The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-02
Leaders of the Strikers FavOrabIy
by Senator Hanna's Manager.
ACCEPTANCE NOT CERTAIN
BECAUSE THE DIGGERS THINK THEY
CAN GET 90 CENTS A TON.
President RatchfOrd Unwilling to
the COnference-Indian Miners.

PITTSBURG, Sept. 1.-Pittsburg coal OPP
orators will meet the national executive
board of the United Mine Workers of
America at o'clock tomorrow morning at
Columbus, O. A conference will be held,
and it is very probable that the big strike
will be settled, not, however, until the min
ers of the Pittsburg district have a say.
This, in brief is the situation, and hopes
are high that a settlement will follow the
conference. 1t may be prevented though
by one side or the other failing to make
concessions that seem to be in sight w.
p. Bonney, who represents the Scott inter
ests, George w. Schlenderbery, U. A. An
drews and j. j. Dysart, all boarded the
train tonight for Columbus. None of them
would say anything for publication except
Mr. Dysart. He said: The miners Off
Gals have asked to confer with us and we
are going to Columbus for that purpose.
That is all 1 can say" 1t is expected that
several of the operators from Cleveland
will also be in Columbus in the morning.
Cameron Miller, ex-vice president of the
United Mine Workers of America, received
a telegram from President Ratchford this
morning denying the statement that ne had
made "a proposition to the operators, and
saying that he had received an offer that
he would submit to the executive board.
This proposition comes from Thomas E.
Young, who represents the M. A. Hanna in
terests. The leading lake shippers who are
in Pittsburg emphatically deny that MI.
Young is on the executive committee OF
their organization or that he has any au-
thority to represent them. The of1er or 81
cents they say, is higher than they are
willing to make, but if it Will bring ABOUT
a settlement it would likely be accepted.
Some of them said the proposition reported
to have been made by President Ratchford
to start the mines at 69 cents, cents Oh
which was to be retained until a decision
had been given by the board or arDltratloH,
would be satisfactory. They were lncllile9
to believe that settlement Oh some hlLu
would be made within a few days. Iney
still contend, however, that if an agreement
is reached at the miners terms, the penenI
will be only temporary ana the rate WIN
go down again as soon as lake Navigation
That the miners officials think favorably
of the proposition submitted on pend1 "
Senator Hanna s interests IS very evident.
A private message from District PRESIDENT
Dolan tonight says the proposition VIII oe
considered but that he was in FAVOR OF
standing out for the 69-cent rate Pendlns
arbitration. If the executive poard ueclueu
otherwise. he said he would not ag s,Tte1 70
From one of the operators 1T was learned
tonight that some of the local oInclalS OF
the miners are in favor OF accepting the
convention will be called. Whether the
miners Of the district Will agree 70 tne
compromise is another question. Just now
they are much elated over the large attenu-
ance at their mass meetings and the llrine
ness exhibited by the men. Many , are OIL
| the opinion that they can win by nolulng
out a short time longer, as the opS ~,
TORS must have coal for the lake trade. Inc
operators are anxious to start anu II ~ se :!
Element is not reached at Columbus II Is
known that they Will resume with llIpoIt55
ed men. Secretary William warner lssGGeu
a letter to the miners tonight assuring
them that no settlement would be mace at
Columbus below the 69-cent rate WllhouI
first consulting them in convention.
The first decisive steps toward forming a
permanent organization of the lndependent
coal producers of the Pittsburg dlstrlct Was Was
taken to-day. a well-attended mee Enaf
was held in the office of the Blythe Coal
Company in the Iron Exchange puliolng.
About twenty operators were IN attendantGe.
The meeting was in a large measure IN
formal. and the situation was discussed IN
ali its details. There was a. unanimous
Sentiment in favor of forming q permanent
organization, to be known as the Coal Elk TX
change A committee was appointed 10 re-
port a plan by which the smaller producers
can be benefited in the way OF 1alrer prices prices
from the lake shippers. They are to make
a report which is to give the opJecls ;tuo
the mode Of regulating tne Nv w
Shields, w. J. Steen. j. W. Johnson, w: n.
wilson and G. w Hosack. The committee
will meet Friday and make report 10 an
o+ha, meeting to be held Saturday after
noon when IL is expected to perfect the OF
paniZafon. It is claimed Dy some tnaI me
Real object of the meeting was 70 CONFER
with the lake shippers with view or set
fling fine strike at the 69-cent rate, but TINS
was denied by those who TOOK part III the
meeting. 80 .a,4 10 40 Now
York and Cleveland Gas Coal company,
this evening attached the SIGNATURE OF n,I ms
company to the uniformity agreement. Inns I'M,
signature has been looked for a long tlIne
and some OF the promoters or the scheme
were beginning to despair OF gettlng II
| Those having in charge the securing OF sig
| natures now feel confident that the rest
nf tha onarators will fall in Line rapidly
| and the uniformity plan VIII sooH pe al
| assured fact. e 49,. H., 1a1,o
| The executive committee OF the plS "a iaKe
! shippers held meeting to-day ana II IS
| said II was decided to move at once toward
! opening their mines. The mines were Sc
| lected. but their location was not mage. MAGE
nublic. AS there seems to be posslollty
| IF n settlement at Columbus Tomorrow, ac-
| tive steps toward resumption VIII not pe
| taken until after the result OF the CONFER
ei E,mna Haas and the wives of fifteen min
| ers marched again at Plum Creek during
| thts early hours of the morning ana clalih
! to have done considerable Isiisslohaay WI -;
| TShe strikers also went out in pairs ana
| marched along the road to the mouth OIL the
| nil They reported that several men were
| induced to turn back.
Raturn of President RatchfOrd.
COLUMBUS, o., Sept 1.-President
Ratchford of the United Mine Workers,
returned from st. Louis to-day. and several
members of the national executive board
are also here to attend the meeting, which
has been postponed to Thursday morning.
The board will consider a proposition from
the Pittsburg operators for the miners in
that district TO return to work at GA cents
a ION pending arbitration of differences.
| President Ratchford has not received the