The Monmouth inquirer., 1897-07-15
ALULLIN THE STRIKE
1T MAY BE THE PRoveReIAL CALM
BEFORE THE STORM.

Operators In the Pittshurs District Plan
ming Coup to Defeat the Striking
Miners-A Repetition of the Sickle
Hollow Tragedy May BE Repeated.
Pittsburg July 14.-There is lull in
the miners strike in this district, at
tribntable to the fact that nearly every
mine in the district is idle. To keep up
the enthusiasm and prevent the strikers
from becoming lukewarm in the cause,
however. the officials have arranged for
a series of meetings in different sections
every day. Meetings have been held at
Banning, Fayette City and West New
ton, and at each place resolutions were
adopted not to return to work until the
officials gave the order.
A large meeting has also been held at
Snowden on the Wheeling division, and
the men were unanimous in their. deter
mination to stand firm for the So cent
rate. The miners on this division fear
that the company will soon begin evic-
tions from their houses and intimate
that if this is attempted there will be
no trouble.
The meeting was addressed by Presi-
dCIil NJdAldilQ VI Illc A1udlAdtIldbC4 a.
sociation, Thomas Grundy of the United
Teamsters, NJ. P. Carrick of the Paint
ers and Decorators, and John Kelley of
the United Labor league.
News has reached the miners head
quarters that the diggers in the Camel,
Warner and Morgan mines, Beaver
county. have thrown down their picks
and Joined the general strike. The
three pits employ about 300 men. The
strike has also spread to Mercer county.
Five mines are idle in that region.
They are Hallville. Spear, Ridge and
Diamond mines Nos. 1 and 2. The men
struck for an advance Of 10 cents per
ton.
An effort has been made to resume
work at the Eagle mine at Mononga-
hela City 1t is q cooperative concern,
but the sentiment of a majority of the
stockholders was against resumption,
and it was decided,t ito keep the pit closed
until the strike was settled. A delega-
ton from Brownsville says the Knob,
Beaumont, Umpire and Albany mines
have closed down, and the miners have
joined in the general strike, with a de-
termination to remain out until the
question of wages is satisfactorily set
tied
President Dolan said a movement
would shortly be made on the mines
above the Pennsylvania railroad that
are still in operation, and a strong ef-
fort will be made to bring the men
out. No plans have yet been arranged
to bring out the men at the three mines
of the New York and Cleveland Gas
Coal company, but Mr.. Dolan says they
will receive attention later in the
week.
The Calm Before Storm.
The proverbial calm before the storm
is likely to be exempted in the miners
strike situation here.
1t has developed that a number of
the operatess have been quietly PLAN
ming a coup, which is expected to bring
dismay to the miners. 1t is the inten-
ton to at once equip the mines with
machines and do away with a great
many diggers. When the mines are
ready to start, miners will be imported
and put to work under heavy guard
and the premises barricaded. With the
cooperation of the other operators j..
A. Beidler of the Webster Gas Coal
company, located on the Monongahela
river, will take the initiative. The qp-
orators claim this plan becomes nee
essary because the West Virginia peo-
pie are gobbling all of their contracts.
1t goes without saying that the diggers
will resort to every possible means to
prevent the carrying out of the propos-
ed scheme. From present appearances
the Sickle Hollow tragedy of 1894.
when seven striking miners were killed,
is likely to be repeated soon. This
mine is in the Washington run district
and has been reported as closed The
managers deny that it has been closed
for an hour. They are determined to
continue work and have made prepara
tions for trouble.
1t was reported at the miners head
quarters here that 1000 miners in that
district were getting ready to march on
the mine and bring out the 400 men
working there. The attempt is to be
made on Friday or Saturday. This
mine is shipping daily 100 cars and is a
menace TO the success of the strike
A movement is also on foot among
the strikers along the Panhandle to
march to the Boon and Allison mines
and compel the miners there to quit
work. If these threats are carried out,
there will probably be a repetition Of
the bloody scenes that characterized
the closing days of the strike of 1884.
1t is probable that Eugene v. Debs
will spend a few days in this district.
The local officials are making an eff
fort to have him address several meet
ings here before he goes to West Wiz
ginia.
Battle of Miners In Illinois.