The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-11
MINERS AT COLUMBUS
Exciting Scenes EEliven the Debate Over
the Settlement Proposition.

the ceHtiemeht Iroposiilons
Columbus, Ohio, Sept 10.-The miners
today were still talking in national con-
vention about a settlement of the strike
/ and reporters who hung about the doors
outside said the convention run into to-
morrow.
The third days session was called to
order al 5 a. m. At the Thursday after
noon session two test votes were taken
that had their bearing on the question
Of accepting the proposition Of the Pitts
! burg operators of 90 cents per ton. The
resolution at stake vas proposition
! from Chris Evans to the effect that in
! the event of settlement, the work Of
organization was TO be continued in the
| West Virginia fields, and TO give the re-
suit to the newspapers. a delegate cali
! ed for a division Of the question and both
were promptly voted down. In fact.
! every proposition made by the officers,
who had proposed the settlement, was
promptly shelved. The opposition to the
settlement in a private way, claimed to
control tWo-thirds Of the members of the
convention.
A prominent man, one who has been
instrumental in raising a large amount
Of aid for the starving miners in Ohio,
said the convention had better accept
the proposition as it would in the future
be almost an impossibility 70 secure fur
Their contributions
II was known that the would be main
~ devoted TO considering resolutions,
bearing on certain things.
a most exciting incident happened
when new delegate from Cecil. Pa, the
home of President Dolan, presented his
credentials. The delegate is a French
man and very bright and brought with
him a letter from the local union en-
phatically declaring against accepting
the 60 cents offered by the PittsouTg OPP
orators. The reading of the letter near
" resulted in a rough and tumble fight,
and only a prompt explanation saved
most disgraceful scene on the floor of
the convention. President Dolan prompt
" declared the letter "a He" A dele
gate deliberately pulled off his coat,
threw it on a chair, and in vigorous
language inquired: Does the president
men to say that 1 am liar?'
No" replied President Dolan; ''but
do mean to say that the letter is a lie"
That is all right as TO the letter but
he must say that I am a liar. AS 10
the letter being a lie. Mr.. Dolan can set
tie that with the local union when ne re-
turns home"
For the time the difficulty was avoid
ed, but il clearly indicated that even in
the Pittsburg district. the feeling was
not all for accepting the proposition of
the miners.
One OF the matters which had its in
fluence with the Indiana delegations was
that ex-Presdent Penn, now superin-
tendent Of a mine al Brazil, Ind, and J.
H Tolley the largest mine owner in the
state, asked President Ratchford some
time ago for a permit 10 secure 70 per
cent of the operators in Indiana TO pay
any demand of the miners. on condition
that the Indiana operators be allowed TO
resume work. This Mr. Ratchford de-
clined. He said all must go 10 work or
none. Some OF the Indiana delegates
look upon this action OF Mr.. Ratchford
as ''lost opportunity for them, for now
they know they cannot settle upon any
such favorable terms. They have in
stituted active work to bring the In
diana operators into line.
The most important resolution to3ay
provided for 65-cent rate in the Pitts
burg district, all other fields in the
competitive districts to be a. the same
ratio. The resolution was tabled. 1t
would have covered all the states. a
substitute was then offered providing
for the 65-cent rate in the Pittsburg dis
trict, pure and simple.
Alarge number Of kilograms were re-
ceived from Pittsburg labor leaders urg-
ing the acceptance OF the 65-cent rate.
The elegrams stated openly that the
price was reasonable and ought to be
accepted and II not accepted that public
sympathy wiuld be withdrawn and the
miners left to fight the battle on their
own resources.