Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-26
is IT A SURRENDER I?
CHANGE OF FRONT OF THE PITTS
BURG COAL OPERATORS.
PATRICK DOLAN UNDER ARREST.
He Leads N BODY of Mnrchers In De-
fiance of Deputy Sherins, ana Is
Taken Into Custody for Alleged
Violation Of Law

PITTSBURG, PA. August 25.-Ihe coai
operators of the Pittsburg District nave
made a decided change in front since yes
terday. Internal dissensions, mixed WIN
fear on the part of some, have caused
split in their forces and change OF base
on it's face the move looks to many ike
a temporary surrender to the United
Mine-Workers OF America. This, how
ever. is denied in most emphatic terms
by the most prominent Lake shippers,
who say they are going to start their
mines and supply the demand from the
Northwest, and not stand idly by ana
let large volume of business go TO the
operators of other States. They publicly
state that they are willing TO wait for
week or ten days before decided move
is made. They claim that this will give
them ample time to get the Lake trade.
Some of the operators in the meeting
were frank enough 10 state that the
situation at the present time, in all
branches of labor is critical, and that
they have no desire to make any move
that would cast odium on the operators
of the Pittsburg District.
1t was under these conditions that the
operators went into session this morn
ing. There were many who had not
signed the agreement to share their por-
ton of the expense that might accrue
in the effort to start the mines, and
they were the loudest in appeals to hold
aloof to await developments. No agree
ment could be reached, and the meeting
adjourned sine die.
In the afternoon another meeting OF
the most prominent and largest Lake
shippers was held. The session was
short, and as a result, the following was
issued by the Press Committee:
1.-THE organization composed of all the
operators who had been in session at
the Monongahela House adjourned this
afternoon, with affairs I'm the hands OF
a committee appointed under an agree
ment at Cleveland. which has since
been ratified and strengthened by the
signatures of a large majority of the
railway producers OF this district. This
committee is vested with discretionary
power to act"
All effort to find out who compose this
special committee was futile.
j. b. S. Erbe, who presided at the
meeting was emphatic in asserting that
the operators who had originally gone
into the compact at Cleveland to break
the strike had not changed their inten-
TONS The Cleveland operators left for
their homes tonight, and it is probable
that another meeting VIII be held In
Cleveland within the next few days.
Many of the local operators who took
part in the conference and withdrew
seemed to be in a good humor 1t Is
known that number of the small pro-
ducers have been making more money
in buying and selling coal than they
would have made had their mines been
in operation since the strike began.
DOLAN ARRESTED.
PITTSBURG, PA, August 25.-Patrick
Dolan, district president of the United
Mine Workers, of America, was arrested
in Washington county this afternoon
while leading a body Of marchers past
the Allison mine of Cook g. Sons, near
McGovern Station.
Ever since the strike started the miners
have been making daily marches from
their camp to the mine. From the mine
to the railroad there is a tramway I'M
der which runs the public road known as
the Washington pike. This morning. with
band at their head. about 400 marching
miners tramped along the pike and under
the tramway. On their return they were
they could not pass under the tramway,
but must return to their camp by crossing
field and coming down the railroad.
The marchers became enraged. and for a
time it looked as if there would be Sc
rious trouble. The marchers held a con-
ference, and decided to remain where
they WERE and communicated with PreSi-
dent Dolan by telegraph.
Dolan arrived shortly after 4 O'clock,
and made a speech to the strikers. He
said that the deputy sheriffs had no right
to stop them from marching on the pub
lie thoroughfares as long as their mission
was a peaceful one, and told them he
would lead the procession. The band,
with Dolan at its head and the marchers
following, then started down the road 10
go under the tramway, and on to the
camp. When Dolan reached the tramway
he was told by the deputy sheriffs that
he could go no farther and when lie
wanted to know the reason why he was
told that such a move was a violation OF
the law and the injunction. This Dolan
denied, and the arrest followed. He was
taken to Washington on the first train.
The marchers were disconnected, and
were allowed to return to their camp I'M
molested.