The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-07-07
A GREAT STRIKE.
United Mine Workers Ordered to
Lay Down Their Tools.
July Set as the Day for the Quitting
OF Work-it IN Estimated That
$4,000 Men VIII lie
n Involved.

Columbus, o., July "a general
strike of miners of the United Mine
Workers of America has been ordered
for July A by the national executive
board, whose headquarters are in this
city, and also by the district presi-
dents, as the result of meeting held
here June "a. 25 and 20.
Reports received by the labor lead.
ers are that the strike will affect 10000
men in Pennsylvania, 10000 in Illinois,
$4,000 in Ohio, and about 1000 in In
diana. The outlook for speedily secur-
ing the advance for which the strike is
ordered is not considered promising.
AfThe official document says:
ITO the Mine Workers of the Country.
Greeting: Fellow Miners-At the last an
nual convention OF the United Mine Work
ers of America, held in the city OF Column
bus, o., January l2-16 1897, it was deter
mined that the scale of prices should be
advanced to the following rates: Pennsyl-
vania pittsburgh districO-pick min
ing, CO cents per ton; Ohio. &C
cents per ton Indiana (bituminousl, 6C
cents per ton; Illinois Grape Creek. IS
cents per ton. Machine mining 10 be paid
three-fifths per ton OF the price for pick
mining, except in Indiana (bituminous),
where the price shall be four-fifths per
ton OF the price paid for pick mining; other
mining sections corresponding increase
in price that will place them on relative
basis.
Let the watchword be-" says the cir
cular, mine workers are entitled to fair
days pay for a fair days work. Local
committees are directed 10 be formed and
10 see that action is taken at once. The
field is large and ii will be an impossibility
for the national and district officers 70 at
tend TO all points, consequently local lead
ers are urged 10 assume the responsible
ity and authority for successful consum-
nation Of our desires
ITO insure success great care should be
exercised by all that no breach of the
peace occurs at any time or place, or un-
der any circumstances. Bulletins VIII be
issued from time TO time TO keep you In
formed of the progress of affairs"
The national executive board is COM
posed of Fred Dilcher, S. l.. Davis, j.
H. Kennedy, Harry Stephenson, James
M. Carson and Patrick Dolan.
The district presidents are w. K.
Farms, w. G. Knight, James NJ. Car
son and Patrick Dolan.
NJ. d. Ratchtord is president of the
national executive board, John Kane
vice president and w. {. Pearce secre-
tary. All these names are signed to the
circular.
The officers here say that $4,000 men
are involved as proposed strikers. So
far as anything can be learned here
from officials, the call for the Pitts
burgh meeting of miners on to-day
is TO decide how the strike is 20 be con-
Quoted in that district. They have to
consider plans TO take care of the wom-
en- and children during the strike.
President Ratchford says this is the
best time to settle the question of
wages, as during the summer the men
can make use of their little garden
plots in obtaining subsistence. The
needs Of clothing are not so great as
in winter.
The proposed scale is intended by
the miners TO make work for miners
profitable to them in the Pittsburgh
district and elsewhere. Pittsburgh, as
is claimed, is paying 81 cents per ton
and Ohio 81. To make the differential
what the Ohio operators claim it ought
TO be they threaten 10 reduce Ohio
miners TO As cents per ton, or nine cents
below the Pittsburgh. The miners pro-
pose, if possible, to raise Pittsburgh
prices so as TO prevent a reduction in
Ohio to 45, and the possibility of even
a further reduction here in case Pitts
burgh should keep on lowering as
Ohio lowered 10 maintain the differen-
tial OF nine cents.
Spring Valley, H., July 3.-The
miners of this city held a meeting in
the opera house Thursday night and
voted unanimously TO obey the order
of the national executive board of the
United Mine Workers of America tC
mine no more coal after July 4. The
miners are not the only ones that vii
quit work, but all the employees of the
company whose wages rise and decline
when the wages of the miners is affect.
ed have also been asked TO come out
That means that all the company men
trappers and even the cagers who have
charge of the hosting cars will also
come out. This puts serious aspect
upon the situation, for If the mines are
allowed to remain idle without the
cons tant attention of the company's
men it would not take long for then
TO cave. The miners of this city are
very determined. They have had Their
wages reduced nearly 30 per cent. in the
past four years, and 75 cents a day is
hardly the average.
Terre Haute, Ind, July 3.-President
Knight, of District No. II, United Mine
Workers of America, officially con
frmed the news of miners strike
His estimate, however, of the number
of men who will be involved is about
100000, about third of the estimate
sent out from Columbus. Mr.. Knight
says the object of the strike is TO clear
out the markets and enable the opera
tors TO pay living wages to their men
He declares il is not war on operators
and the miners do not so regard il
They admit, according to Mr.. Knight
that the operators are not responsible
for the present aggravated condition
of affairs, but are, like the men they EN-
ploy. the victims of overprod uction ano
under consumption.