The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-07-10
OBEY ORDERS.
Tools Laid Down by Thousands
In the Pittsburgh District
Pivotal Point of the Great strike
Situation I'm Ohio - An Obstncie
May lie Presented by the West
Virginia Miners.


Pittsburgh. Pa. July THE strike
order of the national executive board OF
the United Mine Workers of America
was obeyed by from 10000 to $4,000 of
the $1,000 miners In the Pittsburgh dis
trict Tuesday. The great struggle Ia
now on in earnest and the develop
ments of the next few days will deter
mine the success or failure OF the fight
for uniform mining rate. Pittsburgh
II the pivotal point In the five states
engaged in the contest and the success
of the local officials in their efforts TO
secure general suspension In this dis
trict will have an important bearing on
the outcome of the movement. While
1T Is estimated that at least two-thirds
of the miners have thrown down their
picks, enough men are still at work,
however, 10 seriously impair their
chances unless they can ultimately be
brought out. This, President Dolan
confidently claims, can be done. The
operators, on the other hand. are in
no wise disconnected and assert that
the strike cannot succeed. The first
break In the operators ranks was made
Tuesday afternoon by j. w. Steen, OF
the o. i. G. mines at Rossylle. The
diggers refused TO work and the mine
was closed down, but "A notice was
postcd that after to-day the 90 cent rate
would be paid. 1t Is not likely that the
of1icinls will allow the men 10 work
until majority OF operators have
agreed to the miners demands.
According TO the estimates OF the
miners officials 62 railroad mines are
Idle and 26 are still in operation. They
reported that In number OF cases
they had heard no news from certain
mines, and take IL for granted in many
cases that they are in operation.
In West Virginia the miners have
been slow In responding 10 the strike
order. A dispatch says that general
strike in the state is not probable. The
men are not organized and they are in
-clined to regard the strike elsewhere
as favorable 10 their chances for secur-
ing plenty of work at good prices while
1t is pending. Great pressure is being
brought TO bear upon them by the
United Mine Workers officials TO join
the strike. but so far without success.
Chief Mine Inspector Paul says he
does not look for much response to the
order. He says: "If the West Virginia
miners remain at work during the
strike in other states new markets will
open up for West Virginia coal, which
West Virginia operators can hold after
the termination of the strike. During
the strike of 1894 the operators were
pushed 10 supply the demand for coal
and were able TO give the miners
bonuses to remain at work"
This argument has had great effect
with the miners, and the United Mine
Workers officials may have great diff
Guilty In persuading them to join the
strike.
Columbus, o.. July IA special from
Jackson states that the miners assem-
bled here Tuesday evening in mass
meeting and decided unanimously to
90 out on strike. The action of the
Jackson miners makes the strike cover
practically the entire Ohio field. Ma
6ional President Ratchford said Tues
day that he had received reports show
ing that the greater part of Pennsyl-
vania, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio was
idle, and within a day or two a com
plete suspension is expected. With
Jackson county idle, the Ohio miners
will practically be a unit for higher
wages, as $4,000 of the 20, 900 miners in
the state will be holding out for the
scnle.
From estimates prepared on the basis
of coal mined in the year 1895, making
allowance for the present conditions, il
Is believed that the expense Of main
tanning the strike in the state OF Ohio
alone will aggregate nearly 100000 a
day. OF this amount the miners lose
nearly $4,000, the coal operators $l0,-
600 and the railway companies $27 900.
To this must also be added the de-
creased earnings of the railroad en-
ployes, dock and lake vessel employees
and the profits of retail and wholesale
dealers.
Braidwood, ILL.,, July 7.-Reports re-
ceived by State Secretary Ryan from
different portions of Illinois show an
increase In the number of miners who
are joining the general suspension. The
results so far are fully up 10 the ex-
pectations OF the state officers. A de-
termined effort will be made at once
10 bring out all the miners OF the state.
The miners are encouraged on account
of the attention being paid in the strike
by high officials in Washington. and ex-
pect some solution of the difficulty In
the near future, either by arbitration
or otherwise.
indianapolis, Ind, July THE In
diana labor commission sent letters TO
the labor commissions of Ohio, Penn
sylvnnia and Illinois. inviting them to
meet with the Indiana commission in
this city NJ as early day as possible TO
consider the possibilities OF arbitrating
the coal miners strike. The Indiana
commission hopes for favorable re-
eponses TO its invitation, and in case
the labor commissions OF the four