike, expressed himself Indignantly on the
ten days clause. He said The loss of
ten days work to the miners of this dis
trict means loss of almost half a mil
lion dollars in wages 1t means loss of
a million dollars III coal shipments, which
money would largely go to labor and rail-
road companies, and would be deposited in
this city"
The Pittsburg operators are discussing
offer thew intend making the men of
fering them inducements to break away
from the national organization and form
a separate association, taking in only this
district, the idea being to fight the Ohio
and Western fields. 1t is known that the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Com
pany has had erected close to their Sandy
Creek mine a temporary boarding house
for the purpose, it is supposed, of housing
imported workmen. Tonight it is said
many of the old men are sheltered in the
new house and intend to go to work in
the morning. The district officials are has
tily arranging for a special demonstration
in the morning in order to, if possible, pre-
vent the threatened stampede.