Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-25
OPERATORS AND STRIKE LEADERS
CANNOT AGREE.
STRUGGLE TO BE CONTINUED.
OPERATORS WILL. NOW OPEN THEIR
MINES AT ONCE.
II the Old Men Will Not Work New
Ones VIII Be Imported-Strikers
Held RespOnsible for the
Failure to Settle the
Trouble.

Pittsburg, Pa, Aug. 24.-At the coal
operators meeting this afternoon the
miners ultimatum to return to work at
the 60 cent rate pending arbitration was
rejected. The operators will now carry out
the plan adopted at the Cleveland con-
ference. and will open their mines at once.
If the old men will not accept their terms,
new ones will be imported
The operators conference was in secret
session for several hours, and when the
doors were opened their press agent an
nounced that the mines would certainly he
started with the old diggars If possible:
with imported men If the old men refused
to work. A committee was appointed, com
posed of representatives of every firm in
the district, to map out the mode of pro-
cedure for the resumption. This commit
tee will meet tomorrow for this purpose.
The statement concerning the joint con-
ference issued by the operators press COM
mittee tonight follows:
"The conference committees of the coal
operators and the officials of the miners
failed to agree and adjourned finally. The
miners were represented by their national
and district officers. Operator ]. B. Zerbe
was chosen chairman of the conference,
and w. C. Pearce of the miners, secretary.
Zerbe stated that 1t was desired to bring
Ratchford stated he and his associates
were empowered to entertain. discuss and
decide upon any propositions the operators
might submit. Chairman Zerbe asked that
the question of interstate agreement be
waived and this was assented to.
MIR. Ratchford then stated terms upon
which the miners would return to work,
saying they would go to work at once on
the 69-cent rate being paid until such time
as board Of arbitrators could make an
award of what would be a fair wage rate
any excess paid to the miners above the
award of the arbitrators to be deducted
from the pay of the miners afterward
The operators stated their reasons why this
could not be accepted. and. in lieu thereof
submitted four propositions for arbitration
one that the men should return to work
leaving to arbitrators what rate shall be
paid: one, leaving the question of rate oper
until after an award has been made; one
that the arbitrators decide within ten OF
twenty days, the miners remaining idle
| and one that the arbitrators have thirty
days in which to decide, the miners re.
naming idle.
'All these were peremptorily rejected by
the miners representatives, and the con.
ference adjourned.
THE operators feel that in submitting
these various propositions for settlement
by conciliation or arbitration, they have
exhausted every effort in trying to bring
about a settlement with the officials of the
| miners. The proposition of Mr.. Ratchford
could not be accepted because it means ar
advance of 271a per cent in wage cost, and
would entail irreparable losses upon the
producers. The prices at which the coal
contracts have been taken for this yeal
were enforced by the conditions which
| ruled the markets in the open competition
| from other producing fields. 1t should be
remembered that operators are confronted
! buyers to get the lowest price, which is
| determined by remorseless competition
| and by the miners, who demand the high.
est wage rates at all times.
"Amicable and conciliatory methods hav
| ing failed to convince or to move the lead
| tion follows to the miners and their fami
| lies must rest upon the miners officials
| The operators feel that they have exhaust
| ed all honorable means Of settlement Of
| strike which has entailed so much mis-
| cry upon the miners and those dependen
with the public, deplore. and would gladl,
change on a basis that would not be dis
| astrous to themselves. The miners Off
| cials having rejected the proposition mad,
| for an agreement, the operators can onl,
| ask the miners to consider the existinl
| conditions and ask themselves whethe
| they are justified in continuing a line O
| ing to work at a price which impartial ar
| bitrators may decide to be fair and jus
| under existing conditions, a board guide,
| by the impulses of equity and Justice, an,
having the sympathy of humanity in tn
scale in favor of the miners"