Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-04
THE END IN SIGHT.
STRIKE OF CoAL-MISERs APPA-
RExTLY TO BE SETTLED.
PROPOSITION FROM OPERATORS.
Board of Minc-Workers
Accepts 1t, Subject to Approval of
Miners mt Large-Copventfon of
Miners September sth.

COLUMBUS. O., September 3.-The end
of the great miners strike is In sight
The National Executive Board of the Ma
tional Mine Workers agreed to make to the
miners a proposition from the Pittsburg
operators for a straight price OF 60 cents
a ton, to continue 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, Septem-
Der sth, at 10 o'clock A. NJ. to act upon
the resolution. President Ratchford and
the other members Of the board say there
is not the slightest doubt that the miners
will approve the resolution.
President Ratchford said tonight that
there were special reasons for the-boards
recommending the plan. In the first
place. II comedies the miners material
advance. Had a 69-cent rate been Sc
cured. he was confident it could not have
been maintained for more than seventy
days. AS soon as the miners ratify the
proposition work will be resumed in all
the mires. In the second place, the pro-
position provides for a revival of joint
conferences for the adjustment OF prices.
The operators are pledged TO meet with
the miners prior to the termination of
the agreement and determine the rate OF
wages for mining for the next four years.
Both the members of the miners Execu-
tive Board and the operators are pleased
with the outcome of the conference. ana
feel that public sentiment will sustain
their action. The committee from the ope-
rators renewed their offer for a t9-cent
rate, pending their decision. This was
again rejected by the miners board. Then
the operators committee got together
and submitted a new proposition for
straight price OF 60 cents, and II was ac-
cepted by the miners, subject TO the ap-
proval of the miners at large. The foi-
lowing circular was issued tonight by
the National Executive Board:
ITO the Miners Who Have Suspended
Work in the Different States:
"You are hereby notified that conven-
ton will be held at Columbus. o.. at ~
o'clock on Wednesday morning, Septem-
ber 8, 1897.
Directing:
"At a conference held at Columbus, o.,
on September "a and Sd, between tne
National Executive Board OF the United
Mine-W orkers OF America and repre-
sentative committee of the Pittsburg ope-
rators whom we consented to meet only
after 1t became apparent that a nauonai
conference of operators and miners couiu
not be convened, the following PROPOSE
Tions were submitted by the representa-
tiyes of the Pittsburg operators 10 the
Executive Board and district presidents,
as tine basis of a settlement to terminate
the present strike:
First. The resumption of work at
64-cent rate of mining, the submitting or
The question TO a board Of arbitration, TO
lot what fha nripA shall be. the
maximum to be SO cents, and ne mini
mum to be 60 cents a ton, the pr.ce TO be
effective from the date OF resuming work.
Second. straight price Of % cents a
ton, to continue In force until the end of
the year, with the additional mutual un-
derstanding that joint meeting OF ope-
rators and miners shall be held in Decen-
ber, 1897. for the purpose of determining
what the rate for mining shall be there
after.
THB RECOM
"Your Executive Board and district
presidents after much deliberatlon, ana
a thorough consideration of the TWO pro-
positions. do recommend the latter as, in
their Judgment, the best that can be Sc
cured, because of circumstances that are
apparent to all who study the market
conditions since the Inauguration or the
strike. YOU however, are the court or
final adjudication, and must decide for
Yourselves what your actions shall De,
and when work shall be resumed.
additional reasons Will be given, ana
a full report made Of the general situation
at the convention. We would further ad-
wise that delegates come untrammelled Dy
resolutions, and uninstructed, other than
TO act for your best interest.
'At this time II f. deemed advisable,
for the reason that provisions are made IN
the uniformity agreement now pending
I'm the Pittsburg District and which u Is
expected will be operative in that district
on and after January l. 1888. TO arbitrate
the question OF relative dinerential pc
tween pick and machine mining wnicn
will we anticipate. do much toward iur-
nfshing us with more reliable data on
that question than we possess at present.
and 10 that extent will be beneficial 10 US
I'm settling questions as between machine
and pick mining.
tSieneD "FRED. DICHER.
"R.. /. DAVIS.
u. H. KENNEDY,
"HENRY STFP6l- NSON,
PATRICK DOLAN,
"Ienbers of National Executive Board;
"WILLtAN KNIGHT,
PATRICK DOLAN.
"Distrlct Presidents;
"M. ID. RATCHFORD.
opresident National Executive Board;
wv. c. PEARACE.
Secretary"