The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-07-12

Pittsburg, Pa, July n.-To-day
marks the beginning of the second
week of the coal miners strike and al
ready it gives promise of being one of
the greatest wage struggles in the his
tory of the country. Eight days ago
the coal operators in this district and
the miners themselves little dreamed
that within one short week such an
area of general suspension could be
brought about as now exists Then the
mouth of the many coal tipples that
dot the Monongahela, Youghiogheny,
Allegheny and Peters Creek valleys of
Toms and Miller's Run were open and
turning out thousands and thousands
of tons of the best coal that enters into
the competitive markets of the world.
Now all is changed, The vast caverns
are like so many graveyards. On the
hillsides, basking in the shade. there
is an army of $4,000 unemployed, who
are anxiously waiting for more to join
the troops of idlers. On nearly every
railroad track leading to the mines
there stand empty cars, apparently an
xious to be loaded, that their burdens
may be carried to the ports along the
lakes,
The success that has attended the
movement has greatly elated the min
ers, and during the next few days every
effort will be made to bring out the
men in the few mines that are still
working. This will be a difficult task.
tn hair
ability to make the suspension complete
before the week is forty-eight hours
old
From the best information obtaina-
BILE the Pittsburg operators are in no
hurry to have the difficulty adjusted,
SO many OF them had stocks on railroad
sidlngs which they held for an advance.
Much of this was disposed of Saturday
at a good profit, One prominent oper-
ator said to-day that 1t would take
another week to determine the exact
state of the market and by that time
a general cleaning up will have taken
place. All interested will be ready to
begin business on a new basis and prob
ably at higher price.
This whole thing will result In a
compromise said another prominent
operator. "The operators are in a posi-
ton to stand it for some time, and be-
lieve the miners are in about the same
condition. 1t looks as If business will
brighten up and in that event the oper-
airs will be able to get better prices"
Just now the greatest obstacle in the
way of success Of the miner Is the ac-
tivity of the diggers in the West Vir-
ginia fields. They are working night
and day and are getting ready to sup
pIy all the coal that is needed. They
are repeating what they did three
years ago when d general suspension
was declared At that time there were
number Of operators in the Mountain
state that were on the verge of bank
ruptcy. The general suspension was
declared and there came a great de-
mand for coal at prices that insured a
big profit. The operators rallied about
them a large number of men whose
friendship and support they have en-
couraged ever since. The operators
proflted by thousands and thousands
of dollars. When the season had fin
ished and the strike was declared q
failure they balnrcaA their books and
found things on the proper side of their
much of their profit to their miners
and rewarded them for it, On every
succeeding nay day the faithful min
ers were paid bonuses in the shape of
good prices, and naturally the best of
feeling prevails among employers and
employees.
This is the condition Of affairs the
organizers that will go into the West
Virginia district this week will have
to encounter. 1t is argued by the min
ers that there are more men out in
that district than there were three
years ago, and they express the great
est confidence in bringing them out if
they can get their ears. This failing,
the railroad organizations will be ap-
pealed to. This plan of campaign has
been outlined by the national officers
and the developments for the week
will be watched with interest.
The miners officials say that the sue
cess of the movement depends on the
action of the West Virginia miners.
They argue that many men in the
Pittsburg district who were not affili-
ated with their organization sacrificed
thousands of dollars and Joined it..
They will assure the Mountain state
diggers of success In this district and
make every effort to have them join.
There are q number of operators in the
Pittsburg district who have expressed
willingness to pay the price demand
ed. But the miners have said nay.
They will insist that majority of the
operators In the district pay the 69-cent
rate or none. This is the uItimatum of
the national officials, from which there
is no appeal 1t is known that some of
the minor officials would be glad to let
all the operators paying the 69-cent
rate operate their mines, but cannot,
owing to the decision of the national
officials. who desire to have all the sur
plus coal taken from the market
Inc new features In the situation to-
| day were the arrival of the Ohio and
lhclana state board Of arbitration, the
meeting tonight of the United Labor
League of Western Pennsylvania and
the report that a movement was on foot
TO import new men to take the places of
the strikers at the Pittsburg and Chi
cago company's mines.
Inc league decided to send out a, cir
GUAR to all trades unions requesting an
immediate assessment for the benefit of
the miners Previous to adjournment a
telegram was received from President
Simon Burns, who is in Washington,
pledging the financial and moral sun-