Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-02
MINERS WILL STRIKE
Order Issued by Unions Officers Goes
Into Effect Sunday.
CLAIM $4,000 men ARE INVOLVED
An Increase of IS Gents Per Ton
is Demanded.
TROU BILE IN TENNESS

COLUMBUS. Ohio July "A general
strike of miners of the United Mine Work.
ers of America has been ordered for July
by the national executive board whose
headquarters are in this city, and also
by the district president. as the result OF a
meeting held here June "a. - and &c.
The official document says: ITO the mine
workers of the country. greeting: Follow
miners: At the last annual convention OF
the United Mine Workers of America. held
in the city of Columbus. January L. to 16,
1897. it was determined that the scale Of
prices should be advanced to the follow
ing rates: Pennsylvania Pittsburg dis
tricD, pick mining, % cents per ton: Ohio,
60 cents per ton: Indiana Q,ituminous), 90
cents per ton; Illinois Grape creek), 80
cents per ton. Machine mining to be paid
for at three -fifths the rate per ton of the
price for pick mining, except I'm Indiana
(bitumiuous). where the price shall be four
nfths per ton Of the price paid for pick
mining. In other sections n corresponding
increase in price that will place them Oh q
relative basis.
1t was further agreed that the time for
enforcement of the scale be left with the
national executive board and the district
presidents to determine when IL would be
Hiost opporlune 10 put TINS scale iito sllect.
Urges Unanimtty and Fidelity.
The document then urges ubanimity and
fidelity among the members THE Signs of
the times" the paper continues, las point
ed cut by the press and 10y the testimony OF
men versed in public affairs. are, that busi-
ness is reviving, that upward tendency
In prices of all commodities is apparent
In the general business revival and In
~ MI lob Is
proclaimed We ought TO share. and IL We
do not attempt 70 share We snail lie false
to ourselves ard ;nose dependent upon
U.s."
Let the watchword he mine workers are
entitled to fair days pay for a far 6ay's
work"
Local committees are directed to be form
ed and to see that action is taken at cnce.
The field is large. and It Will be an impos-
sibiity for the national and district officers
to attend to all poin,s. consequently local
leaders are urged 10 assume the respon-
sfbihty and authority Cor the successful
consummatfon Of our desires.
Commit No -nreach Of the Peace.
ITO insure success great care should be
exercised by all that no breach OF the
peace occurs at any time or place or under
any circumstances. Bulletins will be is
sued from time to time to keep you in-
formed of the progress of affairs"
The national executive board is composed
of Fred. Dilcher, Il. l.. Davis, j. III. Ken
nedy, HAIRY Stephenson, JAS. NJ. Carson
and Patrick Dolan.
The district presidents are w. +. Farms,
W. q. Knight Jas. NJ. Carson and Patrick
Dclan
NJ. ID. Ratchford is president of the ma
tional executive board, John Kane vice
president and w. c. Pearce secretary. All
these names are signed to the paper
Claim :s.o,oOO Men Are Involved.
The officers here say $4,000 men are in
volved as proposed strikers. So far ~ any,
thing can be learned here from officials.
the call for the Pittsburg meeting OF
miners on Saturday is to decide how the
strike is to be conducted in that district.
They have to consider plans to take care
of the women and children during the
strike. President Ratchford says this is
the best time to settle the question Of
wages, as during the summer the men can
make use of their little garden plots in Oh
tanning subsistence. The needs OF clothing
are not so great in winter.
The proposed scale is intended by the
miners to make work for miners prohtab!e
to them in the Pittsburg district and else
where Pittsburg, as claimed, is paying "A
cents per ton and Ohio 81 cents. To make
the differential what the OHIO operators
claim ii ought 10 be, they threaten 10 re-
duce Ohio miners to 40 cents per ton, or
pcse IL possible, to raise Pittsburg prices
so as to prevent reduction in ONO TO tn:
45-cent rate, and the possibility OF even
further reduction here in case Pittsbura
should keep on lowering as Ohio lowered 10
maintain the differential OF cents.
strike Order Reaches Pfttsburg.
PITTSBURG, Pa, July 2.-The official
circular ordering a national strike of coal
miners in five states on July was re-
ceived at the district headquarters from
Columbus, Ohio, at 10 am, and copies
mines. Action on this circular will be
taken at the district convention OF miners
in this city tomorrow. There seems to be
no doubt but that the delegates Will come
instructed to declare strike.
situation i'm Southern Districts.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, July 2.-1'he sit
uation in the east Tennessee and southern
becoming very serious. There are now
over 1908 idle men In the Jellico district
and nearly the same number along the line
OF the Cincinnati Southern railroad.
These men struck on May L., and have
done no work since. Few OF them had any
money saved up, and the majority now
forts to settle the strike have proved un-
awaiting, ami II is now admitted that ncne
of the mines can be operated for several
months. The strikers have SO far made 10
attempts at violence but the suffering
among them increases, it is feared that
trouble will come.