The herald., 1897-07-13
STRIKERS
GAINING
Suspension Is Now Almost
Complete
SOME THREATS OF VIOLENCE
VIRGINIA'S GOVERNOR READY
FOR TROUBLE
SOME THREATS OF VIOLENCE
A Strong Effort Will Be Made to Sc
cure an Early Settlement
Through Arbitration

Associated Press Special Wire.
PITTSBURG, Pa, July 12.-Beyond
the Strengthening of the miners lines
along the rivers, there was little change
in the strike situation today. The iron
clad contracts which were in force at
several mines in the Monorgahela val
and the strike was made general in the
fourth pool. The Chamouni, Apollo,
Jack Jones and O'Neips Fayette City
mines, which had been running with "A
light force of men and under ironclads
are idle. The men at the Chamouni
mine were the last to lay down their
tools. The miners along the river are
rejoicing over this victory. The only
mine reported in operation in the re-
gion is the Equitable at Webster. 1t is
a stock company, comprising about sew
enty-five stockholders and they are
miring their own coal.
The men in the St.ckel Hollow mines
sof the Washington Coal company also
went out today, making the suspension
mines of the New York and Cleveland
Gas Coal company, where about 1900
men are working. No effort has yet been
made to get these diggers out, and the
miners at other pits who have laid down
their tools are grumbling at the slowness
of De Armitt's men in joining the move
ment. The hotheads are advising dras-
tic measures. They have been kept in
check so far, but there is no telling when
the fever will break out and concert
ed move on Sandy and Plum creek be
made.
The greatest interest Is now manifest
ed in the scheme to arbitrate the strike
question. Labor commissioners and Of
fetal arbitrators of the several states
affected are gathering in this city. The
state of Ohio is the only one which has a
regularly appointed board of arbitra-
ton. 1t exists for just such emergen-
cies as this and is naturally eminently
we'll prepared for the work. Most of the
others interested are labor commission
ers and industrial statisticians who are
also we'll able to act in the capacity of
arbitrators from the nature of their
work of keeping ir. touch with the work.
ing classes generally.
All the states, with the exception of
Kentucky and Tennessee, where the
strike is on, will be represented in the
conferences which are to be held here
during the next few days. Invitations
have been sent to the coal operators of
the Pittsburg district to meet the arbi-
rators informally and talk over the mat
ter of settling the strike. James Young,
representing the M. A. Hanna mining
interests, came on from Cleveland this
morning and was in consultation with
peacemakers at the Seventh avenue ho-
tel One or two of the smaller operators
dropped in to look over the situation,
but no large conference has yet been
held.
1t is expected by the operators that
number of larger operators will be
gotten together within the next twenty
four hours.s Persons who are well ac-
quainted with the warning factions that
exist among the coal opera tors here say
they will be hard to get together in this
move, although the extreme gravity of
the outlook may have the desired effect
One of the dssenters is w. r. de Ar
mitt, president of the New York and
Cleveland Gas. Coal company. He de-
clares he has nothing to arbitrate and
says the strike is the result of the ma
chinations of politicians
If the operators can be brought into
line on the conference idea there will
be no obstacles interposed by the miners
President Ratchford notified the opera
tors publicly few days ago that he was
ready for conference at any time. This
afternoon he wired the arbitrators that
the miners officials would meet with
them tomorrow.
There is strong indication of a coal
famine confronting the country within
the next ten days 1t is claimed by con-
servative operators that the marke ia BILE
supply at present, which is placed at
100000 bushels, will be only able to
meet the demands of the market for
about a month under ordinary condi-
tions. With the scarcity of coal already
prevailing at the lake ports, it is claimed
that the supply will not last over two
wekse at the longest.
In anticipation of such condition the
coal operators are not very anxious to
fill orders and are holding out for the
advance in price that is expected to re-
suit The only source of supply is from
the river mines, as the railroads are
confiscating for their own use all the
coal ready for shipment along their
lines. This order was issued last week
and with the exception of permitting
the railroad operators filing orders for
coaling vessels at the lake ports, no
coal is allowed to leave the district.
With the supply limited to the Monga-
hela district the prospect of famine is
declared to be certainty.
There has been a marked increase in
the price of coal within the past few
days, and it is claimed that ten cent
rate per bushel in boatload lots will be
reached within the present week. The
retail dealers, as well as the operators
in general concede that famine is i'm
minent and look for prices to advance
beyond the limit reached during the
previous general strike of the miners
in 1894.
COLONEL REND'S VIEWS
CHICAGO, July 12.-Colonel w. P.
Rend, the Chicago millionaire coal op-