The San Francisco call., 1897-07-20
SPREAD OF THE
MINERS STRIKE
Delivers Quit Work in
Order to Join in
the Battle.
DebS Talks to the Men In
Several West Virginia
Districts.
Small Armies Of Strikers March
Among the Mines That Are
in Operation,

WHEELING, w. Va, July 19-Devel-
opments to-day in the States mining dis
trict warrant the assumption that the
strike of the diggers, which began with
such rush this morning, will extend to
the majority of the competitive mines in
the State. The hitherto invulnerable
Monongah district gives evidence of q
general suspension of diggers in the big
vein tomorrow. OF 1000 men in this field
500 have struck, and the result of two
meetings held by Debs and his associates
will very likely be a general suspension OF
work.
This afternoon Debs spoke to 800 miners
at Willow Tree, short distance from the
chief Monongah mine. His remarks were
quiet but forcible, and were received with
enthusiasm. He called upon the men to
organize.
After the meeting they held secret
conference and effected a temporary or
ganization of the first branch of the
United Nine W Workers Union instituted
IN the Monongah district. The men re-
fused TO discuss their stand. but it is
known they will descend upon the small
mines in the valley tomorrow. The
operators seem to have lost all hope of
inducing the men to remain at work, and
some OF them acknowledge the indica-
tions for a total suspension tomorrow are
too forcibIe to ad nit of doubt.
Tonight De bs talked to an audience of
1000 at Fairmont. He counseIed orderly
procedure. He said they would succeed
beyond doubt.
Mondays developments have been of
dissgreeable character to the Marion
County officials. The Monongah Com
pany, the leading one in the field, will
undou btedly make an attempt to operate
their plant with new men. Although
efforts made this afternoon to secure
new force were fruitless it is reliably re-
ported the miners and officers of some of
the concerns are being supplied with
arms. In the Clarksburg field two or
three hundred diggers will strike to-
morrow.
PITTSBURG, PA. July ia thou
sand striking miners marched on the
Cannons burg mine this morning and in
duced the men employed there not 10 go
to work. The strikers were cheered bv
the strains OF music from brass bands and
none OF the strikers were persuaded to go
out chiefly by the size of the army of
mine-owners pleaded with their employees
not to strike, but the men decided to go
out
Deputy Sheriffs had been sent from
Washington, the county seat. All the
afternoon squads of strikers were picketed
about the mines in order to use further
moral sussion on those miners who might
decide during the day to go back to work.
The operators assert their men were
frightened by the sudden appearance of
the strikers and struck unwillingly, but
will return TO work tomorrow.
The miners are so enthusiastic over the
temporary success of the Cannonsburg
march that a descent on De Armitt's
mines will probably be made soon. About
400 men went out al Cannonsburg from
the four mines.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, July 19-Four hun
dred Collinsville GIL miners decided to-
day to strike. This morning the Bradley
army" OF 1000 divided into squads and
visited all the pits. As the men appeared
they were urged to attend a meeting at 10
o'clock at Bridge. They did so and unan-
imously agreed to strike.
The column, re-enforced by CollinsviIle
strikers, Will move on the O'Fallon mine
tomorrow. This is the home of State
President Carson of the United Nine
Workers. The men there are said to be
ready to come out. If no trouble is en-
countered the marchers will reach Bell
vile tomorrow night. The consolidated
men control the situation there. They
have received a raise and say they will not
strike. The rest will do as the consoli-
daled men do.
TERRE HAUTE. IND, July 19.-The
Indiana and Grape Creek operators will
try to get their men to accept the Colum-
bus scale, for which the strike was or
dered. Some of the leading operators will
ask the men to return to work for that
scale pending a final settlement of the
strike. The operators will make the point
that this would be the best method of
bringing the lower price places in Illinois
into line. The executive board of the
miners organization is now in session at
Colum bus and will have to approve before
the miners can consent. The operators
expect in the event Of the miners organI-
cation declining to get non-union men,
and then the trouble will begin.
COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 19.-The Ma
tional Executive Board of the United
Mine-W orkers held conference here to-
day to outline the future policy of the
continuation of the strike. President
Farms of Ohio reported the total suspen-
sion practically of all the important mines
in Ohio. President Carson reported 5000
of the 3S 600 miners of Illinois idle. Pres
ident knight of Indiana reported only
few miners of Southern Indiana at work
President Dolan of the Pittsburg district
reported the mines af Western Pennsyl-
vania closed vita the exception of the De
Armitt mine.
The executive board decided to adopt
the referendum policy in the settlement Of
the strike. Settlements of former strikes
by officers have usually not pleased the
rank and file of the miners. Any scheme
of settlement will be referred to the
miners for approval.