The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-07
But the Strike is BY no Means a Unanl
mOuS One.
STRIKE LEADERS CONFIDENCE
They Declare That the Struggle viii Soon
Become General While the opera
tors Assert That Such
Claim is Ridiculous.


on in earnest, and the developments Of
the next few days viii determine the
success or failure Of the fight for a uni
form mining rate. Pittsburg is the
pivotal point in the five states engaged
in the contest, and the success of the
local officials in their efforts to secure
general suspension in this district
win have an important bearing on the
outcome Of the movement
While It is estimated that at least
two-thirds of the miners have thrown
down their picks, enough men are still
at work, however. to seriously impair
the chances unless they can ultimately
be brought out. This President Dolan
confidently claims can be done. The
operators, on the other hand, are in
no wise disconnected, and assert that
the strike cannot succeed.
The first break in the operators
ranks was made yesterday afternoon
by j.. w. Steen of the O. 1. c. mine, at
Rossville. The diggers refused to work
and the mine closed down, but notice
was posted that the 60 cent rate would
be paid. 1t is not likely that the Off
cials viii allow the men to work until
a majority of the operators have
agreed to the miners demands.
According 70 estimates of the miners
officials 60 railroad mines are idle and %
are still in operation. They reported
that IN a number Of cases they had
heard no news from certain mines, and
take it for granted in many cases that
they are not in operation. The miners
officials say the operators will claim a
mine to be in operation as long as
there are but two men at work.
The operators claim that the Pan
Handle mines, operated by NJ. A Han
ma, where the ironclad agreement is in
force, worked as usual yesterday. The
miners, on the other hand maintain
that the entire Millers and Toms Run
district where these mines are located,
is out on strike. The operators them
selves admit that there were not the
usual number of men at work in the
Snowden and Gastonville mines oper-
ated by the Pittsburg and Chicago COM
pany, where the ironclad is also in
force,
A fair estimate shows that there are
about 1000 of the 1900 railroad miners
now out. A list of the mines idle along
the rivers could not be obtained here,
and reports concerning the river sltua.
tion are conflicting. The operators as
sert that the river mines are nearly
all running, while the miners officials
claim they are all idle Specials from
Monongahela City say that 5000 out
of the 5000 river miners are out.
w. p. DeArmitt, president of the
New York & Cleveland Gas Coal com
pany was emphatic in his statements
that the strike would be a failure.
I'VE had more men at work today
said he last night, than any day for a
number of years after a holiday. 1 at
tribute this to the fact that the men
came to work because they did not
care to be identified with the move
ment More than 25 mines were work
ing in the Pittsburg district today"
At the miners headquarters Presi-
dent Dolan was apparently in the best
of humor, He had received reports
from nearly every part of the district,
and seemed pleased with the prospects.
More miners will join the movement
before the end of the week." said he
last night, "and I am perfectly salts
fled with the progress made. Yet there
were some mines that hoped would be
idle that were running today"
In West Virginia the miners have
been slow in responding to the strike
order. A dispatch today says that a
general strike in the state is not prob
able. The men are not organized, and
they are inclined to regard the strike
elsewhere as favorable to their chances
for securing plenty of work at good
prices while it Is pending. Great pres
sure is being brought to bear upon
them by the United Mine Workers
officials to Join the strike, but so far
without success. The impression among
both operators and miners is that West
Virginia will be able to supply the de-
mand for coal in the event of a pro-
| longed strike, and that the operators
viii be justified in Offering the miners
| inducements to remain at work. as
| they did in 1894. Chief Mine Inspector
| Paul says that he does not look for
much response to the order. He says:
IT the West Virginia miners remain
at work during the strike in other
/ states new markets win open up for
West Virginia Goals, which West Vir,
glnia operators can hold after the ter
minaton of the strike. During the
strike Of 1894 the operators were pushed
| to supply the demand for coal and were
able TO give the miners bonuses to re-
main at work"
This argument has had great effect
with the miners, and the United Mine
Workers officials may have great diff
fculty in persuading them to join the
strike. This applies especially to the
Fairmount, Kanawha and New River
regions,