The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-05
COAL MINERS NOT UNITED.
GRAVE DOUBTS As TO THE SUCCESS
OF THE BIG STRIKE.

workmen in west Virginia, Ininois, and Ken
lucky May Not Quit work-The Fight Begun
by the Ohio s1en in n Contest with the
Rates Paid By the PlttsburE Operators.
COLUMBUS, o., July "A grave situation
c~onfronts tho miners Of the country who, In
obedience to the edict Of the officials Of the
United Mino Workers of America, have gone
out on o strike. Tho suspension was really
forced by tho Ohio miners, who are seeking to
prevent o further reduction In the mining ratio
in this State, although now an increase In the
rate in all tho coal producing States is demand
ed. The operators in the Pittsburg fields arc
at present paying n 54.cent rate, while In Ohio
the rate Is 81 cents. To enable the Ohio oper-
ators to compete successfully with Pittsburg
according to tho claims of the former. 1t Is nee
essary that a innocent differential shall be
maintained between the two States. The Ohio
miners have been dissatisfied for many months
and have been ready to 60 on n strike at any
time in order to secure an increase Of wages,
and yet during this time the operatives have
been insisting upon o maintenance Of tho nine-
cent differential, or a reduction In the rate
from 81 to 45 cents until such time as the Pitts
burg operators could be induced to pay better
wages.
The Ohio operators say they would willingly
grant an increase IL tho Pittsburg operators
could be induced to do 80. AS between these
two States, the rate now demanded is 60 cents
for Ohio and 90 cents for Pennsylvania. Ma
tional President Ratchford has full confidence
in the final outcome of the strike and says that
1t will be q peaceful contest, with no violations
of law or order by the miners. In other quar-
ters grave doubts are expressed whether tho
suspension will DO general. 1t Is not believed
that the miners Of West Virginia will join in
tho strike, and as was the case during the
great strike Of 1894, the operators of that State
will supply the demand of tho Ohio trade.
The Ohio operators have been anticipating a
suspension for some time and are well prepared
for 1t, as largo amounts OF coal have recently
been mined and loaded on trains ready for ship
The miners Of northwestern Kentucky. who
work, and It is not believed that the miners in
the Danville, NJ. district will take any part In
Pennsylvania show, no signs of beginning a
strike. and neither do the miners at Westmore-
the strike. will be a failure. It is also doubtful
whether the miners employed by the New I9rs
The contest Is real really 20 one against the HS NsT !. Y .oh
pay less wages. they are generous in their treat
De ArmitI, who only gives work to the numbel
OF men whom he can employ constantly. HI
have company stores, against which there hai
> always been a protest; All the other operator
. Are M Tiillns 6 to S Z .hs d 6e nrni TT VII VII 1 do u
| The scale and until they can be forced to inereas
l II there Is no hope for any Improvement In tn
conditions Of the miners Of the country.
President Ratchford could not give the exac
s sessat,0f ao. s1,ors1s; f SSa St al the 70 n fnfntyS di Htifia
In the country. and he will then be able to iudg
n --.&.- ,--1N a. No NhA tnA uA l Il Aaa hNnA
!. fui Of tho miners situation in West virgihiI
, than in any other part of the country, but h
, expresses the belief that the suspension will be
yply Report received I've ad her
| that the strike In the coal fields viii be genera
! tomorrow and 1t Is n9W contested that IA al IN 2
miners organization were among the employee
q q Of the Clinton mines yesterday and to-day, an,
those miners Joining in it. Most of thei
Q mary mSIS 'a are f IN nrFea a s VITA tRRae' f local Ss ' merchant Ginnf'
n and the latter are using their influence TO pre-
Yesterday and to-day some of the employee
!. in the Owen: PIKE, and n i.nmsd fsno s9rnt
5 a aetf' the %A peopIe are LOOKING oHl1sii forward SP to tro'
l. Bic il the strike should be protracted. The NOR
$ orderly men, however, declare that there will b
n assist the authorities in maintaining orde
Hundreds Of miners left the camps to-day for tn
buTTOuIulH6 ~ ~ thNy "L' nv w
s porary work In harvesting hay and oats, an
will make moro money than they can in IL
mines.
. SPRING VALLEY, ILL.,. July 4.-This mornin
n the miners OF Spring Valley entered upon IL
4 strike. The feeling among the leaders is thu
though they are not In good shape to, stand
. months lockout: Provisions are already Eroy
" stocks to run down, afraid Of the accounts thu
- The day was observed by a monster miner
~ picnic in a park near the city, where hundret
"a IN to listen to the Declaration of Ind
N pendence read. and to hear the speeches to II
10 hold the new labor revolution. The speake
were not incendiary, and all asked that tho la
4 be respected.
braces the cities of Spring, Valley, Peru. and j
!. Sale, the villages Of Laid, Marquette, Seato
~ miners. The Spring Valley Coal Company h
two Of its big shafts under repairs, and IL the
are abandoned, according to tho rssolutit
40 will DO inflicted upon the company's propert
~ The company's men are expected TO quit ,wor
They are willing saod 70 c s,tshd 70 re Tep saari ana w ke
=. the strike is over, but they will not be allowed
=" do this unless the miners grant permission. I'll
tn PfrrsBURa, Pa. July 4.-One interesting fe
"a ture Of the miners strike that win BIO n mater
~ aid to the mon in the struggle 10 tho fact tn
MT been reported. Instead Of having great stor
ro of surplus fuel on hand, ~ has become more C.
t dent each day that the lake shippers, can get !
ALI of all the coal on tho side tracks about CleN
OF land within the next ten days. This stateme
IA Is made upon the authority of the general ma
sger Of one Of the largest coal nrps in the PIT
OF tho situation about Cleveland, with the abo
ng result. The number Of loaded cars In u
'er: neiG6borhood does not aggregate moro tn
q q 400 -
DID n BURGLAR OK HER