Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-20
DEBS is AT WORK.
Doing Business for the Mine Strike
in West Virginia.
EVERYBODY Is OUT TO HEAR HIM.
Report, However, That His Influence Is
Evanescent aud That the Men He Talks
Into Striking VIII Return to Work Right
Away-Rumor That the Railway Hands
Are to Actively Help-March on Cam
nonsburg Other States

Away-Rumor That the Railway Hands
Are to Actively Help-March on Cam
nonsburS In Other States
Cincinnati. July 2o.-The Commercial
Tribune speAal from Wheeling. w. Va,
says: Yesterday was Debs day at
Fairmont, and it was the biggest day
In the history of the town. People came
from all the country around and
1ammed the court house square and
the streets for blocks; hut that they
came out of curiosity and not from SYM
pathy with the strike is shown by the
fact that the Pritchard miners. who
have been out, after hearing the speech
met and voted to return to work TODAY.
Last night Debs gave it as his opinion
thas the region would be closed by
Thursday. but the operators say the
men now striking VIII be back at work
by that time unless agitators get out
the men at work today Debs was
very cool and moderate in his talk. and
offended no one. In the morning he
spoke at MononSah and the men came
out IN spite of an offer of another 10
cents advance in wages. The strikers
are hopeful that this will lead to other
suspensions.
Organizers Somewhat Discouraged.
Aside FROM MCnongah there have been
no additions TO the strikers ranks In
the kanawEa valley three more mines
were closed and three of those closed
resumed, making the situation about
the same as on Saturday. The organ
1Zers are still hard at work. but some
what discouraged. on the Norfolk and
Western the strike got a big setback.
All the men at Elkhorn and Thacker
went back to work. and Pocahontas and
Flat Top miners voted to stay at work.
There were only about 500 of the 900
men who struck Saturday Idle yester-
day, and this number is likely to diu1in-
ish. The organizers are disguised. and
unless they get more help so men can
be stationed at all plants to keep up
the fight night and day they will abau-
don the region.
Operators Claim Big Gain.
On the Ohio side everything is quiet.
The reports that spikes had been driven
into switches on the Wheeling and Lake
Erie te derail coal trains at Dulonvale
is untrue. No one on that road has
heard of it. Debs will speak TODAY at
points in the Fairmont region. On
Thursday he will go into the Kanayha
valley where ii is promised Gonnpers
and Ratchford will join him. At CIarks-
burg all the mines are running. Speak
ing for the whole state. the operators
have made gain of 5000 men yester-
day and in Fairmont where Debs did
his best work their net loss is only
about 325 men.
Strike to Extend to the Railways,
Pittsburg, July 2o.-Some rew features
VIII likely be introduced into the strug-
gle within the next two days. but the
leaders are maintaining the greatest Sc
crecy regarding their movements. It is
believed they contemplate calling upor
the railway organization for assistance
secretary Warner gave out the irforua.
ton yesterday that a meeting of railway
employees was held here Sunday and the
situation Sf the miners strike thcrough
iy discussed. Resolutions were adorted
pledging support to the strikers, and
each member was assessed 81 for the
strike fund Warner refused - divu!ge
the name of the railroad employing the
men. stating that it might lead to an
invest stgation and the discharge of the
men. Cameron Miller and Secretary w.
NJ. Warner visited Turtle Creek Sunday
10 have talk with the miners employed
by the New Yerk ard Cleveland Gas
Coal company. They were served with
an injunction restraining them from in
terfering with the miners