The San Francisco call., 1897-07-13
That State to Be Made the
battle-ground From This
Time On.
RATCHF0RD MORE CONFIDENT
THAN EVER.
Opposed to Arbitration Because He
Is Certain the Miners
Can Win.

COLUMBUS OHIO, July l%-lnIorma-
ton received at the miners headquarters
to-day Is to the effect that $50, 900 men
have now Joined the strike and the Off
Cials say it is only a question of a few
days until the West Virginia miners will
join. That State will be the battle-ground
from now on and great bodies of organiZ-
ers are to be sent there. President Ratch-
ford saws he is more encouraged to- night
than at any time since the strike began.
He saws that one of the best features Is
the cooperation of other labor organiza-
tions of the country. The attempt to in
duce Dearmltt's men to quit work has thus
far been failure, and Dearmitt has given
out that any miner who is seen talking to
the organizers will be dismissed. Dear
mitt is taking all the orders he can secure,
which shows confidence in his ability to
hold his men.
No violence has been reported except
that eight carloads of coal left standin g
on a siding of the railroad at New
Straitsville were cut loose yesterday and
allowed to run down grade for distance
of half mile, with the result that the
train was wrecked.
When President Ratchford of the Mine
Workers returned here to-day, he found
messages from Samuel Gompers of the
American Federation of Labor, Z. V.
Debs T. V. Powderly, NJ. ]. Carrick of the
Painters and Decorators Union of Amer
ica, T. R. Thomas of the Patternmakers'
National League and w. D. Mahon of the
Street Railway National Organization,
each rendering men and money to go
u-b RptP Mr.
Mahon was present in person.
CLEVELAND, OHIO, July 12.-The
local operators took more hopeful view
OF the strike situation this morning. Dan
Hanna, manager of NJ. a. Hanna & Co.,
said that as long as the West Virginia
coal was mined there could be no par
ticuIar strIngency, as there is suficlen t
coal out OF the earth already 10 last until
winter Small dealers, however, are
squirming over their inability to get coal
for retail orders from the big dealers.
The big dealers will not part with their
supply. Not pound of coal entered the
city Yesterday.
Positive information has been received
IN this city that the Ohio railroads have
decided to refuse to haul West Virginia
coal. These include the Baltimore and
Ohio, the Cleveland, Lorain and Wheel
ing. the Wheeling and Lake Erie and the
Cleveland, Canton and Southern.
A prominent coal operator said this
morning that unless the miners are repre-
sented at the meeting of the boards of
arbitratOrs tomorrow the whole thing
will be farce.
THE miners are not in position to ask
for arbitration" said he. They do not
want it. They have more than fulfilled
their boasts. They have accomplished as
much, if not more. than they said they
would. They are in position to dictate.
In my opinion the strike will last sixty
days at least"
Colonel Myron T. Herrick, receiver of
the Wheeling and Lake Erie, was ap-
preached upon the subject as to whether
the Ohio roads would refuse to haul
West Virginia coal.
1--WE are not refusing to haul it,'' said
he, and L have not heard that there is
any such movement on foot among the
roads"
Mr.. Wardell, receiver of the Cleveland.
Canton ana Southern Railway, said 1--WE
are very glad 10 get West Virginia coal to
haul, and have no disposition to refuse it.
However, do not know what labor con-
tingency may arise in the near future that
will make it convenient to refuse to haul
coal"
Chief P. NJ. Arthur of the Brotherhood
OF Loco motive Engineers was informed of
the report that the Ohio roads were going
to refuse to haul West Vir.inia coal and
was asked whether the engineers had fled
any com plant.
mo complaint has been made" be re-
piled. 81 don't see how the trainmen are
at all involved in this strike problem. OF
course they naturally sympathize with
the strikers, but l do not anticipate any
refusal on the part of the railroad men to
haul coal "