Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-10

Columbus, O., September 9.-The
miners convention remained in execu-
tive session until late this afternoon,
adjourning until tomorrow morning
without having taken vote on the
proposed settlement. President Ratch-
ford said to the Associated Perss rep
resentative tonight:
You may predict with every de-
gree of certainty that settlement
will be reached and that the action OF
the National Board in recommending
settlement will be Endorsed. The
delegates are beginning to see that the
best thing they can do is to accept the
proposition of the operators and return
to work at the price offered. While
the convention should, have finished its
business to-day it was impossible to
do so. Nearly every delegate desired to
say something regarding conditions in
his own locality and the convention
had to permit them to have Neir say.
When they have finished the conven-
ton can get to work
The arguments that have been pre-
sented by the officials and members of
the executive board in favor of a settle
ment have had great weight with the
delegates who have come to the con-
ventiOn uninstructed, and even some of
those who came with instructions have
gone so far as to communicate with
their constituents asking to be relieved
of instructions that they may be free
to vote as they deem best. Should this
6r~if Of
is taken the proposition for a settle
ment will undoubtedly be accepted.
The question as to whether a settle
ment on the lines proposed can be made
general appears to be the stumbling
block at this time. If the delegates
from Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia
and portions Of Ohio were assured that
the settlement would be beneficial to
them as well as to the miners Of the
Pittsburg district, they would not hest
tate to favor settlement The Hi
nois miners have not changed their po-
sition and positively decline to accept
the terms of settlement proposed by the
national board.
The officials have partially met the
argument of the Illinois miners by
saying that if the Illinois delegates will
agree to a settlement so that the min
ers of other States can resume work
the Illinois operators will be forced to
pay the price by their competitors in
other States. Should Illinois agree to
this. arrangement, Indiana and West
Virginia will fall into line without hes
itation
The committee on resolutions is
about equally divided on the question
OF settlement and will probably pre-
sent two reports to the convention to-
morrow. There were some fiery
speeches in the executive session of
the convention by delegates from Ohio,
Illinois and West Virginia. Secretary
T. L. Lewis, of the Ohio miners, said
that no matter what action the con-
vention took it would not settle the
strike, and Organizer Rea, who has
been at work in West Virginia,
charges that the conditions in that
State were due largely to it being over
run by non-union miners from Ohio
and the Pittsburg district
He said If these two districts had been
organized properly there would have
been no trouble in bringing the West Viz
ginia miners into line A proposition to
admit additional delegates from Pennsvl-
vania caused a stormy discussion. The
Illinois delegates objected on the ground
that If one State was allowed this privi-
lege it should be accorded to all The
matter was of material Importance as TO
admit new delegates might change the
vote and the opposition was so strong
that the motion to admit the additional
Pennsylvania delegates was voted down.
An effort will be made by the officers
to bring the convention 10 a close to-
morrow. provided the prospects of a
favorable vote on the proposition for a
settlement are ripe