The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-06
STRIKING
MINERS ]
The ToilerS ImplOred Not to Falter in
Their Struggle.
THE OUTCOME PROBLEMATICAL
Operators Assert That the Suspension viii
Not be General, While Mine Leaders
Assert the Contrary -Deplorable
Condition Of the Strikers.

Plttsburg, July 6-The great strug-
gle Of the CO i miners was inauyurated
throughout Pittsburg district yester-
day, but it ~ as yet impossit lie to tell
anything al out the true situation as
yesterday " as a general hoilday and
work was suspended in all the mtues
of the district. Yesterday was day
of mass me aungs. BY a preconcerted
arrangement of the district executive
board of the United Mine Workers
meetings We're held in nearly every
mining settlement that was represent
ed at Saturdays convention in this
city, and this miners were implored not
to falter I'm The great struggle that has
begun. What effect the meetings will
have cannot yet be determined When
II Is learned Just how many men refuse
to go to work, then the magnitude Of
the strike VIII manifest itself
Much doubt is expressed as to the
action of the miners ON the Wheeling
division of the Baltimore & Ohio, the
M. A Hanna & Co.'s miners on the
Panhandle, who are working at the 60
cent rate under an ironclad contract,
and the New York & Cleveland miners
at Turtle Creek, PUN Creek and Sandy
Creek. The miners officials claim these
men will strike, and the operators say
they will not, In speaking of the
strike, President Dolan said:
II have every reason to believe that,
with the exception of a very few mines,
the suspension will be general. Our
men realize that this is the fight Of
their lives and from the expressions
of determination 1 hear on all sides 1
have every reason to believe the strike
will be successful.
How long win it last, you ask. That
is pretty difficult question to answer,
But of one thing you can be assured,
We are in good shape to stay out all
summer BY good shape l mean that
we have warm weather and a prospec-
tive big demand for lake trade coal in
sight which makes the time much
more oppprtune than in winter
There is an erroneous impression
that, by reason of so many industries
being shut down. there viii be little
demand for coal. 1t is not gene Z ly
known, but the supply of coal for the
manufactures in the Pittsburg district
Is but drop in the bucket when COM
pared with the lake trade, which sup.
plies the markets where coal mines are
practically unknown"
The general suspension, to those In a
condition to know presents some very
discouraging features The past win
ter has been severe on the mining
craft. Business has been very dun.
and in addition the lowest rate ever
paid in the district prevailed for the
little work that was done, Women
and children have been sufferers nigh
unto starvation, and many of them
have been wards of the county. With
spring the conditions were a little i'm
proved, and during the past month
many mines have been running con-
tinuously What little has been earned
will be used in paying debts contract
ed during the reign of semi-starvation.
After the struggles through which they
have so recently passed, 1t is doubt
ful whether many will have the cour-
age to renew them. On the other hand.
many assert, with a determination
born of despair that at the prices Of
fered they cannot earn enough to fur
nish them with the strength necessary
for their labors
The leaders hope to convince the
miners that by reason of the suspen-
sion being general, victory is likely to
follow. 1t has been argued that the
public is In favor of the miners being
paid a higher price, and that general
support will be forthcoming,