The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-17


Strikers Included in the Order-Enforce.
ment Means imprisonment OF All in
Campfire Sheriff Ready With His Dep
uties.
Pittsburg, August 12.-Sweeping and far
reaching injunctions now figure in the
| coal miners strike in the P%ittsburg dis
trict. The developments of today tend to
make the situation a strained one and it
appears that a crisis is near at hand.
The strikers have demonstrated that
the assemblages, marches and missionary
work have materially affected the outpu
of the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
| Company, while at the same time public
sympathy has been enlisted in their
| cause. The sheriff's proclamation issued
two weeks ago restraining them from
assembling and marching, has been a
| dead letter and the marches have been
continued daily. No disturbances of any
/ kind have occurred, the officials of the
miners contriving through the whole
time to keep their men within peaceful
bounds. A preliminary injunction was is
sued today by Judges Collier and Stowe,
| which now brings the matter to the coun-
ty courts for settlement. The order in
| cludes President Ratchford and Secretary
| Pierce, of the United Mine Workers of
America, and President Dolan and Secre-
tary Warner, of the Pittsburg district
mine workers. The case will be heard on
Monday morning and the decision is look
ed forward to with much interest. The
miners and their officials claim that they
| are keeping within the law and have the
right to assemble in peace and demon
strate to the world that they are being
wrOnged by a rate of wages that keeps
them constantly at the point of starva-
ton: also that they have a right to use
their presence and influence among men
who are initiating against their interests
by continuing at work.
The New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company, on the other hand. assert that
the marches and ~assemblages are unlaw-
full and a menace to their employees, many
of whom, they say, are willing to work,
provided the strikers remain away. Look
ing at the matter from this standpoint,
the company made it's radical move today
in the courts to bring about a condition
under which the ompany can operate its
mines.
The much talked of bill for an injunction
against the United Mine Workers that
States courts was filed in the country
courts about noon by counsel for the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Com
pany. The defendants named are the
United Mine Workers of America, Patrick
Dolan, president: Edward Mckay, vice
president; William Warner, secretary and
treasurer, and others. The plaintiff puts
forth that it is a corporation under the
laws Of Pennsylvania with a capital of
81, 900, 600 invested in coal lands of Penn
sylvania. Three of their mines. employ
ing 200 men, are at Plum Creek, Turtle
Creek and Sandy Creek. The bill then re-
cites the conditions prevailing at their
mines since the strike began and alleges
that the strikers have paid no attention
to the sheriff's proclamatior. and that the
lives of miners and the property of the
company are in danger.
Judge Collier granted a preliminary re-
straining order, e%njoining the defendants
from assembling, marching or encamping
in proximity to the mines and houses of
the miners for the purpose, by intimida-
ton, menaces, threats and OpprobiOuS
words, or preventing the miners of the
plaintiff from working. 1t further re-
strains the defendants from inducing or
compelling any employe or miner to quit
work. A hearing was fixed for August
18th. TIL injunction is regarded as the
most sweeping yet issued.
President Dolan expressed surprise
when Informed that it had been granted
and added: TT will make no difference
to us. We will not break camp and will
go right along as usual until the matter is
regardless of every judge in Allegheny
county, and if they try to enforce the in
junction they will have to build more
jails to accommodate the men,"
If the strikers continue their marches in
the morning, as they now say they will,
in defiance of the injunction, capiases
will be issued for the offenders on the
charge of contempt of court. Should the
injunction be enforced the strikers camps
around the De Armit mines will soon be
extinct. The strikers, though excited
over the turn Of events, are in no wise
disheartened.
Developments at Cannonsburg are being
watched closely. The avowed intention Of
the strikers to march tomorrow. despite
Judge McIlvaine'e Injunction, is expected
to result in bloodshed or the filling of the
county prisons with the arrested miners.
The long talked of demonstration
against the Westmoreland Company
mines has L.en abandoned by the strikers.
after one days trial because of a lack
of food. The attempt, it is said. will be
repeated soon when ample provisions will
be carried along and a siege proclaimed
and carried to successful issue. The in
junction secured by the New York and
to President Dolan by a deputy this
afternoon at miners headquarters. Mr..
Dolan who was writing at the time,
second and when the reading was finished
acknowledged it by merely saying,
Thank YOU He says the injunction
will not change the miners campaign in
the least.
Ex-President Cameron Miller came into
headquarters shortly after the reading of
the document to Dolan. He said the
miners will continue as heretofore, using
all lawful means possible to keep miners
from working during the struggle for
better wages.
1t is the intention of the officials of the
court to try to forestall the customary
march in the morning by going to the
camps tonight and reading the injunction
to the campers. If his is done. the crisis
will be certainly reached at about 4 O'Clock
in the morning, as the strikers appear de-
termined to test their right to carry out
their usual programme. 1t is said that
when the deputies do start to enforce
the injunction they will be compelled to
arrest every man for contempt, and that
as fast as the men are placed in jail
others will be brought into camp to take
their places and THIS the deputies will
be kept busy making arrests until the