The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-07-17
CRISIS NEAR AT HAND.
Decisive Action Expected in West
Virginia Within Forty-eight
Hours.

Cleveland. O.. July 13.-Within forty
eight hours developments of a very
definite character are expected To take
place in the West Virginia coal fields.
\ leading operator received Il long dis
tance telephone message at 10 o'clock
tins morning stating that nine organlZ-
crs had just left Pittsburg for the West
Virginia coal fields.
person who occupies a high official
position i'll the Mine Workers union was
at the Pittsburg end of the telephone.
i on may look for something startling
in that direction within the next forty
eight hours, he said. Reliable advices
which | have received this morning con
vince me the West Virginia miners will
come out All they wait for is little
urging from the union. | am free to
confess to you that while | expected
many men would come out, | never
hoped for such complete victory as
this"
Ihc foregoing message was repeated to
a reporter who was standing near the
operator who received it,
Coal Operators will Not Talk.
When that point is reached that the
coai-ml1e operators refus. to talk for
publcatlon' the situation is grave indeed.
1he operators now urge upon the inter
viewers that under no circumstances
must their names be used III connection
with the information they have supplied.
leading operator made Il plain state
ment=-a startling statement. in fact--this
morning. but insisted his name must Lot
be used
''Are there not some parts of your
statement which may accredit to you?''
asked the reporter.
No. You see if l talked for pubica-
ton would have to say to you just the
opposite of what | have said. You ap-
preciate that there are many reasons
why | would not want my name To ap-
pear as admitting all these facts
Since Saturday the coal strike has as
sumed very grave aspect. but Il full
realization of the change did not reach
Cleveland operators and dealers until to
day. Excepting few operators who
had some inside information they were
and loudly declare that there was coal on
hand-more than enough to supply the
country regardless of the outcome of the
strike. Today all this seeming or pre-
tended confidence has disappeared. Scy-
eral operators went to Pittshurg yester-
day to attend the voluntary conference
OF the state arbitratorS
Situation is Very Grave.
One of these whose knowledge of the
premises is above question. says: The
situation is very grave and | apprchend
some very startling developments within
the next forty-cight hours. | believe the
West Virginia miners will come out and
that will make the tic-up practically COM
plete, for the strikers will then concer-
trate all their efforts on the De Armitt' :
men. \ small amount of coal is now
coming from the mines along the Penn
sylvanla main line and from the coke re-
gions. but il is in comparatively in>ig-
nifcant quantities. | think it will he cut
off entirely very soon. From what |
could learn yesterday at Pittsburc | do
not hesitate to say that in my belief the
railroads will hesitate to haul West Nir-
glnIa and De Armitt'S mine coal. The
engineers and trainmen are regarding
the situation with lowering brows, T.. NJ.
Arthur's statement 10 the contrary not
withstanding.
THE supply Of coal on hand is very
short and | look for another sharp ad-
vance in prices shortly. On Saturday
coal which was loaded ut PttSburg FOR
S1-2I to S1-.O f. o. b. is now held ut
S1.1J. Delivered to Cleveland the price
is 500. Chicago is buying freely and
paying high prices. | do not think the
supply will hold out more than Il week
longer"
J. j. Phillips received telegram from
Pennington. w. Va. this afternoon. as
follows: Miners all went out on Il
strike here this morning
Pennington is an important point in
the West Virginia district.