The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-25
Operators Responsible for the Ruined
Condition of the Coal business
in Portion of This State.
CALL ISSUED BY GOMPERS
OFFICERS OF TRADES UNIONS ASKED
To MEET AT WHEELING.
President Ratchford Anxious 10 Sc
ing Conference of Operators.
speelaI 20 The indianapolis Journal.

Special 20 the indianapolis Journal.
BRAZIL. Ind, July PA large crowd of
miners attended the mass meeting at the
courthouse to-day. From all sections of the
district came reports that the miners were
Idle with the exception of a few day men
working to keep the mines in repair and
keep the water works in fuel. Secretary
John Kennedy, of the United Mine Work
crs, was present and made an address. He
said the national treasury of the order
was depleted, and it was impossible for the
order to finnish aid for any of the strikers.
The speaker said that, as usual, all the
Columbus papers were against the miners,
and many Of the reports they published
regarding the failure of the organizers in
West Virginia were purposely exaggerated in
behalf of the operators. Mr.. Kennedy said
he was confident that the miners would
win, as their prospects were brighter now
than at any time during the suspension.
The speaker instructed the miners to or
ganize locals at once and elect officers.A
AS soon as this was done the seal of the
order would be furnished them to be used
on the credentials of solicitors sent out.
Chairman Samuel Anderson read a letter
from President Ratchford in reply to the
one sent by the executive committee here
Mr.. Ratchford claimed that the order had
no money on hand, and could help none of
the needy miners in any locality. AS desti-
tuition is growing with remarkable rapidity
as the strike continues, it was decided to
send committees at once throughout this
and adjoining States to solicit help The
most important action taken to-day was
the decision of the meeting to allow no one
to work in the mines whatever. This, if
carried out will soon result in the closing
of the Industries here, including the water
works 1t will also cause great loss to the
operators if they are not allowed to keep
their mines in running order.
Busy Time on the MOnOn.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind July 24.-It is
quite natural that the Monon is not in
hurry for the coal strike to be settled, judg-
ing from the immense amount of freight
that is being hauled. The past week has
been the busiest ever known in the history
of the road, and in that time more freight
trains have been run and more traffic has
been handled than ever before in like
period. The immense business grows out
of the coal strike in the East, making it
necessary for Chicago to get fuel from the
Kentucky mines, which have not yet been
affected by the labor trouble. The freight
train crews are working all the extra time
possible, every man that can be secured
is being pressed into the service and the
motive power of the road, both cars and
engines, is kept constantly on the move.
The demand for freight cars makes it nee
eSSary for them to be unloaded during the
night in Chicago so that they can be re-
turned at once to the Kentucky coal fields.
The train dispatchers office at this city
is a busy place, and yesterday las train
orders were given during the twenty-four
hours. which is the largest number ever
recorded the usual number being less than
forty. An average of fifteen trainloads,
mostly of coal, go north every day, and
yesterday evening there were las cars in the
yards at New Albany waiting to be taken
north. An engine load is about sixteen
cars, while twice that number of empty
cars can be returned. The responsibility
upon the train dispatchers cannot be over
estimated when the line is so crowded with
work and Chief Train Dispatcher Cassell
has not been to bed until IL o'clock until
last night since the beginning of the rush.