The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-24
RESULTS ARE HOPED FOR
WEST VIRGINIA is STILL THE
PIVOTAL STATE.
A COAL FAMINE IN SPRINGFIELD
The Officials of the Striking Mjoe,s Are StE
Hard at Work Endeavoring to Induce Other
Miners to Join the Strike--The End
Not Yet in Sight.
Not Yet in Sigh

s'ittsburg Pa, July 23-The situa-
n in this district has not materially
changed to-day. The efforts Of the arbi-
tration commission have been so far sue
cessful that a call for a meeting of oper-
ators on Tuesday next has been issued.
1t is signed by w. p. DeArmitt, for the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Com
pany; j. b. Zerbe, for the Ohio and
Pennsylvania Company; E. Young, for
NJ. A. Hanna and Company; Geo. w.
ISchlendeberd, for the Z. l.. Robbins
Company, and other leading operators
of the district. These names to the no.
tice of a meeting is sufficient guarantee
of the success of the gathering in point
of attendance.
w. z. Rend will also be asked TO
sanction the signing of his name to the
call. He is now in charge
The Canonsburg region has produced
no sensational features to-day. The
striking miners are still encamped near
the Allison and Boone mines to persuade
workers from going to work.
There are vague rumors of n march
on the mines of the New York and Cleve-
hand Gas Coal Company. There is no
doubt among those that are in a position
to know that such a move is contenl-
| plated, but just at what time is kept
profound secret. While all of this is
going on the Turtle Creek, Sandy Greek
and Plum Creek mines are working
steadily and without interference.
! The employees claim that they will pay
no attention to the strikers and want
to be left alone On the other hand,
the miners officials claim that their or
ganizers. who have been at work IN
secret have laid the foundation for a
general laying down of tools when the
proper time arrives Much depends ON
the situation in West Virginia. If that
section comes out, the New York and
Cleveland mines will naturally be the
pivotal point.
Fairmont W. Va. July 23.-This
morning the miners at Hite's mines came
out as did also forty others at the shaft,
and it is reported that some are out at
the New England mines. A successful
meeting was held at Willow Tree House
this afternoon by Debs, Ratchford and
Mahon. Three hundred Of the Monon-
gah miners, accompanied by their wives
and children, and preceded by band,
marched through the broiling sun to an
intermediate point between Monongah
and Fairmont where they were met by
a delegation Of miners from Hites and
other mines. Monongah Coal Company
officials were also present
Mr.. Debs started his speech by saying:
1.-THE longer a man works the poorer
he is. The only way to get out of debt
is to quit work. l had my choice of agi-
tation or stagnation and / chose the
former and in consequence / got in jail
and can go again if necessary. 1t has
got to be so that if you want an honest
man you must 60 to the Jail to get him-
That flag that floats over your head is
a piece of sarcasm. Slaves were wOrEfl
$1,000. You miners are not worth "15
cents ship load. You are tine only
commodity that has no commercial value.
All you are good for is for fertilizer.
"You have allowed other people to do
your thinking for you so long that your
brain has become petrifed and If YOU
were to have an idea it would cause YOU
pain. This world is not fit to live in
and if it ever is you working men must
make it So"
He then advised the men to march i'm
a body to the other mines and endeavor To
get them to come out saying that he
would tell them when the timew as ripe.
This evening Debs, Ratchford and
Mahon held a meeting which was attend
ed by about LOO people. The Monon-
gah miners attended in body, march,
ing six miles through the country
Altoona, Pa, July 23.-All the coal
mines but one in the northern Cambria
region, which includes the openings along
the Susquehanna extension of the Cres-
son and Clearfeld railroad, closed down
to-day, the men, about 1000 in num-
Der. going out on strike.
Columbus, o., July 23.-President
Gompers, of the American Federation of
Labor, has wired the United Mine
| Workers of America, that ne will send
Chris Evans to help in the West VIr-
ginia field. He was formerly secretary
of the federation and in 1889 was Pres
ident Of the Ohio miners.
Springfield ILL.,, July 23--A coal fam
inc is immient in this city. Several es-
adjustments have only enough to last a.
few weeks and others are burning wood,
being unable to procure coal.
The Riverton paper mill has closed for
want Of fuel. Railroads seize the coal
shipped to this city from other points.