The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-07-08
The COAL MINERS STRIKE
TT WAS INAUGURATED YESTER-
DAY-A DAY OF MASS MEET
INGS.
REPORTS RECEIVED At HEADQUARTERS
the HOIiday-Thc Full Extent
of the Strike VIII BE
Known Today.

Pittsburg July 5.-The great wage
| struggle of the coal miners was inaugu-
rated throughout the Pittsburg district to-
day. but it will be impossible to tell any
| thing Il bout the true situation before Tues
day. This was day of mass meeting, n
prccOncerted arrangement of the district
| executive board of the United Mine
Workers. Meetings were held in nearly
every mining settlement that was repre-
scented Mt Saturdays convention i'll this
city, and the miners were implored not
to falter in the great struggle that has be-
gun. What effect the meetings will have
can not be determined until tomorrow
morning. When it has been learned just
how many men have refused to go to
work, then the magnitude of the strike
will manifest itself.
Much doubt is expressed as to the ac-
ton of the Pittsburg and Chicago miners
in the Wheeling division Of the Baltimore
and Ohio: VI. A. Hanna & Co.'S miners on
| the Panhandle. which are working at the
| GO-cent rate under an ir0ncad contract,
and the New York and Cleveland miners
mt Turtle creek and Sandy creek. The
miners officials claim the men will strike,
and the operators say they will not In
speaking of the strike, President Dolan
said
"The coming week will be busy one.
| have every reason to believe that, with
the exception of n very few mines, the
suspension will be general. Our men
realize this is the fight of their lives, and
from the expressions of determination that
hear on all sides | have every reason TO
believe the strike will be successful. How
long will it last, you ask? That is a diff
cult question to answer. But OF one
thing you can rest assured, we are in
good shape to stay out all summer. BY
che |
weather and n prospective big demand
for lake trade coal in sight, which make
the time more Opportune than in winter.
"Thcre is an erroneous impression that
by reason of so many industries being
shut down there will be little demand for
coal. 1t is not generally known, but the
supply of coal for manufactures in the
Pittsburg district is but a drop i'll the
bucket when compared with the lake
trade, which supplies the markets where
coal mines are practically unknown
The general suspension to those in po-
siton 20 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 rates ever paid in the district
prevailed for the little work that was
done. Women and children have been
sufferers nigh unto starvation, and many
of them have been wards of the county.
With the spring conditions were little
improved, and during the past month
many mines have been running continn-
ously. What little has been earned will
he used to pay debts contracted during
the reign of scmi-starvation. 1t is eX-
pec.ed NJ the meeting today to make an
effort TO convince the miners that by, rea-
sons of the suspensions being general We
tory is bound to follow 1t will be ar
gucd that the public is in favor of the
miners being paid ut higher price; and
that general support will be forthcoming.