The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-06
FALLING INTO LINE

+ ALLlNU In ~ LIN {
WHAT ACTION THE COAL MINERS
ARE TAKING.
Pitssburg District Men are Out and Their
Oascers Claim That They Are in Good
shspe for q Siege, Though There May
be Reasons for Con<rary Opinion
Illinois and Iowa nIinerss Not SO Easily
Moved-aainers' onnsrs Express Hopes
That the West Virginda Miners VIII Go
Out-Other Labor Matters.
Columbus. Ohio, July 5.-National
mine officers were at headquarters to-
day to Itch stray bulletins which might
come in. President Ra;chft'rd was con-
fident that West Virginia miners would
fall into line in a day or two.
They are dernoralized and disorgan-
lied" continued Mr.. Raxchford, land
when they see the magnitude of the
strike, they will catch the contasioa and
quit
AS to the general situation Mr.. RaJch-
ford said:
The miners of the different localities
meet today, not TO decide whether TO
strike or not, but TO arrange for the man
agement of the strike in their respective
localities. We, the national officers,
viii wait on the district presidents and
the latter wait on the meetings. Yester-
day and today not being working days
the strike really begins tomorrow. 1t
will be several days before reports come
in
GLOUCESTER MEN INDORSE.
Columbus, O., July 5.-The miners al
Gloucester have endorsed the strike.
IN THE PITTSBURG DISTRICT.
Pittsburg, Pa, July 5-The great wage
struggle of the coal miners was inauSu-
rated throughout the Pirtsburg district
today, but it will :be impossible 10 tell
anything about the situation before to-
morrow, this being a general holiday,
and work is suspended in all he mines
of the district. This was day of mass
meetings. By a preconcerted arrange
ment of he district executive board or
the United Mine Workers meetings were
held in nearly every mining settlement
that was represented at Saturdays con-
vention in this city, and the miners were
instructed not 20 falter in the great
struggle hat has begun. What effect the
meetings will have cannot be determln-
ed until Tuesday morning. When 1t Is
learned just how many may refuse 10
go tow rok then, the magnitude OF me
strike Will manifest itself. Much douot
is expressed as 10 the action OF he Pitts
burg and Chicago miners on the Wheel
ing division of the Baltimore and ONO,
the companies on he Panhandle who are
working at the sixfy-cent rate, under an
ironclad contract, and the New YORK
and Cleveland miners at Turtle Creek,
Plum Creek and Sandy Crock. The MI
ners' officials claim hat htese men VIII
strike and the operators say they will
not. In speaking OF the Strike, Presi-
dent Dolan said:
'sThe coming week viii be alb busy one.
Z have every reason believe that with
the exception of a very few mines the
suspension will be general Our men
realize that this is the fight of their lives
and from the expression of determine
ton that / hear on all sides, have ev-
cry reason 10 believe that the strike will
be successful. How long will it last?
That is a difficult question TO answer.
But one thing you can rest assured, we
are in good shape to stay out all sum
mer. BY good shape. 1 mean that with
warm weather and with a prospective
big demand for lake trade coal in sight
which makes the times much more OPP
perfume than in winter.
There is general impression that by
reason OF so many industries being put
down there will be little demand for |
coal It Is not generally known, but the |
supply OF coal for the manufactures in
the Pittsburg district is but a drop in |
the bucket when compared with the |
lake trade, which supplies the markets |
where coal mines are practically IN
known
The general suspension, TO those in a !
position to know, presents some very dis |
couraging features. The past winter has |
been severe on the mining craft. Bust |
ness has been very dull. and in addition |
the lowest rate ever paid in the district |
prevailed for the little work that was
done. Women and children have been |
sufferers nigh 10 starvation, and many !
OF them have been wards of the coun- |
sy With spring, the conditions were a |
little improved and during the past |
month many mines have been running |
reicontinuously. That little has been |
used in paying debts CONTACTED during |
the reign of semi-starvation. Ii was ex- |
pected at the meetings today 10 make |
an effort TO convince the miners that by |
reason Of the suspension being general |
victory was bound TO follow. Il was ar
guad that the PUBLIC was in favor of the |