Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18
MINERS MEETINGS.
MANY OF THEM TO DE HELD To-
DAY.
LABOR LEADERS TO ADDRESS THEM.
MUCH Is EXPECTED FROM THEM By
STRIKE ORGANIZERS.
SITUATION IN WEST VIRGINIA
IL Looks Less Favorable for the
Operators, Who Are Now Less con-
adent Than Heretofore-striscs mt
various Points.


realization of the gravity Of the coal
miners strike situation, as far as the
shipments Of coal from the district just
east Of Plttsburg and the Clearheld-Cam-
brla field are concerned. They have
awakened to the fact that coal from these
producing centres is playing havoc with
The cutting of Of the supply Of the Pitts
burg trade, thus initiating against the
success Of the strike.
An important meeting Of the Executive
Board and the district officials was held
this afternoon. Cameron Miller, the ma
tional organizer. was present, and the
situation was discussed in detail. 1t Is
now proposed to send organizers into the
districts, and, If possible, induce the men
TO come out in sympathy. 1t IS not
expected to bring every miner in these
sections out. Mines that furnish coal
for the seaboard viii not be molested.
1t is proposed to hold a number of mass
meetings during the next week.
An important message from West viz
ginia was received at miners headquar-
ters during the afternoon. 1t came from
q prominent State official, and states that
the situation has taken phase with the
indications strongly in favor Of the
miners coming out. The miners Off
Gals believe that the West Virginia
miners will be out Monday morning.
There was very little doing in the local
coal market to-day. There was no
change in the price, plenty Of the out
put being offered at S12j, the same price
as that Of the day previous. The miners
are still holding firm. with no sign Of a
break at any point. \ large number Of
meetings will be held tomorrow, to give
encouragement to the men. Arbitra-
tion-Commissioner Schmidt, who is the
only one of the commissioners in the city
tonight. received a telegram from Com
Observation-Disclosures Barton, Of West Nir-
ginia, announcing that the situation in
that State was entirely unchanged. and
that he expects the miners there to strike.
PECULIAR SITUATION.
FAIRMONT. w. VA. July Ito
the close observer OF the mining situa-
ton I'm this region. a peculiar state OF
affairs is presented. Operators, who were
elated a few days ago, are now worried
over the increase in freight OF 10 cents
ton. All the operators are on the "qui
vive" lest the men be influenced by the
agitators TO come out. Senator camden,
who three days ago thought it very unlike
" that the men would join the strikers
to-day he was prepared for any
thing The mass-meeting so largely adj
vertsed for this evening was COM
plete failure. as none OF the speakers
were present. although kilograms Of re-
gret were read. Eugene Y. Debs viii GER
tainly be here Monday. and will address
the miners at the courthouse.
To-day seventeen miners at Nononga-
hela were discharged for attending
THURSDAYS meeting. These men are using
every means in their power to induce
the other miners TO strike. as sort or
revenge. The company claim they VIII
bring trespass suits. and w. y. Meredith,
the leading lawyer Of the Second Con-
gressional District. together with S. n.
Arnett and j. =. Kirby. have been re-
tanned as counsel. If all reports are true.
The Baltimore and Ohio has broken all
record< in the matter of moving coal.
Passenger trains were side-tracked to-
day TO allow coal 10 proceed west.
Everything is quiet on the Harrisburg
Branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio. and
all mines are running full blast, but one.
STRIKE ON THE NORFOLK AND
WESTERN
HUNTINGTON. w. VA. July 17.-This
afternoon upwards OF 5000 men. employ
ed i'm the lower coal-helds on the Nor
FOLK and Western roa.i threw down
their picks, and swore fealty 10 the cause
of their Pennsylvania and Ohio brethren.
The strike I'm that section to-day in
f.f1 In 4
Thacker. Maritime, Logan, Peel Splint,
Shamokin and Southern.
The agtators. who have been In that
vicinity for a week past, VIII depart to-
night for the Great Flat-Top fields. sixty
mtes further up the Norfolk and West
ern where about 1000 men are employed.
They speak encouragingly Of their work
I'm West Virginia. and assert that before
Monday noon every miner In the Fiat
TOP field will be out. The indications are
that their claims are well founded, and
I'm addition the Dinges. further down the
line. which resumed work only a few
DAYS ago. will also have to suspend. as
dissatisfaction has developed among the
miners employed there.
Seven hundred more men went out
on the Kanawha to-day, and the next big
break is expected in the New-River
fields.
HARD WORK TO-DAY.
PITTSBURG, PA. July 1.-THE organi-
zers sent to West Virginia TO get
the miners Of that State out expect TO
make good progress tomorrow. Ex-
President Cameron Miller said to-day nj
the Pittsburg District headquarters. that
II is likely the best work Of the week
will be performed in the West Virginia
fields on Sunday. Many of the men
whom II has been difficult for the organi-
GERS to reach Will be found tomorrow.
In some cases IL is probable that at
tennis will be made TO keep the mines
running Sunday, and this, he thinks, will
cause a break in some places, as the
men will consider il coercion on the part
Of the operators. Any such movement as
Sunday work will show the anxiety of
the operators to get their coal out and
give the miners assurance Of the i'm
portance Of the strike.
Unsatisfactory William Warner, Of
the miners organization. IS IN daily re-
organizations. which he refers TO Ma
tional-President Ratchford.
number Of Pittsburg operators
snoken TO to-day. declined to express
themselves on the subject of true uni
formitv. Henry Floerscheim, the Fin
levyille operator, SAYS he got the hot
end Of the poker when the plan was
tried before, and he will not sign until
Of per cent. OF the other operators sign.
lanes w. Shields says he will not sign.
John Peters, Of the Amyville Coal Com
pany. says the same thing.
STRIKE EXPECTED.
PARKERSBURG, w. VA, July H.
The Citizens Coal Company here. con-
trolled by the stockholders of the Mono
gahela Coal Company. are laying in