The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05
MORE NEGRO MINERS
BEING IMPORTED TO MAKE TROU-
BILE IN DAVIES COUNTY.
Armed Diggers Arrested on the
Streets of Washington and Defend
ed by the Company's Lawyers.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Dec. 4.-The Cabel
Mining Company at Washington is bring
ing more colored men from the Kentucky
mines to take the places of the locked-out
miners. There is practically but one opinion
in Daviess county and that is that it is not
good thing for Washington or the county
to import this class of labor. Some of the
negroes who were arrested for carrying
concealed weapons and molestng citizens
pleaded guilty and their fines were stayed
by the coal company. The company's attor-
ney appeared for them in court. They had
stopped citizens on their way home at night
and commanded them to return up town,
which they did and notified the police.
Each of the negroes had revolver and
flask of whisky. Since they came from Ken
lucky women have been stopped by negroes
and the belief of the people of Washington
is that these offenders were some of the
Kentucky Importation. AT present the mines
are armed camps day and night.
The state labor commissioners in their re-
port to Governor Mount say: THE importa-
ton of foreign workmen, we feel, was UNI
necessary and in this instance resulted in
lowering the standard of citizenship with
out corresponding compensation. The arm
ing of large crowd of ignorant strangers,
warning them against impending danger
and advising them to use their firearms
whenever they imagined themselves Justi-
fed, in the absence of any threat or hos
tilities were acts which deserve the most Sc
we're condemnation and call for prohibitive
legislation.
1.-THE commissioners refer to the fact that
these negroes have paraded the streets with
Winchesters, ostensibly in search of some
one connected with the mines, but the ef-
feet OF such an armed demonstration
creates danger OF serious strife. The com
missioners also say that the miners were
ready at all times to resort to arbitration
and that by its constant refusal to do so
| the company made a mistake and pleju-
| diced its case in the opinion OF all lovers
| of fair play" The commissioners further
more say that the proposition made by the
miners was reasonable one and would
| have settled The controversy if the company
| mad accepted it. In conclusion the commits
| sioners say: The general opinion obtt jns
| among the miners that che real Issue in this
contest is determined fight against he
| miners union and the refusal Of this COM
| pany to sign contract has greatly
strengthened this conclusion. If This be
| true the fight bids fair to be long drawn
| ganized labor throughout the state"
There is beginning to be a good deal of
doubt as to the outcome of the proposed
Interstate joint conference OF miners and
operators, which is to be held about the
middle of the month. There is no assur-
ance, for instance, that the Indiana and
Illinois operators will be represented. They
were not at the meeting a few months ago
when the agreement was made. At that
meeting the Ohio and Pittsburg operators
had things their own way, Notwithstanding
President Ratchford, of the miners, had re-
peatedly said that there would be no set
tlement unless it applied to all States. West
Virginia, which was asked to join the strike
after 1T had been inaugurated and whose
miners were personally pledged by Ratch-
ford that there would be no settlement I'M
less they were protected, were utterly neg
lected and now are not in humor to pay any
attention to his plans for the future and
will not be represented at Columbus.
The miners of this State are proceeding
on the belief that the brisk condition of the
trade will warrant a demand for an ad-
vance in the price for mining. That is a
question. There is beginning TO be a sus-
picion that all the output at present is not
put on the market, but is mined for the
purpose of accommodating a supply for Jan.
l, when the scale year ends and when the
strike will begin If there is to be a strike.
The operators are far-sighted men and they
would not run the risk of being caught short
as they were last July, when the big strike
began and which the first time they
ever were caught without q supply of coal
accumulated for the contingency of a strike.
The price of coal is advancing, it is true,
but that does not necessarily mean that
the supply is not equal to the demand. The
operators could well afford to hold it though
the price advance considerably more than
it has up to this time, because in the event
of a strike they will make bet
ter profit, and in any event the
prospect is good for a steadily increas-
ing demand by reason of the cold weather
and the larger consumption by the factories.
trade Jan. l the operators will not unhesi-
tatingly agree to the demands of the miners.
To do so would give the miners the inn
preston that they at last had things their
own Way-tWo advances within less than
six months. The better informed miners
look for serious disagreement and II all
States be not represented, either by opera
tors or miners, there is going to be a diff
cult problem for solution by those who do
take part in the conference. The Illinois
operators do not at present intend to enter
into an agreement with the miners or
ganization. whatever they may agree to pay
for mining. The Consolidated Coal Com
pany which has mines strung across the
State from Danville to st. Louis and prac-
fically controls the market OF the latter city,
is reaching out for a bigger share of the
Chicago market and to that end is buying
mines This company never will deal with
the United Mine Workers. The company is
paying the scale now, but 1t will sign no
contract for its labor.