Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-16
A GREAT STRIKE.

Il Possibility That TtUessty Thousand Mn
ers WiH Engage in 1t.
Philadelphia Times.l
A dispatch from Clearfield, Pa, says that
the disagreement upon the question of wages
between the coal operators and miners has
resulted IN . general strike of the Golfers
throughout the Clearfeld region. The con-
flicting elements both stubbornly maintain
the position they have assumed and the
prospect for an early or amicable adjust
ment of the difficulty is anything but bright.
The operators say the action of the strik-
ers is uncalled for and foolish, as the
present state of the coal market will
not permit of any concession of the demand
they make. They (the operators) do not in-
tend to retreat from the position they have
taken in the matter, and it is downright
folly for the men to expect any alteration of
their determination. On the other hand,
the GOLFERS, who are an intelligent and shrewd
class of men, assert that the operators are
abundantly able to agree to the proposition
the strikers have presented for their accept
ance. Their employers action is regarded
as very unwarranted and unjust, and will, it
is asserted, be soon productive of greater
and more extended complications in
quarters where trouble is least expected to
crop out. What is meant by the latter state
ment the malcontents decline to answer. It
is presumed, however, that the miners gen.
orally throughout the bituminous coal re-
gions are preparing for grand and general
s'stand- out"
The situation at Houtzdale, where the
strike originated, remains perfectly calm,
Notwithstanding the fact that certain reck-
less characters have threatened to inaugu-
rate lawlessness. The respectable and honest
miners, while they have determined to hold
out to the bitter end, will not allow them
selves to be drawn into the commission of
overt acts, either upon persons or prop
erty, as they are fully aware of the fact that
they will fatally injure their cause by resort
ing to extreme or lawless measures of any
kind. Should the strike become general
throughout the coal fields and incorporate
the districts where Mollie Mcguire element
largely predominates, there is every posi-
bility of the outcropping of outlawry. To
frustrate any illicit operations upon the part
of the wicked spirits among the mining pop
ulation, the coal and iron police has been
strengthened, and the coal works are doubiy
guarded day and night.
The number of malcontent miners at
Houtzdale is about 5000, while those at r.
win and adjacent mining centers will number
between 500 and 5000. II the Golfers
employed by the Penn Coal and Westmer-
land companies strike, the already large
army of strikers will be swelled to nearly
sc, 600 men. The dissatisfied men are hold
ing secret meetings, and it is currently
reported that the strike will become
q general and widely extended one
by Monday next. The opinion
prevails among all classes of oolliery
operatives that improper organization was
the cause of the miners failure In the Mo
nongahela, Allegheny and neighboring dis
tricts, and it is thought the plan of Secretary
Jones, of the Western Pennsylvania Miners
union, for another strike some time early
this month, will be more successful and salts
factory in it's results to the miners IN the
western part of the State, who are alleged
to be laboring undershe unjust and CALLING
yoke of oppression, which is enforced by
erasping operators and interruptions corpo-
ratiOns.