The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-05

Columbus O., July kilograms re-
ceived by President Ratchford of the
United Mine Workers today Indicate
that the order for a general strike of
the miners has been complied with
generally throughout the mining dis
tricts of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois and
western Pennsylvania and in sections
of West Virginia and Kentucky. It
viii take several days. however, to de-
termine with any degree of accuracy
the number of men involved. Presiden.
Ratchford roughly estimates the num-
Der at 100000, but this is regarded as
very liberal. He is pleased with the
unanimity shown by the miners and
says that he has the greatest faith in
the successful outcome Of the strike.
He thinks the prospects are better than
in 1894, when a general strike was in
augurateG. At that time the scale of
prices was being paid in many min
ing localities. notably West Virginia.
where a majority of the miners contin
ued a work and thereby greatly weak
ened the strike. He has hopes that the
West Virginia miners may now be
brought into line inasmuch as they are
and their condition is not any better
than that of the miners in other states.
The coal production of West Virginia
has increased SO rapidly in the last few
years that the output Of that state now
exceeds the output of Ohio. During
the strike of 1894 trouble was caused
by the shipment of West Virginia coal
through Ohio, the Ohio miners en-
deavoring to stop the traffic. The rail-
lsa1
the state for protection and almost the
entire Ohio National Guard was placed
in the field.
President Ratchford does not believe
there Will be any repetition of these
troubles in the present strike. Special
efforts are TO be made to enlist the
sympathy of the West Virginia miners.
President Ratchford is encouraged to
believe that this may be accomplished
by the fact that the miners have
signified their intention to strike in
many places where efforts to enlist
their cooperation have failed on previ-
Gus occasions.
President Ratchford has received
kilograms from a number of Pittsburg
operators, asking permission to operate
their mines at scale prices. These re-
quests are all emphatically refused, as
it would work an injustice not only to
AS to the probable duration of the
strike. President RatchfoTd says that
he will be governed entirely by circum
stances. 1t viii last several weeks at
least. The miners are in better posi-
sition to withstand long strike at this
time as a great many of them have
garden products on which to subsist,
and there will be no great hardships
entaled such as would follow a strike
in the winter. The fact that there is
a fair supply of coal in stock and the
demand for domestic consumption is
small viii have a tendency to prolong
ne suspension. The contracts for coal
for lake shipment win cause the great
est trouble. The bulk of these contracts
are held by Pittsburg operators, but
the Ohio operators also have fair
share. The Ohio operators have not
yet held a conference to consider the
matter, hut are considerably worried.
While they say the strike is ill-timed
and likely to fizzle out, they will close
down their mines for a short time ct
least until they can determine how
general the suspension is. 4 partial
only in the Pittsburs dis
-rict would be ruinous to their business I
should the Ohio miners refuse TO work. 4