Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-23
Pittsburg Operators Reluctantly De-
eide to Meet in Conference.
WILL TRY TRUE UNIFORMITY PLAN
Report That the Strike is a Failure
in West Virginia.
COAL GETTIN SCARCER

getting the consent Of a majority of the
operators of the Pittsburg district to join
in a general conference for the purpose cf
discussing the true uniformity plan. The
uate for the conference has not been set,
but 1t will be fixed for some day within the
next week, and will probably be Monday or
Tuesday. The call for the meeting will be
sent out tomorrow
The 81 eatest difficulty found by the arbi-
traitors in pushing the movement has been
certain lethargy on the part of the oper-
ators. The cause of this state of affairs Is
the fact that they look upon arbitration as
ineffectCal They have little hope of set
ting the strike by this means and are
therefore slow to act. In no case, however
has there been direct opposition to arbi-
tration.
Matter Near n Climax.
General Little, president of the board,
stated today that the matter was now very
near climax After this meeting has been
held, he thinks, there will be but little diff
ficulty in completing other arrangements
for the selection of arbitrators. General
Little says the miners have all expressed
their approval of the agreement, and are
ready to do all In their power to bring the
question to an early settlement.
Inc agreement as prepared is not ell
tirely satisfactory to some of the opera tors
In all Its provisions. The Objectionable
clauses Will be taken up at the meeting,
and changed to suit the desires of all con-
cerEed
To Sue for Back Wages.
Besides what they term a battle TO-.
bread, the officials of the United Mine
Workers have arranged to make battle
In the courts for money. 1t will be for
money in the hands of certain operators in
the Plttspurg district, kept from the wages
of the men who went on strike. In accord
aDce with instructions received from Ma
tlonal President NJ. d. Ratchford and the
members OF the national executive board
the local district officials have placed the
matter In the hands of their attorneys and
suits are to be brought for more than
Sl2,OoO, the amount the strikers have for
feited.
Suits will be brought on the validity of
lronclad contracts which the men signed
In these contracts 1t was agreed that as a
guarantee OF good faith on the part of the
employe the employer should retain 10 uer
cent OF the employees wages.
Money Declared Forfeited.
When the men struck this money was
declared forfeited, and withheld from them
by the operators. The plan is to get one of
the men who has forfeited the largest
amount to bring suit before justice of the
ers will take an appeal The miners Or
sanlzation Will push it from one court to
the other, and the Supreme Court will
probably be asked finally to pass on the
matter.
All Peaceful in District, .
The miners officials report everything
peaceful throughout the district.
President Dolan said thsre was no oc-
caston for apprehension in the Canons-
burg district. for the reason that there
were only a few men at work there, and
they were relatives Of the manager Com
mites mt tees We're sent to see them. The prep
arat1ons made by the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company to head
man ching miners were ridiculed by the Off
Gals. who said the distance which men
from the Carnegie district would be
obliged to march was IN itself q guaran-
tee that there would be no such march,
and that none was intended by the miners
ne district executive committee were
busy today arranging to provide for the
destitute strikers along the Wheeling d.
vision.
President Dolan expects to have two
Wegen loads Of provisions for the men
tonight.
Floersheim VIII Sell His stores.
This afternoon Henry Floersheim, who
Is one OF the largest operators in the dis
tTict, inserted advertisements in the pa
pers oner1ng his company stores for SALE
He says he Is getting in line for the uni
fcr'nity movement and no one can accuse
him of operating pluck me" stores here
after.
The mines of the Washington Coal and
COKE company at Sickle Hollow continue
IN full operation, and fifty cars of coal are
being shipped from the mines every day
Armed deputies are guard to protect
cne men, and gatling gun Is in readiness
for immediate use in case of attack
The Pittsburg, McKeesport and Yough-
iogheny road, which is carving this coal.
abandoned it's trains one night this week
en- account of the discovery of obstr7lc-
tions upon the track. placed there it is
claimed for the purpose OF wrecking the
coal trains from the Washington mines
The railroad company has incre, sad its
iorce OF track walkers, and they are now
but one mile apart
CONVENTION OF KANSAS MINERS
General Belief That They VIII MOI
Declare a Strike.
KANSAS CITY, No.. July 23-A conven-
tion Of Kansas miners will be held at Pitts
burg. Kan, tomorrow to discuss the oues
tion Of striking in sympathy with their
eastern brethren. Unless there is a radical
change in the situation between now and
the time the convention assemblies it is be-
heved the delegates will be almost unani-
mousiy opposed to strike at this time.
One contingency. however. is put forth
which may materially change the senti-
ment aud lead the Kansas miners to vote
for suspension. Should the rumor prove
true that the railroads are buying large
quantities of western coal for shipment
east, to be stored away in case the strike
is prolonged. the sentiment favoring a
strike would, 1t is urged by some, become
very strong.
General Southwestern Agent Harmon. of
the Burlington reiterated today emphati-
cally his statement that his road has not
and Is not contemplating any such action.
1t would be suicidal for US to make
such a move" said Mr.. Harmon, s1and
nothing has been further from our pur-
pose than to ship east"
Mr.. Harmon admitted that his road had
been buying coal in large quantities at
Weir City. Kan, as well as at Duluth.
Minn., recently, but declared that II was
for their own protection.
COAL SCARCE IN ST. LOUIS.
Tudor Iron. Works AAec4ed-Paclkfnx
Houses May Close.
ST. LOUIS. Mo-. July 23.-The Tudor
Iron Works IN East ct. Louis has closed
down three OF its departments, letting out