The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-21
Officers of the National Union Estimate
that Between 100000 and 100000
Men Will Leave Their Work.
BLOCK MINERS WILL REMAIN
They Hold Meeting at Brazil
and Decide Not to Strike.
Employees of the Great Northern Rail-
way Arrested at ST. Cloud for Inter-
fering with Running of Trains.

PITTSBURG, April 2o-To-morrow at
noon the great coal strike. which has been
pending for several months, will be in
augurated Opinions differ as to the num-
Der Of men who will be engaged in it,
President John Mcbride, Of the United Mine
Workers Union. estimates that 10000 men
viii be engaged. Secretary Patrick Nc
Bryde is quoted as placing the number to
be engaged at 10000. The telegraphic re-
ports indicate that the number will be be-
tween these two extremes. The strike will
be confined 10 the bltuminous coal region
OF the United States In this there are
twenty three districts organized, four being
in Pennsylvania. The other districts are:
Washington. Wyoming, Colorado, Indian
Territory, Missouri. Kansas, Alabama, Ten
nessee. Kentucky. Virginia, West Virginia,
Maryland. Ohio. Indiana and Illinois.
A Massillon operator says that three
thousand coal mines in the United States
will be abandoned. OF these three hundred
are located in Ohio. In the Pittsburg dis
trict alone there are about 100 mines and
fully thirty more in the Clearfeld or Noun
tain district. These two districts have
about twenty-five thousand miners. In
Ohio there are about thirty thousand min
ers; in Indiana. twelve thousand; in Illi-
nois, eleven thousand: in Alabama, ten
thousand. who have already quit work; in
Missouri eight thousand, I'm Tennessee
about four thousand and in West Virginia
about ten thousand diggers are engaged,
but IL IS not believed that many will quit
work. In Washington all are ready to stop.
That the operators in this and the Ohio
districts believe the strike will assume
Eu
during the past week Of mines which have
long been idle. the feverish hurry to get out
coal. even coke cars being used for the pur-
pose. and the putting o. as many men at
work can be secured They have not been
formally notified of the strike, but
aware that II Is coming. They have not
decided what action to take in the matter.
Manufacturers and foundry owners are
greatly alarmed and do not credit assur-
ances from operators that the strike will
be of short duration. and therefore they
are securing all the coal they can. It Is
cause a shortage which may result in the
closing down of their works. Local con-
ssumers also apprehend an adI
as a result of the strike. and are laying
In supplies now. so that the coal dealers
have all the orders they can attend to.
Altogether no impending strike for years
has caused so much general interest and
diggers will not be called out at present,
a is announced that in case hard coal is
used to raise steam where bituminous fuel
IS now employed that region will be rem
dered imperative by strike. There are
about forty thousand miners employed by
thraclte region.
VIII thu strike be a success? To those
on the inside Of the organization a sue
cessful strike is not the object of the sus-
pension, but IL will have the desired effect
that is. a conference Of operators all over
wages to the miners and more money to
the operators. The operators in
OF Pennsylvania really favor the sus-
pension movement They want a higher
schedule OF prices. but all must conform.
Block Miners Against a Strike.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BRAZIL Ind. April 2O.-Twenty-flve del
egateS. representing nearly two thousand
urorganized miners OF the county met at
the courthouse this morning 10 decide
whether TO quit work at noon tomorrow or
continue work until the expiration of their
contract, May /. Every block mine in the
county represented. After considerable
pickering the vote Of the miners at each
mine given by delegate. The result
was as follows: To continue work, 1876; to
strike 736. There being 6l0 majority for
work an effort was made 10 determine how
many days a week the men should work.
and this precipitated an uproar. Secretary
called down. After wrangling for some
time the meeting adjourned. and it is TO be
understood that the men continue To work
full time until May 1. a ripple OF excite
ment was created at the outset of the pro-
ceedings by the block miners deciding to
prohibit the three delegates representing the
unorganized bituminous men from voting in
the meeting. Mr.. Kennedy. when asked
what his opinion OF the outcome Of the
great deal toward defeating the men in
their struggle for the retention OF the pres
ent prices. Mr., Kennedy excited. His
cold reception and the absolute ignoring OF
his advices has greatly rlled him. He re-
bGked the men freely for not allowing the
He declared that the meeting was for the
purpose OF securing the sentiments of all
the unorganized miners. and that the BIZ
luminous men were entitled TO vote.
Drank Twenty Kegs OF Beer.
NEW YORK. April 2O-The striking silk
weavers of Paterson n. j.. five hundred
strong. accompanied by two hundred weav-
ers from Union Hill, n. j., arrived in this
city to-day. Twenty kegs of beer lad been
consumed on the way. These had been pre-
scented by brewers OF Paterson. on the
way stops were made at Passaic, Carl
stadt and Union Hill. They were accom-
panied by a band Of music The column
was met at various places on the route by
sympath izerS, and were escorted 10 the sew
era towns where the stops were made
-Four hundred men met the column in New
tiers, at FOrty-fOurth street and Tenth ave
hue. Here a meeting was held and various
members OF the order made speeches. At
night another meeting was held. and after
wards the visitors We're taken 10 the homes
OF New York strikers. Tomorrow the Pat
erson men will return home. They will be
escorted out of town by their friends.
5000 Mines VIII he Idle.
CLEVELAND. April 2O.-Speaking OF the
effects and prospects OF the big miners
strike ordered for tomorrow noon. prom
inent Massillon operator says: 1T will be
tie greatest coal miners strike the world
ever saw. II viii not hast later than next
June. but IL may be satisfactorily settled
within two weeks. Probably three thou
sand coal mines In the United States will
Awarded Highest r
mr. ID %