Evening star., 1897-07-28
ADMIT IT is FAIR
Yet Operators at Pittsburg Oppose
De Armitt's Plan.
COLONEL v. P. REND STANDS ALONE
Surprises Expected as a Result Of
Wheeling Conference.
MORE MINES SHUT DOWN

MORE MINES SHUT DOWN
PlTTSBURG, Pa. July 2S.-The second
days session of the uniformity convention,
which was scheduled for 10 o'clock this
morning. was an hour later in opening.
owing to the slowness of the operators III
getting together. A list of those who par
ticipated in the meeting yesterday shows
that eghty-five railroad and river mines
and four exclusively river mines were rep
resented Progress made yesterday and
today was slow that indications are that
it will be several weeks before an agree
ment satisfactory to the % per cent of the
operators of the district, necessary before
true uniformity can become an estaD
lished fact
The operators are rather dazed by this
second attempt to put this peculiar doc
trine into practice. All admit it Is fair.
but add that 1t is impossible OF accomplish
ment because 1t is too fair
How the Conference Stands.
On the one side is w. P. De Armitt. with
a small following, but giant in himself.
On the other hand are grouped the mass of
operators inimical to anything Mr.. De Ar
n.ftt might suggest. because he suggests
it. and not for the lack of merit the sug-
gestion might contain. w. p. Rend stands
off by himself, but his interests are SO
large he is bound to be respected. Mr..
ReEd refuses to be reconciled to Mr.. De
Armitt's suggestions, and he Is very We
hement in his protests against the presi-
dent of the New York and Cleveland Gas
Coal Company.
The refusal of the river operators to be-
come identified with the uniformity move
ment presents a obstacle in the way
of success. Without their aid the required
% per cent cannot be secured
ThoS Young says there seems to be a
mistaken impression as to the purpose of
the meeting. 1t is not to settle the strike
or the price of mining. 1t is simply to
discuss the proposed plan of uniformity.
Even II the agreement is adopted 1t will
not settle the strike. 1t can only lead up
to settlement. The price of mining would
then have to be settled by arbitration.
Think Plan Will Succeed.
Notwithstanding these obstacles. the
peace commissioners and the advocates of
uniformity express confidence that The
plan will yet be successful.
When Chairman Dempster called the
meeting to order there was almost many
operators present as yesterday. Among
those conspicuous for their absence was
Col. Rend, who yesterday bolted the con-
ference 1t was hoped that he would re-
consider his action and attend the confer
erce, but he did not put in an appearance.
Chairman Dempster announced the pre-
amble had already been adopted. J. Il.
Zerbe said the matter under consideration
was of the n ost Importance. and it wouli
take months to settle the matter. He then
moved that the vote OH the preamble be re-
considered. and the motion was adopted.
DR.. Blackburn announced that the river
operators mad not yet taken any action on
the uniformity question.
Mr.. Wilson moved that the convention go
into a committee of the whole to consider
the agreement. J. 3. Zerbe was called to
the chair, and Mr.. Dempster moved that
the agreement be taken up seriatum.
Mr.. Zerbe read the preamble, and motion
was made to adopt it.
PROVISIONS OF UNIFORMITY PLAN.
New Agreement Does Not Differ Ma
terially From the Old One.
PITTSBURG, Pa, July 2S.-The uni
formity agreement passed on by the COM
mittee CT nine coal operators does not
vary materially from the agreement of
February, 1895. In relation to- the differ
ential in thick and thin vein, and between
machine and pick mining. it states the
question shall be settled by q commission
appointed hereafter. If not settled in
thirty days after the agreement has gone
le cted to establish the differential.
The next change from the old agreement
is in the twentieth section relating to
amending the agreement. 1t Is proposed
that when 50 sgncrs shall signify in writ
ing their dissatisfaction of any section. the
commissioners shall call a meeting in the
Pittsburg court horse. not less than two
nor more than six days. after the call has
been issued. The signers attending the
meeting shall constitute quorum.
On the question of wages It says: "The
said commission, in the absence Of an
agreement with the miners establishing
such compensation shall refer said ques-
ton to board of arbitration to be NIL
tually agreed upon. or selected in the man
rer prescribed by said commission, and
a like number of representatives OF miners
who are employees of the subscribers"
sEDALIA CONFERENCE a FAILURE.
Only the Miners From Northern Part
of State Attended.
SEDALIA, Mo-, July 28-The coal
! miners conference. postponed from yester-
day until today, proves to be flash in the
pan. The Kansas and Illinois delegations,
expected to arrive last night, failed to ma
terialize. as did also the delegates from
Rich Hill, Lexington and Higginsville. Mo-,
and today the conference was declared off,
All OF the delegates present were from
the northern portion of the state Dele
gate Glee Of Higbee was of the belief that
the Kansas and Illinois delegations reached
some kind of an agreement at the confer
ence at Pittsburg. Kan, yesterday, and If
so. it would no doubt be indorsed by the
miners of Missouri.
SURPRISES ARE Expected,
Belief That Wheeling Conference De-
cided on Vigorous Policy.
WHEELING. w. Va. July 2S.-Amons
the local labor leaders there is general
disappointment that the conference held
yesterday did not take more radical action
than to merely offer sentimental sympathy
with no financial or strike all. 1t is be-
lieved that within the coming week there
| will be such army of organizers and
| agitators in West Virginia that the miners
who have thus far refused to desst from
work will be compelled to do so from sheer
force of numbers against them
1t is also believed that the conference
| made secret provisions for con luctfnp the