The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-06
THE PITTsBURG DISTRICT.
Meetings Held in Every Mining Set
tIcment Yesterday.

hCttAhBS I1eAu Every MINING SeN~
tIement Yesterday.
PITTSBURG, July 5. - The great wage
struggle of the coal miners was inaugu-
rated through the Puttsburg district to-
day, but it will be impossible to tell any
thing about the true situation before to-
morrow, as there is a general holiday and
work is suspended in all the mines of the
district. This was day of mass meetings
by pIeconcerted arrangement of the district
executive board of the United Mine Work
ers. Meetings were held in nearly every
mining settlement that was represented at
Saturdays convention in this city, and the
miners were impored not to falter in the
great struggle that has begun. What effect
the meetings will have cannot be deter
mined until Tuesday morning. When it
has been learned just how many have re-
fused to go to work, then the magnitude of
the strike will manifest itself. Much doubt
is expressed to the action of the Pitts
burg and Chicago miners on the Wheeling
division of the Baltimore & Ohio the NJ. A.
Hanna & Co. miners on the Panhandle,
who are working at the siXty-cent rate un-
der an ironclad contract, and the New
York and Cleveland miners at Turtle Creek,
Plum Creek and Sandy Creek; The miners
officials claim these men will strike and
the operators say they will not.
In speaking of the strike President Dolan
said: The coming week will be busy
one. have every reason to believe that,
with the exception of a very few mines.
the suspension will be general. Our men
realize that this is the fight of their lives,
and from the expressions of determination
that hear on all sides l have every reason
to believe the strike will be successful. How
long will 1t last, you ask? That is diff
cult question to answer. But of one thing
you can rest assured We are in good
shape to stay out all summer. By good
shape / mean that we have warm weather
and a prospective big demand for Jake
trade coal in sight, which makes the time
much more opportune than in winter.
There is an erroneous impression by reason
of SO many industries being shut down that
there Will be little demand for coal. 1t is
not generally known, but the supply of coal
for the manufactures in the Pittsburg
district is but drop in the bucket when
compared with the lake trade, which sup
plies the markets where coal mines are
practically unknown"
The general suspension, to those in po-
couraging features. The past winter has
been severe on the mining craft business
has been very dull and in addition the low
est rate ever paid in the district prevailed
for the little work that was done. Women
and children have been sufferers nigh unto
starvation, and many of them have been
wards of the counties. With spring the
ing the past month many mines have been
running continuously. What little has been
earned will be used in paying debts con-
tracted during the reign of Semi-StarVatiOn.
1t was expected at the meetings to-day to
make an effort TO convince the miners that,
by reason of the suspension being general
victory is bound to follow. 1t was argued
being paid higher price, and that general
support Will be forthcoming.