The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1897-07-28
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.
Called on to Guard Mines in West
Virginia
Operators to Confer ON the True
Uniformity Plan-Debs Says Some
Pungent Things-Demands
of Illinois Miners.

Fairmont, w. Va, July 23.-Armed
| deputy sheriffs of the county now
guard the Hite mine at Kings, three
miles above here on the Tygart's Valley
river. The sheriff was called there
Thursday afternoon. as the operators
feared an outbreak, but no arrests were
made. Early in the morning the driv-
ers at that mine joined the strikers as
a result of the efforts of Crawford
Temple, a Monongah miner, who, since
joining the union, has proved as eff
cient a missionary as the organizers
could desire. The operators secured
new drivers in an hour and at noon
over half of the miners came out. Then
the second lot of drivers threw up their
positions and some of the men began
stoning the miners, who were forced to
leave their work, and who had assem-
bled in front of the mine. Rolf Hite,
the superintendent, soon had his faith
full Winchester in his hands and three
shots quenched the enthusiasm of all
the strikers but one who made for Hite
with pick. but he was driven off at
the point of a revolver. The operators.
however, feared another outbreak and
called on the county officials for aid.
Efforts at Arbitration.
Pittsburgh, Pa, July 24.-The situa-
ton in this district has not materially
changed. The efforts of the arbitration
commission have been so far successful.
that call for meeting of operators on
Tuesday next has been issued. 1t is
signed by w. p. De Armitt, for the New
York & Cleveland Gas Coal company;
vania Coal company; E. Young, for M.
A. Hanna & Co.; George w. Schlende-
berg, for the E. L. Robbins company,
and other leading operators of the dis
trict. These names to the notice of
meeting is sufficient guarantee of the
success of the gathering in point of at
tendance.
Listen to Debs.
Fairmont, w. Va, July 24.-Friday
was the agitators' day. In the morning
the miners at Hite's mines came out as
did also 40 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 schoolhouse
Friday afternoon by Debs, Ratchford
and Mahon. Three hundred of the Mon
ongah miners, accompanied by their
wives and children and preceded by
band, marched through the broi1ing sun
to an intermediate point between Mon
ongah and Fairmont, where they were
met by a delegation of miners from
Hite's and other mines. Monongah Coal
company officials were also present.
Mr.. Debs said in part:
"The longer man works the poorer he
is. The only way to get out Of debt is to
quit work. 1 had my choice of agitation
| or stagnation, and chose the former and
in consequence 1 got in jail, and can go
again if necessary 1t has got to be so
that if you want an honest man you must
go to jail to get him. That flag that floats
over your head is a piece Of sarcasm.
Slaves were worth 1,50O. You miners are
| not worth Is cents a shipload. You are the
only commodity that has commercial
value. All you are good for is for fertil-
izer."
Kewanee Oll.) Miners Quit.
Kewanee, ILL.,, July 24.-The miners,
about 100 in number, at the Kewanee
| Coal companys shaft quit work Thurs
day night and refused to return Friday.
| 1t seems to be generally understood
| that there is no grievance here, but that
| the miners are out to assist the eastern
strikers. This closing down of the
mines which supplied the Western Tube
| company with coal is causing them
| much trouble and has already thrown
| great many men out of work, but to
| keep the works in operation the COM
pany is burning wood and putting in oil
burners under their boilers.
Arthur Keeps Hands Off.
Cleveland, O., July "a. - Received
your telegram. Cannot legally comply
| with the request" was the answer
which p. M. Arthur, chief of the Broth
| erhood of Locomotive Engineers, sent
| to President Ratchford's message re-
questing Arthur's presence at confer
ence of labor leaders to be held at
| Wheeling Monday or Tuesday.
Demands of Illinois Miners.
ST. Louis, July 24.-The latest re-
ports from Belleville, ILL.,, where 1000
coal miners went out Thursday. are tc
the effect that everything is quiet
there. The following demands have
been formulated, and it is designed to
make them apply throughout the
southern Illinois coal field:
| THAT we demand 40 cents per ton, mine
| run, gross top weight, 1000 pounds to con-
| stitute ton.
2-Loaders after mining machines who
| chute their own coal and timber their own
| places, rs cents ton, mine run, men to
! furnish their own supplies.
SMachine runners to receive four cents
| ton, and machine helpers to receive three
| cents a ton mine run.
! 4Dafly wages as follows: Track layers,
| $225; timbermen, s2.25; drivers, 50; trap
| pers rs cents; laborers inside, not less than
| $1.75 laborers outside, not less than $1.65;
bumpers. 81; box car latorers. not less than
| $1.S5; car pliers, 81.