Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-01
EXAGGERATED REPORTS.
BITTERLY UNFAIR TO MINERS.
Intense Hunger and Suffering Prevails
But There rs no Revolt and no
Plan for One Foreshadowed.

PIrTsBUKG, Nov. 30.-Speaking Of the
situation in Hooking Valley, a stan CORES
Pondent of the Times, who is on the ground
investigating the strike, says ; During my
brief stay in New Straitsville. have clearly
ascertained that reports of the situation here,
as wired throughout the country, have
generally been sent from Columbus, Ohio.
These reports have, as rule, been
exaggerated, or altogether false. They
are furnished to various CORES
spondents who have never been out
side of Columbus, by friends of the oper-
ators. That is just as unfair to the miners
and the reading public as one-sided report
lie and operators. Some of the Columbus
papers daily publish statements bitterly un-
fair to the miners in that almost every little
thing transpiring has been magnified into
ridiculous dimensions" After citing numer-
Gus instances of gross exaggeration, the cor
respondent continues: There is no cause
for great alarm, while l do not say there has
been no occasion whatever for alarm,
| am confident that there is not such an
alarming state of anarchy prevailing In this
great coal bearing region as has been re-
ported. There is hunger and suffering in
tense enough to create a fearful and savage
revolt, but deny that any general plan OF
revolt has been foreshadowed by the strik-
ers. 1t Is most certain tn few words OF in
telligent and gentlemanly advice would have
IA better effect than the presence of the whole
Pinkerton force, which, under the present
circumstances, is but an incitement to rebel
lion. In Straitsville, town of about 5000
inhabitants, there are six of these detectives
is but foolishness to suppose that there was
any desire TO kill anyone, or to engage In
rot. The presence of but six men among 80
great number of strikers cause no hesita-
ton, for a bitterer fight between capital and
labor never took place. This strike means
the almost certain death of the monied coal
and iron syndicate or the death of trades
unlonism in the Hooking Valley" After
giving a history of the syndicate the CORES
pondent says: 1T is the offspring of a gi-
gantic but comparatively untried body, now
deceased, viz, the well-known Standard
Coal and Iron Company, with which it
is commonly reported Blaine was
connected. The pretensions of this body,
with its $4,000, 600 capital, were enormous
during the depression In coal trade in 1881
'62, and secured the control of the entire
system of mines in Hooking Valley by a per-
forced consolidation with various corpora
tions, then struggling for existence in that
district, with the present syndicate in March,
Gen. Thomas K. Buchtel, Walter Craft, l..
Longstreth, II. ID. Tworly, and Messrs.
Moss and Marshall. Their failure to
realize their expectations In securing
control of the entire lake market,
and being denied similar power over other
places, prices went down and the only hope
they had of continuing operation was to re-
duce the wages of the miners, which went
into effect the 21st of June last
A special from NelsOnville SAYS that about
last night, resolved to resume work to-mor-
row at their employers terms. A large mass
meeting of strikers will be held tomorrow
to discuss the situation. Several strikers at
Sand Run mine also threatened to resume
work. The citizens of Jacksonville have is
sued circular guaranteeing protection to
all desiring to return to work, no matter on
what terms. The circular also pledges pro-
lection to all miners who may come here to
work at the reduced price. This also has
given great offense to the strikers, hut there
is no sign whatever of a general break. The
fight among the "colored blacklegs," at
Buchtel, last night, resulted in the fatal
shooting in the head of one of their number.
row which promised to be large one was
subdued by the Pinkerton guards.
New YORK, Nov. 3O.-At meeting of the
Central Labor Union to-day, donations
amounting to over $1,000 for the striking
Hooking Valley miners were reported. 1t
was announced that Sullivan had promised
to be present at the sparring benefit for the
strikers Tuesday night at Madison Square.
Several other we'll known pugilists viii take
part in the affair.