The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-08
VICTORY TOR MINERS ASSURED.
President Ratchford Confident the Work
 men Will Win in the Coal Strike.

mon Will Win III she Coai SIr'No' Columbus, o., July 7,-President Ratchford said to-day:
 There is no longer any doubt that an ultimate victory for the miners IS assured" MT. Ratchford said he would
 not give figures to-day, but the reports were favorable and added: The Cln- lcinnati Central Labor Council has taken
 up the matter of relief and submitted their proposition to the president or the American Federation of Labor, recom-
 mending that the entire membership or that organization be assessed ten cents per man per week. which will amount to S6O,000. Assurance of support from MT. Gompers of the American Fedora tion of Labor of sympathy herntofore Withheld justifies us in the bellef that he would be glad to carry out their wishes.
 ITO carry out this movement and in-
 sure its success the presidents of the | national organizations will in few days meet in conference to deal with
 this and other phases of the subject. Indications also point to the fact that railroad employees are taking deep interest in the mining troubles, which interest may lead to their re- fusal to handle non-union coal during the present disturbance. The shipment of coal from the West Virginia fields to the lake market has never exceeded 6 per cent. of the whole stock in any one season. We recognize however," said MT. Ratchford that 1t is diffi- cult matter to disp1ace any coal to which consumers become accustomed The remedy for this, if it be an evil, lies in the hands of some of those who complain most bitterly. It is deplor- able spectacle to witness coal from West Virginia finding its way to the lake front over coal roads of Ohio, while the mining properties on such roads have been standing in idleness and the l managers, both of the roads and the 1 mines, are giving a rate to West Vir- ginla shippers which enables them to enter the market at a less price. Three months ago we served timely | warning upon the operators of the | Pittsburg district that West Virginia
 coal would enter the markets in greater quantities this season than at any pre-
 vious time.''
 l They preferred to continue 1t, mak- ing it necessary for us to spend our l time and money on the Pittsburg dis | trict rather than turn our forces into | the Virginia field, which we have glad | ly done and thereby removed their complaints to a considerable extent | We have called them together in con- ference. We have visited the national l capital, and in a measure have gone 1 down upon our knees to bring influence 1 to bear that might avert this calamity but it was all of no use. Little atten- I tion was given to our appeals, and hence a resort to the only means at our ;E command--Suspensio
 T notice from the press that steps
 are being taken to operate certain min l ing properties in Ohio which are now in the hands of receivers, and under l the protection of United States mar l shals. This is sad commentary upon the freedom of American citizens who are striving for bread fer themselves and their little ones. Independence day is hardly over until cruel laws by which the working people are ground down are put in force. am in possess sion of reliable information this morn ing that the Monongahela Coal and Coke company at Pennington, w. Va, are tied up and have advertised for
 two hundred miners, assuring them steady work and good wages.
 This action will be followed by min
 CTS in other sections of West Virginia
 until the suspension is made general in that state. I am also assured on infor-
 nation equally as reliable that there is
 not coal supply enough in Chicago to
 bridge them over six days. Notices
 from other great coal centers all in
 dicate that a coal famine is near at
 hand; that railroad circles are being
 disturbed, all of which Is most favora-
 ble toward the securing of living wages
 for the miners. All that is necessary
 now is for the miners everywhere to
 avail themselves of this grand oppor-
 unity"
 W. P. Rend and President Ratchford
 Of the Miners union held private con-
 ference to-day. MT. Ratchford de- | o1i~ fo exixy