Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-07-17
MAY ARBITRATE.
A Bare Possibility That the Mining
Strike May Soon End
STRIKE SITUATION IN ILLINOIS.

Belgian Miners Attack Negro Miner. and
Are Fired Upon-operators Planning
Coup-Operators in CIeve-
land Expect to Win.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 14.-There is q
bare possibility that the joint arbitra-
ton conference may yet lead to the
termination of the miners strike
the basis of the true uniformity
agreement proposed by President De
Armitt, of the New York & Cleveland
Gas Coal Co., last year, but which
failed for the reason that the 81 per
cent. of the operators in this district re-
quired by De Armitt could not be Sc
cured Two sessions of the arbitra-
ton board We're held yesterday, repre-
sentatives from the states of Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana
and Illinois being present. At the
afternoon session President De Armitt
appeared before the board and told of
the conditions which exist from his
point of view. He recited the history
of the miners struggles for better con-
ditions. He told of the great uniform
ity movement in 1886, which failed
of its purpose. Mr.. De Armitt said:
IF the, operators of the Pittsburgh
district will abolish their company
stores, use a uniform screen, give hon
est weight, 1000 pounds of coal for a
ton, pay cash every two weeks, will
leave it to any community to settle the
price of mining and pay it, no matter
how high, providing all my competi-
tors pay the same price. Unless these
conditions can be brought about will
not agree to abolish the contract with
my men, nor can l afford to do So"
DANvH.LE, Ill, July 1.-the strike
between the miners commenced in this
district last night. About 400 or 500
Belgian strikers and other foreigners
gathered at the Pawnee mine and
when a cage full of colored miners
who had been at work reached the top
of the shaft they were assaulted with
different kinds of weapons, some using
knives and others slaves. One of
the colored miners secured a re-
volver and defended his life.
Shots We're fired, wounding several
strikers. This Infatuated the striking
miners and they retaliated by an ex-
change of shots, at the same time re-
treating to the woods. Later the
strikers attacked train on the Chi
cago & Eastern Illinois carrying work
ing miners to the city. The miners
inside the coaches opened fire and
about so shots were exchanged. 1t is
reported that one miner was killed.
Not shaft in Sangamon county,
Ill, is in operation. About 5000 min
ers are idle and the tie-up in the
Springfield district is complete. The
same is true of every mine operated in
the surrounding counties and no less
than so mines are closed.
OPERATORS PLANNING A COUP.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 14.-The pro-
verbal calm before the storm is likely
to be carried out in the miners strike
situation. Throughout yesterday ev-
cry thing in the district had a peaceful
look, all the mines but two or three
were closed down and both miners and
operators appeared to be resting on
their oars, as it were. Last night,
however, it developed that number of
operators have been quietly planning a
coup which is expected to bring dismay
to the miners. 1t is the intention
to equip the mines with machines at
once and do away with a great many
diggers. When the mines are ready to
start, miners will be imported and put
to work under heavy guard, and the
premises barricaded. after the manner
pursued by the Carnegies during the
great strike of 1892. With the cooper
alton of the other operators. j. A
Beidler, of the Webster Gas Coal Co.,
located on the Monongahela river, will
take the initiative.
OPERATORS EXPECT TO WIN.
CLEVELAND, o., July 14.-In spite of
the news from West Virginia, the
operators in this city were inclined
late yesterday to take a hopeful view
of the situation. They believe they
will ultimately win, and they attribute
most of the talk about a probable coal
famine to the spectators. who are try
ing to bull the price of coal.