Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-08-26
CONFEREflCE HELD.
Col. Rend DenOunces Ratchfo~d,
Who Defends Hia Cnurse

A conference between National Presi-
dent NJ. ID. Ratchford. National Secre-
tary w. Z. Pearce and District President
Patrick Dolan, representing the miners,
and the coal operators OF the Pittsburg
district was called in Pittsburg to con-
slider some plan Of settling the strike.
There was considerable preliminary
sparring over what both sides were there
for. President Ratchford said his idea
was that the conference was TO arrange
for an interstate conference. The opera
tors told him the main thing was to get
the mines started, and if the miners Off
Gals were satisfied the question of wages
would be submitted to arbitration. In the
meantime the mines could be started.
President Ratchford said they would not
agree to anything less than 60 cents pend
ing the settlement of the question by the
arbitrators. and if the operators were not
willing 70 pay GO cents there would be no
use OF going into discussion of the mat
ter.
Col. w. p. Rend Of Chicago. whose
mines are on the Panhandle road, stirred
up trouble and made highly sensational
attack on President Ratchford early in
the conference. Ratchford had referred
to the conference of labor leaders at. St.
Louis, and said the meeting might result
IN a general suspension of work all over
the country. He said all trades will be
affected Col. Rend claimed this would
be an instruction and said to Ratchford ::
The circular letter you issued calling for
that st. Louis meeting was treason. If there
Is general strike of wage-earncrs In all
trades it will be an nsurrection. and this
ri n m
sausned that IT this strike continues there
VIII pc bloodshed. and the blood Of the peo'
PIE Killed will be upon your head. You don't
want to settle the strike: you are an anar,
chlst ana a traitor to the cause Of labor. The
people OF this country are ready to hang an,
archists and l am ready to help them pull
the rope.
While Col. Rend was speaking he was
shaking his fist vehemently at President
Ratchford, who remained cool and did
not attempt to answer the operator.
Afterward National President Ratch-
ford made the following statement:
There Is a feeling of opposition upon the
part OF the operators against an interstate
conference for certain business reasons. The
| general feeling among them is in favor Of
arbitration. To this we have no objection.
We believe in arbitration and favor arbtra-
ton. but Insist that this question must be
arbitrated upon the basis Of living wages.
have been misquoted. l never received a
request to come to Pittsburg to go into CON
ference. They never proposed arbitration
until to-day. excepting Col. Rend suggested
1t some weeks ago on the basis and with the
understanding to resume at the former price
pending the decision of three United States
Judges This we promptly refused without
| consideration. as it unfair in the ex-
| IRENE. and its unfairness was manifested
more conspicuously because it comes from
| a man who pretends fairness.
| If am a traitor to the cause OF labor, why
| should Col. Rend and | disagree? Rend ac-
cused John Mcbride of selling the strike OF
| 1894: he accused Phil penna whom | sue
| ceeded. Of being Il coal operator and working
In league with operators. 1t is the most nat
ural thing that he should accuse after
disagreement. l am not the least bit alarm
ed about Rend's accusation. | would as soon
have him accuse me as to have his friend
shin.