Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-07
GREAT COAL MINERS STRIKE BE-
GAN IN EARNEST YESTERDAY.
OUTCOME WILL BE KNOWN SOON
WEST VIRGINIA MINERS SLOW IN
QUITTING WORK.
They May Cause the FaiInre of the
Strike by Supplying the Demand
for CoaI-Many Illinois Min
ers Also Fail 90
Go Out.

Pittsburg. Pa. July s.-The strike order
| of the national executive board of the
| United Mine Workers of America was obey
| ed by from 1880 to 1900 of the 81 60 min
| ers in the Pittsburg district to-day. The
| great struggle is now on in earnest, and
| the developments of the next few days
! will determine the success or failure OF
| the fight for a uniform mining rate. Pitts
| burg IS the pivotal point in the five states
| engaged in the contest. and the success of
the local officials in their efforts to secure
| a general suspension in this district will
| have an important bearing on the outcome
of the movement. While II is estimated
| that at least two-thirds of the miners have
| thrown down their picks enough men are
| still at work to seriously impair their
chances unless they can ultimately be
brought out. This President Dolan conf
IDENTIFY claims can be done. The operators.
on the other hand, are in no wise discon-
certed. and assert that the strike cannot
succeed.
The first break in the operators ranks
was made this afternoon by ]. W. Steen,
of the o. /. c. mines. at Rossville. The
diggers refused TO work, and the mine was
closed down, but notice was posted that
after to-day the Scent rate would be paid.
1t is not likely that the officials will allow
the men to work until a majority of opera
tors have agreed to the miners demands.
In West Virginia the miners have been
slow in responding to the strike. A dispatch
tonight says that general strike IN the
state is not probable. The men are not or
ganized and they are inclined TO regard
the strike elsewhere as favorable to their
chances of securing plenty of work at good
prices while it is pending. Great pressure
is being brought to bear upon them by the
United Mine Workers officials to join the
strike, but so far without success. The i'm
preston among both operators and miners
in this state is that West Virginia will be
able to supply the demand for coal in the
event of a prolonged strike, and that the
operators will be justified in Offering the
miners Inducements to remain at work,
they did in 1894.
DanviIle. III, July 6-The miners of the
Dsnville district are all at work and will
not strike. The Kelley Coal Company men.
the only ones who had grievances, were
they accepted. They will receive 2Iz cents
more per ton for mine run and have two
check weighmen-
Peoria, Ill, July 6-There is no sign Of
a strike by the coal miners in this vicinity
yet. So far can be learned. all are work
ing to-day. 1t is stated that they have been
fooled two or three times by the miners
in Southern Illinois. and they are waiting
to see what they will do.
Indiana polls, Ind, July 6.-The Indiana
commission to-day sent letters to the labor
commissioners of Ohio, Pennsylvania and
lilluDih. UlNlIlNE Iltfl 10 meet WIFI t0G III
diana commission in this city at as early
day as possible to consider the possibilities
OF arbitrating the coal miners strike. The
Indiana commission hopes for favorable re
spOnses TO its Invitation and in case the
labor commissions of the four states meet
the coal operators will be asked to meet
with them in an endeavor to terminate the
strike before it is far under way.
Belaire, o., July 6,-To-day is really the
first day Of the big coal miners strike in
this district although a large number OF
the men came out yesterday.
Quite a surprise was created last night
when II became known that the operators
OF the SchCk mines, three miles west OF
this city. had granted the advanced scale
and the miners there had returned to work.
However. this morning a committee waited
upon the miners at these mines and COM
manded that they must cease work at
once. This they did. Fully 500 miners in
this district are now out and by the end
Of another day every miner in the district
will be In line OF battle.