The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-02
MINERS STRIKE SITUATION
OPERATORS SHOW A CHANGE OF
FRONT IN THE MATTER OF
OPENING THE MINES.
INTERNAL D|SSENS|ON is REPORTED
Many Will Not Agree to Share Ex-
penses of Fighting Strikers.
Others Say the Plan Will he
Carried Out.

llttSburg, Aug. 23.-Thc coal opera
| tors of thc Pittsburg district have made
q decided change of front since yestcr-
| day. Internal dissensions. mixed with
| fear on the part of some, caused a split
| in their forces and change of base. On
its face the move looked to many like a
temporary surrender to the United Mine
workers of America. This, however. is
denied in most emphatic terms by the
most pominent lake shippers, who say
they are going to start their mines and
supply the demand from the northwest.
They publicly state that they are willing
TO wait for Il week or ten days before Il
definite move is made. Some Of the
operators in the morning were frank
enough to state that the situation 1T the
present time in all branches of labor is
critical and that they have no desire TO
make any move that will cast odium On
the operators of the pittsburg district.
1t was under these conditions that the
operators went into session this morning.
There were many who had not signed
the agreement to share their proportion
towards the expenses that might accrue
in the effort 10 start the mines ana they
were loudest in the appeals to hold aloof
to await developments. 1t was pro-
posed that notices printed in various Ian
guagcs, embracing briefly the position of
the operators, be circulated and also that
Il final notice to the miners be promul-
gated TO the effect that the mines were
ready to be operated as soon rs the men
expressed desire to 90 to work. This
proposal was barely entertained and was
voted down, showing that many of the
operators had rcccdcd from the stand
they had taken. 4 motion to discharge
all committees and adjourn sine die was
made and prevailed
In the afternoon another meeting of
the lake shippers was held. The SEES
sion was short and rs Il result the fol-
lowing was issued:
THE organization composed of all the
coal operators, which has been in session
at the Monongahcla hotel. adjourned this
morning sine die"
This puts matters into the hands of Il
committee appointed under an agree
mcnt which was entered into 1T Clovc-
land and which has since been ratified
large majority of the railroad coal pro-
duccrs of this district. This committee
has power to act. All efforts 10 ascertain
who composed this sppcia committee
were futile.
j. r. Xerb. who presided ut the meet
ing, was emphatic in asserting that the
operators who had originally gone into
the compact ut Cleveland to break the
strike had not changed their intentions.
In an interview he said:
IL wish To say it in all sincerity that
the operators who originally made ;hc
move towards starting their mines have
not changed their intentions. 1t is true
that the organization that has been in
session for the last few days has been
virtually abandoned. The old 0rganZn
ton has not been abandoned and will
continue the work on lines originally
mapped out. 1t is true that there is no
need of being in n big hurry. We have
plenty of time in which to start The
mines and get our share of the business.
We have ut least ten or twelve days
more in which we can get into shape.
The position taken by the officials of the
miners is one they will regret. Ii does
not seem fair towards the operate rs in
other states to have men who work at II
lower rate aud supply II trade that right
fully belongs To the PittSburg district
But rest assured that the mines of many
of the operators of the PittSburg district
will run when we have fully determined
upon our plan of action. Just when this
resumption is to take place am not pre-
pared to say or ut liberty to state. The
coal operators feel that they have right.
justice. law and order on their side and
are fully determined to resume business
when the proper time comes, which will
he SOOn."
The Cleveland operators left for their
homes tonight and it is probable that an
other meeting will he held in Cleveland
within the next few days.