The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-08
STRIKING MINERS IN CAMP.
A REMARKABLE CAMPAIGN AT THE
DE ARMITT MINES.

DE ARMITT MINES
Muudreds sr Strikers Rivenaehea to Prevest
other Rnen from werkina-Thoy Call u
ssoTal suasion-Mr. ne Aruaist Describes
IL as Hntimidaion-scenca In CanH.
P~ITrsBuRe, Aug. 1.-THE most remarkable
feature OF the coal miners strike now being con-
Quoted in four great States 10 tho campaign
against the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company. Moro than q week has olapsod since
1000 coal diggors invaded tho Turtle Creek.
Plum Creek, and Sandy Greek valleys with tho
avowed intention Of inducing the employees
Of the coal company TO cease work and
Join the general fight for an advance In
wages. During that period not . violent
act has been committed. q record that. a week
ago. no one would have venturcd TO predict
For years past coal miners strikes, like those In
other trades. have been marked by violence, and
when IL was learned that the strike leaders were
about to lead . movement against the Now York
and Cleveland Gas Coal Company's mines 1t was
presumed that in a very few days tho end of the
strike would be In sight, and would be reached
by the usual process-an assault on the working
miners, u collision with deputy sherifs, and the
arrival OF the militia.
Those who anticipated trolble OF this kind
forgot one important fact-that strike riots are
usually caused by the introduction OF new men
| to take the places Of strikers, bringing on the old
fight between union and non-union labor-and
they also forgot to consider the relations DO
tween the strikers and the mon whom they In
tended TO induce to strike. Tho company's
miners wero not "hlaoklcgs." for they had not
taken other mems places; they were not
enemies of the men who intended to visit them:
on the contrary. only three years before they had.
at the cost Of much suffering. listened to q like
proposition to strike on the promise OF receiving
pecuniary support, and had been abandoned by
the men whom they had favored. Then
the United Mine Workers had promised
that IL the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company's miners would join the strike Of 1894
they in return would contribute q certain
amount on every ton Of coal they mined after
tho settlement Of the strike to the support of
tho company's miners. The strike of 1894
was won and all the mtnors Of tho Pitte-
burg district, except those Of tho New
York and Cleveland Company. returned
to work. but the promised contributions
wero not given and tho duped miners
were obliged TO re-enter the mines at whatever
wages the company chose to pay. 1t has been
said to the credit Of w. =. De Armitt that he
turned away but very few Of the old hands and
maintained his old rate OF wages, that is. q rate
that was 10 per cent. less than the one prevail
ing in the district. q differential that he claimed
as q legitimate compensation for superior con-
ditions prevailing at his mines.
To persuade De Armitt's men again to lay
down their tools is the task that the strikers
have set themselves. Their mode of procedure
IL systematic and thorough. Without passing
either on Mr.. De Armitt's claim that intimida-
ton is practised. or ON that OF the strike leaders
that moral suasion is their sole resort, it may
strikers is to show De Armitt's men that thew
are determined TO carry on their own strike 10 q
saSessstul issue; that a strike Of De Armi.t's
they will persist to the end In trying TO secure
the soOpsrst,io oa% Of Dc s AEm d men; 49,
Ginning aaiales e roth the ,S s,5S sss. E, p, Pc a A.mit,'s n. mines are
strikers; Three camps have Been estabiished,
one ct Turtle Creek. another at Sandy Greek, a
the same plan, although The accommodstio ms
for the campers may vary. One camp may have
other Vacant dwellings are, assigned ed'I 10 q" .h shr
Creek may be taken as a type of all.
THE suN correspondent visited the village of
ing. The road skirts the edge Of the grounds Of
the Turtle Creek Rod and Gun Club. on which
stand = permanent frame structure, owned by
oftwo travelling evangelisis. AZ the time Of
the visit about 100 men were on the grounds.
Some were reading newspapers. others were
playing baseball, while others lay or sat on the
grass In groups. likeness seemed irksome
to them, but they were making the best OF it.
The camp is in charge of Captain Edward
MtGksy.' duly appointed by Patrick Dolan,
~ IEcsiucul- Ndpl. 9LChhy IN
sists on discipline, and the citizens OF Turtle
Creek are authority for the abatement that he
disorder at the camp and the men are well
behaved. Not a drunken. miner has been seen
About 7 o'clock in the evening the two travel.
ling evangelists hold q gospel service. which all
o oSs s shaSes Of a''f faith. "ISsssp 8 =. n Of th sae ssry yS1i,
close, and the tent is then at the disposal Of the
s Sinsrs. sn.s a S1s'' tho s- RiiII.s SeP9 5s : b, e S coal
10 o'clock the camp ia asleep: The majority
o. the Rod and Gun claS's ~ house. pT "Sd
G fshsa As1leog d y the IN houses Re- h in e. "a "a
der. and, preceded by the band. go to the Turtle
With tho deputy sherins, march past the houses
Of the miners. keep a sharp lookout for those
% ;ses ~ %s 9yr be on , ,ssn way Ssrt 7" work: Tith the oS:
turn TO camp. BY that time breakfast ls ready.
s saSxi s4ts ssi sRa pFs "a. BEEN BY d %sp .SiS 81 4 f0 /. the 1i% duty e;
SSss6slI playing and other Innocent methods q
The clubhouse Is tho coumissary departmsnt
1t has been kept literally supplied with. food
Pitts6urg. Al the time Of tins sun mans visit
there were a dozen washboilers full OF soup
were stacked high. the shelves were loaded With
tobacco. canned goods. and sides Of bacon. No
Flies and hoboes were early drawn 10 the
scene. The former will be kept out Of the com.
missary py mosquito bAr screens; tho latter have
already boon cleaned out. Bona hde miners
only are fed and sheltered.
No card playing 10 permitted, no LIQUOR Ia al
lowed on the grounds. and should any striker be
caught drunk his ds,s as a camper are mum
, back TO his home to share his family's scant SUP
ply of food.
Capt. Mckay has a drastic way OF DEALING
with mutiny. On Thursday $50 men were SO,
lected 10 go to Plum Crock. Some rebelied and
y refused 70 20; their food supply was cut OF. and
not until they consented TO obey orders was
, their hunger satisfied.
There are not more than 600 strikers at ali
, three camps at present. and 1t is the leaders
!, policy to reduce this number AZ much as possi
Bile, keeping only enough on hand to act us
moral suasionists" with De Armltt's EN-,
ployees.