The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
WEST VIRGINIA MEN QUIT.
1000 MINERS THRoW DORM TOOLS
AND JOIN THE STRIFE


WHEELING, w. Va, July 1.-THE most san
guinc expectations of tho leaders Of tho great
coal strike seem almost fulfilled. Tho ranks Of
tho non-union digeers In West Virginia
have boon broken. Four thousand miners
along the Norfolk and Western Rail
way quit work tonight. The victory
thus achieved by tho union agitators may
settle the strike. The miners who ceased work
this evening dug probably onc-third Of the coal
that is mined in West Virginia. and the mines
they closed arc at ThRtchers, Shamokin, Mara
time. Logan, and other places along the Kan
awha Valley.
This evening after the men had completed
their days work In the mines they held q
number of well.attonded meetings at various
places. Tho meetings were addressed by the
strike cmissaries sent out from Columbus
and Pittsburg. Their success is told In
the large number OF men that WILL
ingly voted to throw down their tools and aid
tho cause Of the strikers. After each meeting n
vote was taken, and u large majority OF the
men assentod TO the strike proposition.
Tho developments OF tonight put a new phase
on tho situation in West Virginia. From being
a battlefield OF moral suasion tho state may be-
come a field of strife, for IL Is announced on
semi-oficial authority that tho operators will
mako an effort TO reopen the mines with new
men. In that case the West Virginia
militia is entirely too weak In point
Of numbers to cope with the mass OF miners
that would bcsiege tho various plants. The
situation to the thoughtful citizen In the re-
gions affected is not a reassuring one.
To morrow tho strike a~gitators will invade
the fat top district. Tho new river district will
be assaulted rs soon as possible, and 1t seems
reasonable to state that by Tuesday Of this
week hardly u mino in the entire southern part
Of the State will DO working. Thus far no dis
order has occurred at any point.
The meetings hold by strikers were very en-
thusiastic, and tho men seemed determined. 1t
required much to bring them out. but they
seemed determined to remain idle and prevent
the mines from being operated.
PITrssuRa, July This :, nSWs from naa West ', ,s
caused District President Dolan and Secretary
Warner to call the Pittshurg District Executive
renew the war into Do Armitt's mines.
A fresh batch OF organizers will be sent there
miners are determined to send organizers
into the West Moreland and Penn Gas
Coal Comp ,nies' territory. These are the
gained for years, and who defeated the
uniformity agreement eighteen months ago.
were in the Pittsburg district. while his Compel
itors and the miners themselves said they were
are now being visited in Philadelphia by Mr.. Do
Armitt and Commissioner John Little. with u
view to securing their signatures to the uni
Commissioner Is. Frank Schmidt, who is stay.
t nSio in In pIt ! nI,n while and his pS SGIassFpss a worn N
telegram tonight from, 1. :. Barton, West Vir.
The situation in West Virginia has chansod.
The miners will strike .
1t is supposed that Mr.. Barton has received
important news. Only the other day he said
the miners OF his State would not go out.
Gov. Atkinson said the Same thing one day
thia Iypek when he paASGl through PlttSDQrx.
1t hes been said that the commissioners arc
trying TO secure a meeting OF operators TO dis
The statement was premature. The Commits
sioners would much prefer the signatures with
out n meeting. as a meeting would DC apt to
open old sores.
Commissioner Schmidt received here to-day
from Chicago word that Col. w. p. Rcnd, a large
operator here. had refused to sign the uniformity
agreement, because De Armitt has dictated the
terms.
The miners officials believe the Colonel will
change his mind, as he has always been a con.
%sistcnt advocate of good wages for miners, and
settlement of the contest.
President polan to day received a letter from
Labor office. profering sympathy and desiring
to know II a boycott will be of any assistance.
At Cannonsburg the mines OF the Cannons.
burg Coal Company are running full with $50
men, who have been receiving The OS-cent rate
since Monday without asking 1t, which is an
At Cook s. sons mine at McGovern 1913 men
are employed AT 90 cents. Deputies guard both
| 1lHtb IDt DtlttliOIC hlt oho N'i Jun
ginia coal from 81 .O5 to $3.50,
as il will make tho Transportation OF west Viz:
ginia coal more costly.
ST. Lotus. July 1.-The Consolidated Goa
have acccdcd to the demands OF their mch In
some districts. General Manager Simpson said
A our mines south OF the Wabash are oper.
ating as usual; but we received last night q 70.
quest from our miners in the Bolleville districts
for n restoration OF the rates winch OBTAINED
last fall and winter. This request WAS accom-
panied BY the assurance that II acceded to the
men would continue at work ana everything
acceded to the request and now I don't think we
Ed Dewey. the labor leader, was in Manager
Simpsons office. and said he approved OF the
largely brought about by his advice. Manager
Simpson said there had been no scarcity OF coal
her, r.. and ndo there O. was nov no f fGhr 81 IT, coal minors
which left s~:aunton and Mount Olive on Thurs,
day to persuade the miners in the sixth district
seem TO have been successful.
The greatest victory was achieved to-day,
pany's mines, Nos. 3 and !, at Glen Carbon.
threw down their picks and decided to cast their
The action Of the Glen Carbon miners is con.
sidcred particularly significant; and presages a
general walk.out IN the sixth district as well. as
In the Seventh. The regiment OF miners. headed
by Alex Bradley. arrived in Collinsville tonight
oili pitthuu Ctttlp On ~ VI ~
1t Is said by those well informed that the
action OF tho Glen Carbon miners viii result In
similar action on the part OF tho Collinsville and
Bcville men,; Many OF the Glen Carbon minors
joined the Bradley army. md the procession.
tho leaders say, will leave Murphysboro 1000
strong. Notwithstanding the fact That the Con,
bolldated Coal Company acceded 10 tho demands
Of some of the miners.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. July l7.-Ex-Judge Thomas
J: fortune OF Lebanon and John Il. Conner,
chief OF the Indiana Bureau OF Statistics. were
appointed q commission by Gov. Mount to-day
to inquire into the condition OF the striking
miners. the appointments having been made on
account OF the appeals that arc constantly COM
Ing In from tho strikers for mid.
In y long discussion OF the situation. with the
two commissioners Gov, Mount explained his
motive In appointing them, saying that he
Thought, they should take up tho, question OF
wages, the amount OF coal mined in a day, the
price at which IL was sold, the loss to tho
miners from screening. and the charges OF the
companies FOR powder, Sharpening tools. &c,
and the cost OF living In cases where the miners
patronize the companies' stores. lie said that
he wanted the inquiry to he made as sweeping
"a possible. and desired the Commissioners Ia
make Investigations both in respect to the opcr'
ators and to the miners.
The commission will enter upon its duties on
Monfay, ana Will visit FOntanct first, that be.