The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-04
THE END SEEMS NEAR
Miners and Operators Will
Probably Get Together.
ON A BASIS OF 65 CENTS
CLAIAfe WE'RE 90 AND 60 GENTS
RESPECTIVELY.
A CONVENTION CALLED SEPTEMBER 8

A CONVENTION CALLED SEPTEMBER {
The Proposition Then to be Submitted to Dele
gaan With Probably Favorable Recon-
seadation--A Straight Rate Ua-
til January 1898.
0aauulbus. O., Sept. 3.-The end Of the
weak miners strike 10 in sight. This
afternoon the National Executive Board
e the United Nine Workers agreed to
pecesnnend to the miners . proposition
frsm the Pitaburs operators for =
straighA price of 65 cents a ton to con-
tnue In force until the end Of the year.
A delegate convention of all miners who
have suspended work has been called to
meet in Columbus. Sept. s, at 10 a. M,
to act upon the recommendation. Presi-
dent Ratchford and the other members
Of the board say there il not the slightest
doubt but the miners will approve the
Recommendation. The proposition does
not involve arbitration. President Ratch-
ford said tonight that there were special
reasons for the board recommending the
proposition. In the first place it con-
ceaes the miners q material advance.
Had q 90 cent rate been secured he was
esn6dent it could not have been main
tanned for more than 20 days. As soon
a. the miners ratify the proposition work
will be resumed in all the mines.
In the second place, the proposition pro-
vides for a revival Of the joint confer
ences for the adjustment of prices. The
sperators are pledged to meet with the
uinerv prior to the termination of the
agreement and determine the rate of
mining for the next year. Both the
members of the miners executive board
and the operators committee are pleased
ever the outcome Of the conference and
feei that public sentiment will sustain
their action.
This morning the operators committee
renewed their first proposition for 60
cents, pending arbitration. This was
again rejected by the miners board. Then
the operators committee got together and
submitted new proposition for a
straight price Of 65 cents and after long
discussion, it was accepted by the min
ers, but subject to the approval Of the
miners at large The following circular
was issued tonight by the National Ex-
ecutfve Board:
ITO the mine workers who have sus-
pended work in the different States:
''Yoa are hereby notified that con-
at 10 o'clock ON Wednesday morning,
Sept. 8. 1897"
Greeting: At conference at Colum-
bus, Ohio, on Sept 2 and 3, between
the National Executive Board and dis
trict presidents Of the United Mine Work
ers Of America and representative COM
mittee Of the Pittsburg district operators
whon we consented to meet only after
it became apparent that a national con-
ference OF operators and miners could
not be convened, the following PROPOSE
tions were submitted by the representa-
tives Of the Pittsburg operators to the
executive board and district presidents,
as the basis Of a settlement to terminate
the present strike.
1. The resumption of work at Ga
cent rate of mining. The submitting of
the question to board Of arbitration
to determine what the price shall be, the
maximum to be 50 cents and the mini
mum to be 60 cents ton, the price to be
effective from date Of resuming work.
2. A straight price of 65 cents ton
to continue in force until the end of the
year, with the additional mutual under
standing that joint meeting Of opera
tors and miners shall be held in Deem
Der. 1897, for the purpose Of determin-
ing what the rate of mining shall be
thereafter.
Your executive board and district
presidents, after much deliberation and
a thorough consideration Of the two
propositions do recommend the latter, as
in their judgment the best that can
be secured, because of circumstances
that are apparent to all who study mar
ket conditions since the inauguration of
the strike, you, however, are the court
of final adjudication, and must decide
for yourselves what your actions shall
be when work shall be resumed.
Additional reasons will be given and
a full report made of the general stu
alton at the convention. We. would
further advise that delegates come I'M
trammelled by resolutions and unin-
structed, other than to act in your best
interests.
At this time it is deemed advisable
for the reason that provisions are made
in the uniformity agreement now pend
ing in Pittsburg, and which it is
expected will be operative in that dis
trict on and after January /, 1893, to
arbitrate the question of relative diff
ferential between pick and machine
mining Which will, we anticipate, do
much toward furnishing us with more
reliable data Of that question than we
have at present, and which will aid us
materially.
Signed by the members by the Ma
tional Executive Board and District
Presidents: Fred Dilcher, r. L. Davis,
7. FL. Kennedy, Henry Stephenson,
Patrick Dolan, members National Exc