The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-21
DiscOuraEing News from State Which
Admittedly Holds Key to
the Situation.
STRIKE AGENTS ASSAULTED
GENERAL MASTER SOVEREIGN DRIy.
EN OUT OF POCAHONTAS.
Other Workers Have Revolvers
showed in Their Faces by puties
Employed by Operators.

WHEELING, w. Va, July 20.-The may
or refused to allow General Master Work.
man Sovereign to speak at Pocahontas last
night and to-day w J. Friedman, an ag-
tator, was seriously injured by being struck
by stone and four other agitators were
forced TO flee. Organizers Green and Wal
lace notified headquarters to-day that they
were compelled TO leave Pocahontas at the
point of six shooters. They did not offer
resistance They, however, remained in the
neiGhborhood with intention of doing mis-
sionary work among the miners One
thousand workers in the Simons mine have
gone out, said Secretary Pearce to-day This
is the most important news that has de-
veloped in the West Virginia situation to-
day. 1t is beginning 10 look as if the at
tempt to bring out the miners in this State
would result in failure. This State has
been admitted to hold the key to the entire
strike situation
Only fifty miners heard Eugene Debs
speak at Rivesvile tonight and only a
few of them came from Montana, the most
important mine in the region, excepting
Monongah. Debs's speech was the same
eloquent appeal to the men to lay down
their picks and throw their fortunes with
their striking brethren. His words were
received very enthusiastically and the min
ers present seemed deeply interested. No
attempt was made to organize the men, as
Debs thought there were not enough min
ers present. Tonight it was reported tnat
the company has built gates at Montana
mines ana had their men fastened in, but
such proves untrue. Every effort was used
to keep the men away and many spotter9
We're employed. Tonight at MononSah the
newly organized union held its econd meet
ing for to-day and nineteen new members
joined, making 259 in ALL The new menu
berS are men who were employed to-day.
Operators here are jubilant md say the
great strike far West Virginia is con-
cerned is failure.
The State, taken as a whole, is against
the strike for financial reasons, and all
who have struck have been brought out
under the pressure of the organizers and
agitators from elsewhere. Generally th,y
have been shamed into striking, and their
minds change when the agitators move on
to other sections In the Fairmont region
Debs admits that he is sorely discouraged,
seventysix of the Moncngah men brought
out yesterday having returned this mern--
ing. The Falrmont managers declare that
if the Watson men-about LOGO in number
can be kept at work the other mines will be
working Thursday as usual Tomorrow
Debs will speak at Worthngton and Min
erSVille to more of the Watson men. 1t Is
generally predicted that he will have no
better success there than at Rivesville.
The WatSOnS and their men are on fine
terms and neither side has any grievance.
1Aey Iedu lue region III pTOuuCIlO0~ ana
profits and have the miners tied up ia
agreeable contracts to purchase cheap
homes and to furnish necessarieS in sick
ness and death. The miners have cause to
like and respect the Watsons and will
probably stick to them. Rev. John Cheno-
weth, who breaches to the Watson miners,
says he never saw employer and men on
better terms. 1t transpires to-day that
Debs has been shadowed by two Pinkerton
men and that he has been threatened with
death if he goes to Kanawha. He will go,
however on Thursday. A gang of $50
Italians are to arrive at Fairmont to-mor-
row. They were to have worked on a new
railroad, but will try mining. In the Ka-
nawGa valley there is no material change,
the success of the organizers at one point
being offset by assumptions at others.
Sixteen hundred cars of coal were shipped
to-day, the biggest shipment in seven years.
There have been threats of holding up
more watchmen have been placed at dam
gerous points. Senator Camden to-day said
there was no strike at the mines of the
Camden company, and that Farmont is
working as usual except for few idlers
who do not want work. Governor Atkin-
son was here to-day. He thinks the strike
win become general and hopes the men will
win. He says he has not been consulted
about using the military and that none but
the most violent outbreak would call for its
use.
The Glendale miners, near Wheeling,
came out to-day, and they threaten to
march on the BOggs Run mine tomorrow,
and this will cause trouble There is no
cessation of coal shipments nor any inter-
ference.