Wichita eagle., 1888-01-07
THE READING STRIKE NOT MA
TERIALLY CHANGED.
The Knights of Labor Urging the
Strikers to Remain
Firm and Out.
A Resolution to Support the Candidate for
: Congress Who viii Vote to Re-
peal Coal Taxation.
The Pullman Woodcaryers at Chicago OBJ
ject to be Associated With the
Cabinet Makers-0ther
Labor News.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 6.-The leaders OF
the Reading railroad freight handler S
strike here are making desperate ell
deavors to cheer up the tagging spirits of
the men they have encouraged to leave
the company's service. At one of the
meeting places of the strikers, encourag-
ing messages were posted announcing that
no freight was being moved this way or
that way: that new hands Were quitting
the company's service, and many other
things which pictured the company in a
state of paralyzing perplexity. But
there are no signs that the
public can observe, that confirms
these reports. The railroad people claim
that they are moving their trains with
regularity. The situation at Port Rich
mond is practically unchanged and the
end of the strike appears to be as far off as
ever The Pinkerton men were still on
guard, but there was no work, for them to
do No signs of a strike, except the pres
ence of the detectives, were apparent. The
men appear to understand their business
quite as well as the strikers whose places
they had taken. The scarcity of coal in
the city yard has already had an influence
on the price of the commodity and Just at
present high figures are ruling. As high
rs $50 has been received for the best
hard ash coal, but quotations ranging
from 50 80 TO - are common and only
short supplies are available at that. The
record which has been selling coal at s.. -
per ton, today advanced the price to S6.25,
and coupled the announcement with the
statement that the filling of orders will
doranl on tho SIInniU of coal and hot
each customer will be sold but one ton.
AT g meeting last night of local assem-
bly, $500 Knights of Labor, composed of
Reading railroad employees, the following
preamble and resolutions were adopted:
The Philadelphia & Reading Railroad
company, in the present difficulties which
they have forced upon their employees are
engaging immigrants to fill the places
they have caused us to yacate; and,
Whereas. The company is protected from
foreign compatition by a protective tariff
on coal, which we have fondly believed for
years was intended to benefit American
labor; and
Whereas. We, as citizens of the republic,
believe the laws should be impartial and
that no laws should be enacted which con-
fer special privileges upon any class of
citizens: therefore, be it
Resolved, That i'll the coming election
for congressman we shall support only
those men who are pledged to vote to re
peal the trriff on coal.
1t is evident from the decreasing ship
mehts down the Reading railroad that
the output of collieries in the SchuylkiH
region is growing less During last night
and up to noon today but 600 cars passed
down the road. An advance in. the price
Of coal is being made. Coal dealers in this
city have been informed by producers that
egg, stone, small stone, pea and chestnut
coal would be advanced the mines 81 per
ton over the ruling price on December 81
The coal mines of the Reading railroad
are not offering for sale any coal in that
section. There has been considerable anX-
iety as TO whether or not the company
would continue to furnish individual oper-
ators with ears. Mr.. Miller of Miller &
Cox, operating at New Lincoln. said Il
lay the whole blame of this strike on Pres
ident Corbin and Superintendent Sweigart
They were wrong in not arbitrating with
this question and recognizing the Knights
of Labor which organization has been of
great benefit to me-" This not being sat
isfactory the men quit work. The Bell
more colliery at Ashland was compelled
to suspend this morning owing to the
scarcity of breaker employees.