The herald., 1897-08-20
BOTH FACTIONS WARY
BOTH ANXIOUS TO AVOID A
FIGHT
Coal Operators and Striking Miners
Make Plans for the Conduct of
the Campaign

PITTSBURG, Pa, Aug. 19.-The strik-
ing campers at Plum Creek and Turtle
Creek marched again today arranged IN
couples 100 feet apart. The deputies
formed line across the road and warned
them back as fast as each pair came up
Each side wanted the other to take the
aggressive, but both factions were wary
and neither advanced beyond certain
point The strikers then returned to
camp, but a few of them later managed
to escape the deputies and get among
some of the miners in the company
houses, doing some missionary work.
1t was decided to march again tomor-
row, but it is doubtful If they-will have
any better success than they had today.
The deputies have been gradually clos
ing in on the camps and Will continue To
do so, it is said, until the men Will not
be allowed to leave the camps. This
would virtually place them under arrest.
The women are doing good missionary
work. although they did not march as
was anticipated. They are still making
it as uncomfortable for the working
miners, and deputies S they know now
The number of men now in the camps
is 175 Many of the men who were dis
charged from active service are Stlll IN
the neighborhood of the camp. Some
have started across the country to their
homes and others are endeavorng to Sc
cure work in the Irwin district.
The officials of the New York and
Cleveland Gas and Coal company are
iubilant today and say if their men are
left alone their mines will soon be in full
operation. Superintendent De Armitt
would not say how much the output was
increased, but said it was substantial.
AS a result of Cameron Miller's ef-
forts the Pardee mines in the Mercer
field were shut down today. They en-
ploy over 100 men and have daily ca
pacity of $50 tons.
The coal operators followed up their
meeting of last night by conference
this afternoon, which was kept secret
until this evening The meeting was
we'll attended and a permanent organlZ-
alton was effected. The coal operators
of the Pittsburg district have not mad
an organization for more than year,
and ii was decided to form an organlza-
ton for the special purpose of breaking
the strike. Peter Hitchcock was made
president, c. M. Baine was chosen secre-
tary and ]. c. Dysart treasurer.
The aggregate coal output represented
at the meeting to day was five million
tons a year.
An agreement was drawn up which
provides that the signers shall pay as
sessments based on the, producing ca
pacity of their mines to fund to be
kraised for the purpose of paying the eX-
penses of the strike.
The meeting of the coal operators to-
day and tonight will bring about one of
two results. Either arbitration will set
tie the, strike or the mines will be started
with imported men. Tomorrow will de-
eide which course shall be pursued. The
operaors are evidently in favor of arbi-
tration in preference to a forcible open
/ ing of the mines. This was evidenced to-
Cav when Messrs. Murray and Osborne
representing the meeting, wired Nation
al President Ratchford at Columbus
asking if Saturday next would be suita-
BILE for conference at Pittsburg of both
sides.
Should the arbitration meeting not be
arranged for, it was decided by the ope-
|
mediate preparations for starting their
mines with nom union men shall be be-
gun.
The meeting adjourned until tomorrow
morning to give Ratchford time to an
swer officially.
Asked to foreshadow the proposed ac-
ton of the board, President Ratchforo
said: "The conservative policy adopted
by our board at the beginning will most
necessarily be departed from, because OF
/ the extremely radical policy of the other
side. We would much prefer to battle
along peaceable lines as we have been
doing. but the board will be obliged to
test the tactics Of the other side. and
also take steps to extend the fight in
other fields. We have adopted meth
DDS to meet the injunctions. Our people
are being arrested in a wholesale man.
4 for hof tn lio xx-e