Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-08
COAL MINERS STRIKE.
975,o MEN IN SIX STATES
INVOLVED.
Want to Share In the Revival of Pros
perlty-strIke Now When They Can
Best Get Along without Their Usual
Wages-sO, 900 Steel Workers Out.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 3. -Telegram
received by President Ratchford o
the United Mine Workers indicate
that the order for a general strike O.
the miners has been complied will
generally throughout the mining dis
tricts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Western Pennsylvania and in sections
of West Virginia and Kentucky. II
will take several days, however, tc
determine with any degree of accu
rateness the number of men involved.
President Ratchtord roughly esti-
mates the number at 200, 1000, but this
is regarded as very lib eral.
The official document says:
"To the Mine Workers of the Coun-
try, Greeting-Fellow Miners: At the
last annual convention of the United
Mine Workers of America, held in the
city of Columbus, Ohio, January 1916,
1897, it was determined that the scale
of prices should be advanced to the
following rates: Pennsylvania, Pitts
burg district, pick mining, siXty-nine
cents per ton; Ohio, sixty cents per
ton; Indiana Qbituminous), sixty cents
per ton; Illinois Grape Creek, fifty-five
cents per ton; machine mining to be
paid three-fifths per ton of the price
for pick mining, except in Indiana
(bituminous), where the price shall be
four fifths per ton of the price paid
for pick mining; other mining sections
a corresponding increase in price that
will place shem on relative basis. 1t
was further agreed that the time for
enforcement of the scale be left with
the national executive board and the
district presidents to determine when
it would be most opportune to put this
scale into effect"
The document then urges unanimity
and fidelity among the members and
continues: THE signs of the times,
as pointed out by the press and by the
testimony of men versed in public af-
fairs is that business is rcviying, that
an upward tendency in prices of all
commodities is apparent. In the gen.
eral business revival and Industrial
Improvement which is earnestly pro-
claimed, we ought to share, and if we
do not attempt to share we shall be
false to ourselves and those dependent
upon us. Let the watchword be,
mine workers are entitled to fair
days pay for fair days work.
Local committees are directed to be
formed and to see that action is taken
ut once and local leaders are urged to
assume responsibility and authority.
ITO insure success" the document
says, great care should be exercised
by all that no breach of the peace oc-
ours at any time or place, or under
any circumstances. Bulletins will be
issued from time to time to keep you
Informed of the progress of affairs"
The national executive board is com.
posed of Fred Dilcher, r. L. Davis, J.
II. Kennedy, Harry Stephenson, James
NJ Carson and Patrick Dolan. NJ d.
Ratchford is president of the national
executive board, John Kane vice pres
ident and W. C. Pearce secretary
Officers here say 375, 900 men are in
Volved as proposed strikers. President
Ratchford says this is the best time to
settle the question of wages as during
the summer the men can make use of
their little garden plots in obtaining
subsistence, and the needs of clothing
are not so great as in winter