New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-12
SECOND WEEK OF STRIKE.
MINERS CONFIDENT OF THEIR ABILITY
TO WIN.
r,.ArEp BY THE SUCCESS OF THE MOVEMENT
THUS FAR-wIII. THERE BE CoMPRO-
MIsE?-GREATEsT OBSTACLE IN
THE WAY OF THE MINERS.


Pittsburg. July 11-To-day marks the begin
ming Of the $, cond week Of the coal miners
strike. and already it gives promise OF being one
Of the greatest wage struggles In the history Of
this country. Eight days ago the coal operators
In this district and the miners themselves little
dreamed that within week such general
suspension could be brought about as now exists
IN the bituminous mining industry.
Then the mouth of the many coal tpples
that dot the Monongahela. Youghogheny. AL
legheny and Peters Creek valleys and the valleys
Of Toms and Miller's Run open and turn
ing out thousands and thousands Of tons OF the
best coal that enters the best markets Of the
world
Now all this is changed. The vast caverns are
like SO many graveyards On the hill
sides basking il the shade, there is an
army of 1900 unemployed. who are anx-
iously waiting for more to Join the troops OF
idlers on nearly every railroad track leading
10 the mines empty cars are standing.
The success that has attended the movement
has greatly elated the miners. and during the
next few days every effort will be made to bring
out the men in the few mines that are still
working. This will be difficult task but they
express confidence in their ability to make the
suspension complete within forty-eight hours
From the best information obtainable the
pittsburg operators are in hurry TO have the
dieiculty adjusted Many of them had stocks
on railroad sdngs which they held for an ad-
vance. Much Of this was disposed Of on Satur-
day at a good profit one prominent operator
said to-day that 1t would take another week 10
determine the exact state Of the market, and by
that time general cleaning up Will nave taken
place; all interested will be ready to begin busi-
ness on new basis and probably at higher
price.
This whole thing will result in a compromise,
said another prominent operator. Inc oper-
ators are in a position to stand it for some tlme'
and / believe the miners are In about the same
condition 1t looks if business Will prlghteh
,p and in that event the operators Will be apie
70 get better prices and the condition OF business
and the condition of the miner Will be simui-
taneously improved
ACTIVE WORK IN WEST VIRGINIA.
Just now the greatest obstacle in the way OF
success Of the miners is the activity OF the ois-
gers in the Wes, Virginia fields They are
working night and day, and are getting ready
to supply all the coal that is needed. "ney are
repeating what they did three years az, When d
general suspension was declared. Al tnat tine
there were a number Of operators in the Mouii-
tain State that were on the verge Oh pahh
ruptcy The general suspension was declareo
and there came great demand Tor coal at
prices that insured big proht. the operators
whose friendship and support they nave en-
couraged since. The operators prohted pv
thousands and thousands OF dollars .u,,,o
When the season vas finished ana the stiihe
was declared a failure. they balanced thelr
books and found things on the proper SIDE o,
their edgers They realized tnaa mas shes and I~eu re-.
warded them for IL. On every succeeding pa!
day the faithful miners received bonuses IN
the shape of gold pieces. and natulaHy ths oes'
OF feeling prevails among employers and en-
ployes. -,
This is the condition of affairs which the or
ganizers who are going into the West virginia
district this week will have to encounter III is
argued by the miners that there are more men
out in that section than there were three years
ago and they express the greatest confidence
in bringing the rest out II they can get thelr
ears This failing. the railroad organizations
will be appealed to: This plan OF campaign mas mas
been outlined by the National officers. and the
developme nts Of the week will be watched with
interest.
the movement depends on the acton OF the
West Virginia miners. They argue that many
men In the Pittsburg district who were not az
f1liated with their organization sacrlnced lnou-
sands of dollars and Joined IT, They Will tel ten
the Mountain State dggers of the success IN TINS
district and make every effort to nave thein
Join. There number of operators'in In the
Pittsburg district who have expressed wiling
ness TO pay the price demanded but Ihe
miners have said nay. They VIII insist that
majority Of the operators in the district pay the
G9-cent rate. or none. This is the ultimatum OF
the National officials from which there is no
appeal. 1t is known that some OF the miners or
fcals would he glad 10 let all the operators pay
ing the 69-cent rate operate their mines but
they cannot do this. owing TO the decision OF the
National officials. who desire to have all the
surplus coal taken from the market
NEW FEATURES IN THE SITUATION
The new features in the situation to-day were
the arrival of the Ohio and Indiana State Board
Of Arbitration the meeting tonight or the
United Labor League of Western Pennsylvania
hot opnf VI
70 import new men to take the places of the
strikers at the Pittsburg and Chicago COM
panys mines.
AT the United Labor League meeting sixty
three out of seventy-two labor organizations
were represented. Resolutions were unanimous
ly adopted pledging financial and moral support
10 the miners and calling upon all the trades
unions in Western Pennsylvania TO AID ana as
sst In every possible manner in furtherinS inc
interests Of the strikers. w. II. Carney, vice.
president Of the Amagamated Association ana
the Rev. Winston Green. the colored preacher,
miner. were appointed organizers ana ordered
70 begin work at once Six more organizers VIII
be appointed this week. Messrs. Carney ana
Green will hold meeting at Fayette Clty 70
morrow night and on Tuesday will have charge
of a meeting of miners and their wives at Gas
tonville 1t is proposed TO interest the women
as well as the men in this movement .
The League also decided u send OUT c"cu-
lar 10 all trades-unions. requesting an lmInedi-
etc assessment for the benefit OF the miners
Previous TO adjournment teiegIafh maS e.
ce,yed from President Simon Burns. VINO Is II,
Washington pledping the financial and fnorai
support OF the Window glass Workers Associa-
ton. ,,,.
Judge S. n. owen OF Columbus; James ,sn Dn'a
op OF Columbus and John Little, of Xenla, ONO
members Of the Ohio state boaro OF AloI.,d
ton. and T. z. Mccormack and -: rranh In
Schmd, of Indianapolis. members OF .he ~
diana labor Commission. arrived in the city
this evening. The members OF the limos bosie
Of Arbitration and OF the statistical bureau nv, oh
Pennsylvania are expected tomorrow tav nv
Board will NEE; in Joint conference ana aitei
hearing both sides will eDdeavor to secure an
emicable settlement Of the differences pet"ec"
the miners and operators. ,,.
The strikers at the mines OF the Pittsouis
and Chicago Gas Coal Company were srea.s
excited today over report tnat owen NiouIs
was IN that region. and that an attempt "ouiu
be naAe u resllme WORK with imported Ineil.