The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-22
DEBS DISGUSTED


with His Failure to Get the Miners In
To-day y-Twcnty-fvo More aien Resume
Work at Monongab Mines.
Special Dispatch to the Intclligencer.
FAIRMoNT, w. Va, July 21.-Dis-
gusted and discouraged beyond measure.
Eugene V. Debs has practically given up
this field of operation, and viii leave to-
morrow. Tie failure of last nights
meeting at Rlvesyllle was followed this
morning by another break at Monongah,
twenty-five more men going to work
Col. Flcklnger, OF Monongah, told me
this afternoon, that he thought all the
men would be back to work within three
or four days.
The men are already beginning to see
that nothing practical has been accom-
pllshed and are inclined to regard the
sacrifice they have made Of plenty Of
work at good prices as useless In view OF
the lack OF general closing down OF this
region. A number of the more intelli-
gent miners here, who sympathISe heart
fly with the sufferlngs OF the miners In
other states. and who desire to see them
win thelr strike for good wages and fair
treatment. seem to think that even n
general strike In West Virginia would
not accomplish that much desired end.
There are others who believe that even II
Il did result In the arbitration Of the
strike, It would not be permanent. They
are wanting to know why they should be
called upon to join a sympathy strike
which would hold out nothing for them
IN the future. There IL not a miner or
an operator In this district that does not
hope the men in other states will win
their demands.
A leading operator here connected with
n company that operates several mines
IN which there has not been single
break. said to me to-day: ~ sincerely
hope that the miners In the strike regions
VIII win. It would mean two things.
First, the bettorment OF the condition OF
that class OF labor which enables II TO en-
10y the same advantages you see in this
model district
Second, Il would remove one of the
obstacles which has always stood in our
way here. The cheap wages IN the Pitts
burgh and Ohio region aud the dlscrlm-
lnatlons In freight rates have enabled
the operators in those regions TO under
sell us IN come markets, 1t Is true that
we can mine coal cheaply here, but that
is because Of our improved facilities, and
the fact that our coal veins nre easily
mined Our conditions are very much
different from those OF other less favored
regions our mines here are mudern and
excellent in their equipment There are
none better In that respect in the coun-
try.
Capt ]. u. Watson, Of thc Watson
mines, to-day In regard to the claim that
they kept their men from attending
Debg' meetings, said that the report wne
absurd ON IT, face, since such action on
the company's part would only be resent
cd by the men, who are free to do as thoy
please.
Another operator with whom ] talked
thought II strange that the operators, c1-
peclnlly In the Pittsburgh district, werc
so slow about settlement of the strike.
I'VE are going into new markets hither-
to controlled by these men, and tho re-
suit win be very much to our advantage
ana consequently 10 their disadvantage
IN tho future. An early settlement by
them Of their troubles with their men
would be to their advantage. our miners
realize that an extension Of our markets
wiii rebound 70 their benoAt md ihl1 ~
pnrtly the secret Of their heslinncy about
Joining the strike" o. A, u.