Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-07-29
MARCHING MINERS
Create Excitement at Roanoke,
in the Prairie State.
SHERIFF CALLS ON THE GOVERNOR

Wants Troops to Protect the Working
Miners-Great Commotion in That Neck
In the West Virginia and Pittsburg Dis
tricts-Operators Adopt the True Uni
formity Plan as Advocated by De Armit.
Minonk, Ills, July 29.-Dissatisfied
miners are marching from here. Toluca
and Rutland to induce those at Roanoke
to quit mining coal for shipment. The
sheriff at Roanoke has wired Governor
Tanner asking for troops to protect the
mines and lives Of the miners. The sher-
iff it not in a position to Withstand the
attack Of a force Of 1000 men. He has
sworn in fifty deputies. and has some
special police. but is unable to procure
sufficient force to resist the force
marching to Roanoke from six or eight
mining towns. There is great excite
ment.
Metamora. Ills, July 29.-Twenty
deputy sheriffs have been sworn in to
go Immediately to Roanoke, where an
invasion of coal miners is expected
from Minonk, Streator, Kingley, We
mona, Toluca and Rutland, for the pur-
pose Of forcing the miners to join the
strike. A telegram from Minonk says
that 800 have left there and will meet
the other forces at Benson. 1t is be-
lfeved that the entire force will number
800 to 1000. They threaten to stay at
Roanoke until every miner is out. The
sheriff at Roanoke is massing deputies
10 protect property and life. The march,
ing miners are carrying provisions The
Roanoke mines were visited a week ago,
and the men then came out, but one
fourth of them returned to work and
have been working every day since. Much
OF the coal mined has been used by
farmers in threshing machines. Serious
trouble is greatly feared
Springfield, Ills, July Ex-Governor
TANNER received telegram from the
Sheriff at Roanoke asking for state
troops. The governor telegraphed that
as no overt acts had been committed
the circumstances did not warrant send
ing any troops and none would be sent,
and for the sheriff to telegraph him this
morning the condition of affairs.
The General Strike Situation.
Pittsburg, July 29.-The general strike
situation is less encouraging from the
miners standpoint than it was a week
ago. Breaks in the ranks of the river
men and a general feeling Of discour-
agement over the West Virginia stu
alton have combined to quench enthusi-
asm III remarkable degree One prime
factor in bringing about this condition
OF affairs is thought to be the inaction Of
the wheeling convention in devising
ways to stop coal shipments from the
disputed territory. On all sides the con-
ference was confidently looked upon by
inc men as presenting speedy solution
OF the West Virginia problem and a
means of making the tie up general The
issuance of long resolutions was in the
nature OF boomerang. This morning
Will witness one of the most interesting.
and some confidently predict to be the
last mass meetings of the present strike.
All efforts have been concentrated on
De Armit's mines, and labor officials are
to rally the men from all over the coun-
try. Eugene V. Debs and Presidnt
Ratchford, of the United Mine Workers.
will be among the chief speakers, while
there will be a host of lesser officials
and organizers.
Planned as a Peaceful Demonstration.
The demonstration is planned as a
peaceful one, and with the idea Of MAX
ing one last effort to bring out the
working miners by the strongest kind Of
moral suasion. The meeting will be held
at McCrea's school house, near Plum
Creek. Miners will march to the place
OF asSemblage from all nearby mines
Al! sorts of rumors are in circulation
concerning this meeting. One is that
force may be used should moral suasion
fail to bring the De Armit men out. In
support OF this it is reported that at
least 800 strikers are at Turtle Creek
now, and small parties are constantly
arriving to augment the crowd. The
men carry clubs and have provisions for
two or three days outing. A large
number Of deputies are in readiness to
take hand should their services be
needed. The miners officials say posi-
lively that there will be no trouble, and
they believe the working miners will lis
ten to reason and join their brethren.
DOINGs OF THE STRIKE LEADERS.
Ratchford, Gompers and Sovereign Call on
AtkinsOn-Open Letter from Debs,
Charleston, W. Va, July 29.-Presi-
dent Ratchford, of the United Mine
Workers, President Gompers of the