The true northerner., 1897-08-11
TROOPS ASKED FOR.
Threatening Strike situation at Cof-
feen, IlI.-In PennsyIvantn.

IGtns lll.-ln
Springfield, ILL.,. Aug. Gov. Tan
ner in an interview states that he has
received no further word from Sheriff
Randle, of Montgomery county, who at
an early hour Sunday morning sent n
call for troops at Coffeen. Gov. Tan
ner sent B. b. Ray, secretary of the rail-
road and warehouse commission, TO
Coffeen, instructing him TO wire a re-
port of the conditions at Coffeen among
the strikers. Late Sunday night Mr..
Ray telegraphed that everything is
quiet at Coffeen and says there is no in
dication of immediate trouble.
Coffeen is village in Montgomery
county. 1t is now bcsieged by 500
threatening strikers, who express de-
termination to force the miners now at
work there to drop their tools. 1t is
rumored that the miners have threat
ened to use dynamite and blow up the
shafts in order to prevent work. This
and other reports of a like nature in
creased the alarm of the authorities,
who united with Sheriff Randle in his
call for troops. President Taylor took
every precrution to preserve the peace,
placing the village practically under
martial law. Pickets were stationed
al every entrance to the village and
none of the strikers were allowed to
enter.
Hillsboro, ILL.,, Aug. 9.-The ominous
calm which precedes a storm prevails
in Coffeen. Camped outside the town
are hundreds of angry strikers, armed
with clubs and revolvers, determined
to prevent work in the mines to-day.
The visiting miners remained in camp
Sunday, forbidden by President Tray
lor to come within the village limits. A
large force of deputy sheriffs, armed
with rifles and shotguns, are patrolling
the premises near the mines. For two
days there has been the semblance of
martial law in Coffeen. No one has been
allowed to come within the village with
out stating his business or giving
password and pickets have been con-
stantly on guard.
The striking miners are armed with
stout hickory clubs, which they carry
as a walking stick. One of them, n. A.
Ocheler, of Staunton, assaulted a work
ing miner and was arrested and placed
in Jail in this city. When searched
revolver was found concealed in his
clothing. 1t is thought that large por-
tion of the visiting miners are carrying
revolvers. The unusual precautions
taken by the authorities include rigid
censorship over the telegraph and tele-
phone systems. kilograms can neither
be sent nor received and calls by tele-
phone from Mount Olive, the connect
ing point with the outside world, are
rot answered.
A clash is feared when the miners ap-
pear for work and company of mi
ltia is greatly desired. as it is felt that
so of them would have immense moral
weight in preventing trouble. The re-
quest of Sheriff Randle TO Gov. Tanner
to send state troops has been refused on
the ground that the sheriff has not ex-
hausted his resources. The general
opinion is that the sheriff will be able
to control the strikers. Good judg-
ment and GOODNESS will avert trouble,
but any slight aggressive act on the
part of deputies will in the excited con-
Gition of affairs precipitate riot and
bloodshed.
Chicago, Aug. "a call has been is
sued for a meeting of the executive
committee of the Illinois coal opera
tors to be held at Peoria August IL to
consider the scale of wages adopted by
the miners convention at Springfield.
The scale will probably be accepted,
making Illinois the first state in which
the miners win a victory, but the min
ers will remain out until a general set
tlement is made.
Pittsburgh, Pa, Aug. 9.-Although
Sunday was considered a day of rest
among the strikers, probably the most
effective work among the Plum Creek
miners was performed, and as a re-
suit the strikers have been assured that
considerably. less than 200 men will
be at work to-day at the mine. A
large mass meeting was held at Camp
Isolation at Plum Creek in the after
noon, which, in addition to about
1000 others, was attended by about 200
women, the wives and daughters of the
miners who are still at work in the
Plum Creek mine. Notwithstanding
the fact that deputies visited the homes
Of these people in the morning and
advised them to not attend the meet
ing, nearly every wife brought her
husband with her. Because of the
many restrictions put on the strikers,
they have hitherto been unable to get
chance to argue their cause with the
Plum Creek workmen, and the occasion
given them to-day was taken advan-
tage of 10 the full.
nrhCiOn iIcr NDONnC