The record-union., 1897-07-20
SITUATION IN THE
COAL REGIONS,
Railway Organizations Pledge Sup
port to Strikers.
Assess Each Member Two Dollars in Aid
of the Miners Cause.


Mine Workers Union Can
Force the Closing Down of the
Mines in West Virginia.
PITTSBURG, July 19.-The striking
miners are maintaining the greatest Sc
crecy regarding their movements. but
1t is believed they are contemplating
calling on the railroad organizations for
assistance. Secretary Warner gave out
information to-day that a meeting of
railway employees was held yesterday
at which the situation of the miners
strike was thoroughly discussed Reso-
lutions were adopted pledging support
to the strikers, and each member was
assessed 81 for the strike fund. War
ner refused to diVulge the name of the
railroad employing the men, stating
that it might lead to an investigation
and the discharge of the men.
From another source it was reported
to be a meeting of the conductors and
brakemen of the roads centering in
Pittsburg. 1t was claimed that the ac
tion taken was at the suggestion of the
Railway Trainmens Union.
Active work has been commenced in
the coke region, and efforts will be made
to bring out all the men at mines where
the product is being shipped to Pitts
burg.
The mines at Lechburg, on the West
Point railroad, have been closed.
MINERS REFUSE TO WORK.
PARAMOUNT CIV. Va.), July 19.-As
low Grove, near Monogah. 225 miners
refused to work this morning The
drivers, being with the miners, refused
to haul, and consequently the rest of
the miners who had gone to work were
compelled to come out. About sixty
miners at Pritchard, after hearing the
news from Monogah, came out, and the
rest will follow.
Hutchinson, Leather and Palatine
were the next to come, and all the men,
with the exception OF those at Hite and
the shaft mine, will soon be out.
Operators here are surprised at the
result of yesterdays meeting and great
excitement prevails.
The strike organizers have not abated
their energy and the miners officials
are sending in more agitators from
Ohio and Pennsylvania. The men who
are striking are devoting their time to
influencing those at work to quit and
all energies are bent to tie up the entire
State. Great things are expected of the
Debs- -Ratchford Sovereign meeting at
Fairmount tomorrow. Coal shipments
over all roads continue heavy.
MINERS TO RETURN TO WORK.
WHEELING CIV. Va), July 19-To-
day was Debs day at Fairmount, and it
was the biggest day in the history of
the town. People came from all the
country around and jammed the Court
house and streets for blocks, but they
came out of curiosity and not for SYM
pathy with the strikers. This was shown
by the fact that the Pritchard miners,
who have been out, after hearing the
speech met and voted to return to work
tomorrow.
Tonight Debs gave it as his opinion
that the region would be closed by
Thursday but the operators say the
men now striking will be back at work
by that time, unless the agitators get out
the men at work tomorrow. Debs was
very cool and moderate in his talk and
offended no one.
AL lIlS lllCll dI E1lh1lOlH anu HACKER
went to work to-day, and Pocahontas
and Flat Top miners voted to stay at
work There are only about 800 of the
1000 men who struck Saturday idle to-
day, and this number is likely to di-
mnish.
On the Ohio side everything is quiet
The reports that spikes had been driven
into the switches on the Wheeling and
Lake Erie to derail trains at Dillonvale
is untrue.
WALK-OUT IN ILLINOIS,
SPRINGFIELD Qlls.), July 19.-Three
thousand miners are reported to have
walked out of the Southern field to-day
A CONSULTATION.
COLUMBUS (O.), July 19.-The Exec
utive Committee of the United Mine
Workers was in session here. Those
present are J. M. Carson of Illinois. Jos.
II Kennedy and G. Knight of Indiana.
w. e. Farms of Ohio and Patrick Do
Ian of Pittsburg. Other members may
come later. The consultation is private.
Secretary Pearce says there is no doubt
the Fairmount region will be out by
Thursday.
John Bogue of Ansted, w. Va. on
the Chesapeake and Ohio Road saws
the only thing that keeps the mines
there open is the fact that operators
have been in the habit of giving a min
er control of four or five rooms with the
liberty to employ his help. He en-
ploys farmers sons, making a good
profit off their labor, and when mining
is dull the boys go back to the farms.
ALL DEPENDS ON WEST VIRGINIA
PITTSBURG, July 10. = Unless the
miners leaders are able to get the West
Virginia diggers out early this week
the local strike situation promises to
grow very interesting about the last of
this week and come to a crisis next
Monday morning.
As indicated in the Associated Press
dispatches last night. several of the To-
cal operators have announced that
they are tired of seeing their contracts
get away from them and that the mines
now supplying their trade must be
stopped or their own mines will be put
into operation.
The District Executive Board of the
miners has been notified as above by a
score of the most important operators.
All depends on Pittsburg. and unless
Pittsburg is able to shut down the
West Virginia mines it is probable that
the strike will be broken before there
uniformity arrangement.