The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25

object of the Meeting of Operators at
Pittsburg Next Tuesday.

PITTSBURG, Pa, July M-If the plans
as outlined do not fail the majority of the
coal operators of the Pittsburg district will
get together in the courthouse of this city
next Tuesday a II o'clock in the morning.
The call was sent out to-day, and enough
signatures were attached to it to make the
meeting very interesting one. The names
are William 2. De Armitt, of the New
York-Cleveland Gas Coal Company; Fran
els L.. Robbins NJ. A. Hanna & Co., Col.
w. 2. Rend, ]. B. Zerbe, Eclipse Coal Com
pany, George Lysle & Sons, D. NJ. Andrews,
Imperial Coal Company, Bower Hill Min
ing Company, Moon Run Coal Company,
Blthe Coal Company, Slope Mine Coal
Company, Federal Coal Company, E. w.
Powers, ]. f. Hosack, Ella Coal Company,
j. A. O'Neil, Joseph Walton & Co., Essen
Coal Company. These are the heaviest pro-
ducers in the district.
The meeting will be the first held by the
OK orators separately from the miners since
early in 1896, when the uniformity question
was before them in all it's V1gor. If General
Little, of the arbitration board, can have
his way nothing of the past will be re-
ferred to. Neither will the present strike
be discussed. The point at issue will be the
fitness of the old agreement to cover the
tors who have signified their willingness to
be present at the meeting are in favor of
the re-establishment of uniformity and
their signatures will go a long way
towards making up the required 95 per cent.
of the operators in the Pittsburg district, as
outlined by Mr.. De Armitt. The action of
W. P. De Armitt in the proceedings has
given confidence to many operators. Cen
eral Little intimated to-day that the con-
f1icting elements for the first step should
have been eliminated. Owing to his posi-
ton he said it would not be policy at the
present time to go into details. He was
satisfied. however and was in the best of
humor over the prospects. 1t is very prob
able that the commissioners from other
States will be notified to be in Pittsburg
Tuesday. They will bring with them other
signatures, and it is expected that what
ever action will be taken will be at least
binding on those that attend the prelim-
mary meeting. AS near as can be learned
the object of the first meeting is to de-
termine what grievances the various oper-
ators have. Committees will be appointed
some to solicit signatures and others to
work on the various features of the con-
tract. The foundation for all this work
has been laid, and when the work is start
ed it will be pushed to completion as rapid
ly as possible.
The miners officials, although very busy,
say they will do all in their power to bring
about uniformity agreement. They in
sist, however, that they do not want the
public to be under the impression that they
are losing sight of the Importance of the
strike The call says such steps as may
be deemed advisable to secure a uniformf-
ty agreement will be considered. The time
their circular continues, is peculiarly pro-
pitious for such action, public attention
all over the country is aroused A meeting
of the River Coal Exchange will be held
the same day to consider the uniformity
agreement
The strikers contemplate a move on the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Com
pany's mines next week A march by two
thousand or more miners is one of the plans
discussed by the district officials to get De
Armitt'S men out. No violation of the law
the strike leaders say, will be tolerated
The presence of such a body of miners in
the vicinity of the mines which are work
ing. the leaders think, would have the
proper effect in causing a suspension of the
New York and Cleveland Company's mines
This is pay day at the mines along the
Wheeling division of the b. & O. road The
miners did not receive much money how
ever. they worked only three days in
July. The miners officials were busy all
day distributing provisions among the poor
er families along this division. 1t is report
ed that the strikers marched on the Euui-
table mine at Webster this morning and
induced the men to join them. The Equi-
table is a cooperative mine
Instead of marching on the New York
and Cleveland Gas Coal Company's mines
as first determined on by the miners the
executive board. at a special meeting this
evening, decided to make a legal test of
the new state mining law 1t is claimed
that Mr.. De Armitt's miners are being
worked in violation, of this law and suits
Will be entered and pushed with unusual
vigor. According to the new law if an
operator does not have his coal weighed
before it goes over a screen he is guilty
of a nlisdemeanor and subject to fine
of not less than 500 nor more than $500 or
both. at the discretion of the court for
each offense-