The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-26

matter Of course. The Genera. is very. pop
ular, however, and his recent treatment py
Congress has rather increased than dimin,sh-
cd his popularity. The Iiobe; DemocrM nag
Senate, and 1t would not be very surprising
II he were elected for the short torn, which
expires on the fourth OF next March. Senator
Armstrong now occupies the seat by appoint
ment. and ~ the election Of his successor next
January will probably be intended only as
compliment. Cen Shields may be the success
full candidate. His chances are now certainly,
as good as those OF any other candidate. II
elected, he will enjoy the honor OF having rep
resented three different States llilnois low"
and Missouri, in the United States Senate
Although an old man, he is in excellent health,
and looks younger, his friends say, than he
did twenty years ago.
THE MINERS OF ST. CLAIR COUNTY
Illinois, have been on n strike nearly month,
and the price of coal in st. Louis has risen in
consequence to sixteen and eighteen cents n
bushel Before the strike coal sold here for
eight, nine and ten cents u bushel. The
miners want two cents and a half bushel
for digging the coal, and the probability. is
that their demands will be acceded to by the
operators In fact, some OF the operators have
agreed to pay them two cents and a half In flu
ture, but no work Is allowed to be commenced
in any mine until oil the operators accept
the two and a half cents proposition The
buildings and machinery Of two mines near
DShevnlc WeIS seu w me Wy tho 'sti MOLE "
few nights ago and the property entirely de,
stro, ed. There are large number OF coal
mines in the county, probably fifty or sixty
that are operated, and the miners form very
considerable portion Of the population OF tho
county. Several years ago they received
five, six and even seven cents a bushel
for digging COAL but the price has been
reduced time and again until 1t has reached
cent and half starvation point, the
miners say. During the first three months of
the present before the strike com
menced--the operatives earned on an average,
throughout the county but 63L9 cents day,
which WIS insufficient to support themselves
and families. The cost OF transportation to
st. Louis, a distance notexoeeding twenty-five
miles from the farthest mine, Is three or four
times as great as tho cost OF mining Itself.
comes from the mines OF st. Clair county, Ill,
and Madison county directly opposite ST.
Louis, and adjoining st. Clair county on the
north.
Next Sunday will be
DECORATION DAY,
the day on which it Is customary to decorate
the graves OF soldiers (both Federal and Con
federated buried In the National Cemetery at
Jefferson Barracks and In other cemeteries In
and about st. Louis. The day has heretofore
been the thirtieth of May, but it has been
changed this year to May rs, Sunday. Gen.
John S. Marmaduke, Confederate Cen
eral will have charge of the days
exercises at the National Cemetery, and all
the State and city militia in St Louis will
take part. Heretofore thespeakers have gen
orally been chosen from among men who took
an active part i'm the war, and who afterwards
became prominent citizens Of st. Louis. The
speakers next Sunday will be chosen exclu-
sively from the clergy OF the city