Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-06
INAUGURATED IN THE BITUMISOUS
COAL DISTRICTS YESTERDAY.
OUTCOME HARD TO PREDICT.
THE SITUATION CANNOT BE SIZED
Up UNTIL TO-DAY.
Many Who iDd Not Work Yesterday
May Have Been Only Observing
the Fourth-success of Strug-
gle Depends on Pitts
burg District.

PittSDurg, Pa, July 5.-lne great "dES
struggle of the coal miners was inaugural
ed throughout the Pittsburg district to-
day. but il will be impossible to tell any
thing about the situation before tomorrow,
as this is a general holiday and work is
suspended in all the mines OF the district.
This was q day of mass meetings. By a
preconcerted arrangement Of the district
executive board of the United Mine Work
ers, meetings were held in nearly every
mining settlement that was represented at
Saturdays convention in this city and the
miners were instructed not TO falter in the
great struggle that has begun. What ef-
feet the meetings will have cannot be de-
termined until Tuesday morning. When
it is learned just how many men refuse to
so TO work then. the magnitude of the
strike will manifest itself.
Much doubt is expressed as TO the action
of the PIttsburg and Chicago miners on
the Wheeling division of the B. & NJ; the
NJ. A. Hanna Company's miners on the
Panhandle. who are working al the 81 cent
rate, under an ironclad contract, and the
New York and Cleveland miners at Turtle
creek Plum creek and Sandy creek. The
miners union officials claim the miners
will strike, and the operators say they will
not.
In speaking of the strike. President Do
Ian said: The coming week will be a
busy one. i have every reason 10 belleEe
that with the exception OF very lew
mines, the suspension will be general Our
men realize that this is the night OF their
lives and from the expressions OF determ-
ination that l hear on all sides, l nave
every reason TO believe the strike will be
successful. How long will IL last? That is
a difficult question TO answer. But one
thing can rest assured-we are IN good
shape TO stay out all summer. BY good
shape, | mean we have warm weather and
a prospective big demand for lake trade
coal in sight, which makes the times much
more opportune than in winter"
Columbus, o, July 5.-PreSident Racch-
ford, of the United Mine Workers, spent
the day at headquarters. but not many re-
ports were received from the various min
ing districts throughout the country as 10
the progress of the strike. President Ratch-
ford said IL would require several days TO
receive full Information on this point. as
the district presidents would necessarily
have to have time TO communicate with
the numerous locals before reporting uef-
initely 10 national HEADQUARTERS as to the
completeness Of the suspension. Monday
being observed in many places as ma
tional holiday will naturally retard the
reports to some extent. Before the end OF
the present week, however, the national
officers will have the Information at hand
as TO the exact situation at all the mines in
the country.
The Information which the national Of
ficals have at hand is of general nature
and is to the effect that the miners have
generally suspended work and the strike
promises TO be a success
The success of the whole movement
seems 10 devolve upon the men in the
PittSburg district. and judging from the
latest advices received from the fell. the
miners there propose TO do their part. SO
far as can be learned. the operators in
both the Pittsburg anda Ohio districts do
not intend to put forth any effort to start
their mines hut have concluded to quietly
close down end wait developments At
least IL will require several days for the
operators 10 determine what course 10 pur-
sue. President Ratchford said:
The success of the movement naturally
depends upon the unanimity with which
the miners respond. We are ready and
willing TO lead the movement. but the ef-
fCrts of the miners themselves is the real
force, and We cannot fail 10 succeed If they
play their part
President Ratchford said he had been as
tonished at the great number of kilograms
received from operators requesting permis-
sion to operate their mines by paying the
price demanded by the miners These re-
that to do SO would be defeating the very
object which the strike is intended to ac-
prominent Ohio operator stated last
evening that in his opinion the strike
would prove a fat failure; not that he
fact that the entire Pittsburg district was
not represented at the meeting held n
Pittsburg on Saturday. He did not be-
lieye all the mines in that district would
strike, and unless they do It cannot be ex-
peCted that the object for which the strike
has been ordered will be accomplished.
The miners throughout Ohio generally
observed Monday as a holiday, and II can
not be determined until tomorrow to what
extent the order for a suspension will be
observed. 1t is generally conceded. how
ever. that the strike will be enforced in