The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-07-14
NOTTOBEQUOTED
:. Prominent Cleveland Operator
Gives His Opinion of the
Coal Strike,
But Refuses to Have His Name
Published---West Virginia
Will Go Out,
He Says, and Within a Week the
Coal Supply Will Be Ex-
hauStcd.

CLEVELAND, July 14.-Within AZ
hours, developments of very definite
character are expected to take place in
the West Virginia coal situation. A
leading operator received long dis.
tance telephone message at 10 o'clock a.
M, stating that nine organizers had
just left Pittsburg for the West Virginia
coal fields. A person who occupies a
high official position in the mine work.
ers union was at the Pttsburg end of
the phone.
"You may look for something start.
ling in that direction within the next AZ
hours" he said. "Reliable advices
which / have received convince me the
West Virginia miners will come out.
All they wait for is a little arging from
the union. am free to confess to you
that while expected many men would
come out, never hoped for such G COM
plete and Overwhelming victory as this. ;"
The foregoing message was repeated
20 reporter who was standing at hand,
by the operator who received it.
Must Not Use Their Names.
When that point is reached that the
coal mine operators refuse to "talk for
publication" the situation is grave, in
deed. The operators now urge upon
their interv;ewers that under no circum-
stances must their names be used in
connection with the information they
have supplied. A leading operator made
plain .atement, a startling statement,
in fact, but insisted hit name must not
be used
''Is there not some parts OF your
statement which l may accredit to
you:" asked the reporter.
"No. You see if l talked for publ
cation would have to say to you just
the opposite of what have said. You
appreciate 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
assumed very grave aspect, and full
realization of the change did not reach
Cleveland operators and dealers until
now. Excepting a few operators who
had reliable information they were dis
posed to speak lightly of the matter and
to loudly declare there was coal on hand
more than enough to supply the
country, regardless Of the outcome of
the strike. Now all this seeming or
pretended confidence has disappeared.
Several operators went to Pittsburg to
attend the voluntary conference OF the
state arbitrators. Zone of these whose
knowledge of the premises is above
question says:
Anticipates Startling Developments.
"The situation is very grave, and
anticipate some very startling develop
ments within the next 4S hours. be-
lieve the West Virginia miners will
come out, and that will make the tieul
practically complete, for the strikers
will then concentrate all their efforts on
the DeArmitt's men. A small amount
of coal is n ~ coming from the mines
along the Pennsylvania main line, ant
from the coke regions, but it is in com
paratively insignificant quantities.
think it will be shut off entirely very
soon. From what I could leari
at Pittsburg, do not hesitate t
say that, in my belief, the railroad
will hesitate to haul West Virginia ant
De Armitt coal. The engineers ant
trainmen are regar ding the situation
with lowering brows, P. M. Arthur
statement to the contrary notwith
standing.
1.-THE supply of coal on hand is yer.
short, and look for another sharp ad
vance in prices shortly. Saturday, Goa
which was loaded at Pittsburg for $l.2
to $l.5O, +. o. b., is now held at $l.7d
Delivered to Cleveland, the price