Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-15
BOARDING THE CASH.
The Men In the Connellsville Coke
Region Preparing For
GOING ON ANOTHER BIG STRIKE.
Merchants Already Notice That the Miners
Spend No Money.
INTERESTING TALK ON THE SITUATION

The men in the coke region are preparing
for another strike. All signs indicate that
the struggle will begin before very many
weeks, and though it may be several months,
the strike is almost sure to come within the
year.
John G. Berryhill, the Mt Pleasant
jeweler, and First Lieutenant of Company
E, Tenth Regiment was in the city yester-
day and in conversation with DISPATCH
reporter gave some very interesting facts
regarding existing conditions among the
cokers and miners of the region. Mr.
Berryhill is an unbiased observer, as he
recognizes the fact that all the business of
the region depends upon the men getting
good wages and the operators being able to
furnish the work. He is in a position to
see the trend of affairs, long before they
have assumed practical shape, and is closely
enough interested to keep an eye open for
all signs of an approaching struggle between
officers and men. He declared yesterday
that he had not the least doubt Of the men
preparing for strike and cited some facts
which give strong grounds for the sus-
picion.
THE MEN BOARDING THEIR WAGES.
"Last Saturday." said Mr.. Berryhill,
cover S25, 900 was paid out to the men in
expected to do a good Saturdays business,
but venture to say that not one of them
did a business of $1OO 1t was a great sur
prise, but the meaning of it is plainly seen
by every observant man in the region. The
men are boarding their money for an
other strike. and it is bound to come. Moth
ing will be said about it, but would not be
surprised to at any time hear of the men
quitting their work.
'They will not go out unprepared." he
continued, "but will quietly lay away the
greater part of their money until they see a
time when there is demand for coke, when
they win again quit work and fight on the
issue they lost in the last struggle"
'"That will mean that the militia will have
to use the bayonets on them," said another
member In the party.
"Oh, no 1t won't, !" returned Mr.. Berryhill.
"They see what it cost the last time, and will
sensible fellows, but they lost their heads in
the last strike"
THEY SEE THEIR MISTAKES.
"1f they had kept quiet they would prob
ably have won, but by rioting they lost pub
lie sympathy, even though they did some
times have grievance. They now see
where they made a mistake, and their next
strike will be harder than the last am in
position to get inside facts in their fairs.
1 believe the next strike is not very far dis
tant. The men are smart enough to lay up
their money in anticipation of long siege,
and II they are prepared for 1t it will mean
harder one than ever"
"What do you think of the charges that
officers got the biggest part of the relief
money during the recent striker" was asked.
81 don't think there is any truth in the
statement. You must know that it takes a
great deal of money to go around when 1000
or ZOO men are idle. That means about
10000 or 80 900 people to feed. The officers
could not have gotten away with a great
deal of money, as not great deal of 1t ever
came into the region. I know some was dis
region went to the men,"
OTHER INDICATIONS OF A STRIKE.
The facts noted by Lieutenant Berryhill
only carry out the impression given by Pres
ident John B. Rea of the United Mine Work
ers of America, in his interview in THE Dis
PATCH yesterday morning. The leaders ap-
pear to be solidifying their organization
with some special object in view. a strike
would be death to the miners and cokers, and
it is apparent that they are preparing
against such a catastrophe.
An attempt WILL of course, be made to
quietly work up to the point of quitting
work. "Forewarned is forearmed" :" and that
as much as anything was the reason the
operators defeated the men the last time.
As soon as they learned of the proposed
strike they allowed about only half time.
The men were thus prevented from laying
aside great deal of money. They purpose
not to be caught mapping this time and have
begun boarding their wages long before they
expect to be called upon to quit work.