The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-30

PITTSBURG, July 29.-The great
mass meeting, arranged by the strike
leaders in the hope of inducing the
men employed by De Armitt in the
mines of the New York and Cleveland
Gas Coal company to join in the move
ment, was held today and reports are
conflicting as to the result. After the
morning meeting the men returned to
work, but this evening it is reported
that the men in one of the mines, at Il
second meeting, decided to go out.
This is denied by DR. AImitt, who says
that his men will not lay down their
picks. The meetings were orderly, and
there was no occasion for the deputies
on guard to interfere. The speeches
made were all moderate in character.
Long before daylight the strikers
were up, and, after eating their frU-
gal meal, prepared for the days work.
The intention was to see as many of
De Armitt's men before they got into
the pits this morning as possible.
About o'clock 1900 strikers assem-
bled at Turtle creek and, headed by
three brass bands, with flags and ban
ners flying, marched past the houses
strikers hoOted and yelled and then
marched to the mines, where they
planted themselves before the pits,
thus compelling De Armitt's men to
run the gauntlet to go to work.
A short time later, Sheriff Lowrey,
who had been wired to for assistance.
arrived from Pittsburg with fifty depu-
ties, armed with Winchesters. The
strikers quietly withdrew and the new
deputies were placed on guard.
When the meeting was called to order
at 10 o'clock this morning there were
5000 striking miners in attendance,
and, before it was well under way,
there were 5000 people in the vicinity
of the school house. About $50 o'clock
$40 miners from Sandy creek mines
marched to the meeting, and also quite
a large number from Turtle Creek.
The strikers used all their power of
persuasion upon the diggers, but none
were mOleSted and no threats were
made. Previous to the meeting Eugene
V. Debs, District President Dolan, Sec.
rotary Warner and M. P. Carrick went
among the miners and cOunseled them
to keep within the bounds of the law
and preserve good order throughout
the day. This advice was received with
good grace by the men. The meeting
was the largest ever held during g
strike in Western Pennsylvania.
President DOlan was made chairman
of the meeting, and, in a short speech,
accused Mr.. De Armitt Of insincerity.
He said that, if De Armitt's men did
not come out today there would be a
sympathetic strike all over the United
States. V. P. Carrick was introduced,
and he said the WOrkingmen all over
the United States are interested in
this strike because it will have a ten
dency to raise wages everywhere. IF
you men of the De Armitt mines will
not come out now" he added. eve
will march $4,000 men here and compel
you to come out, not by force but by
shame. We will shame you by our
starving women and children. You are
clogging the wheels Of commerce, and
the whole labor world will strike in
sympathy with US, if need be. Resort
to no violence, my friends. Trust in
your leaders and we will win this
strike in other ways than by violence"
When Eugene V. Debs was intro
duced there was great enthusiasm.
He said in part: II am here not to en-
courage passion, but to appeal to rea-
son. You are in the midst of the great
est contest the world has ever known.
Whether you succeed or fail depends
on yourselves. In order to win you
must remain absolutely sober until
this contest is over. Whisky clouds
the brain, robs you of your money and
makes you brutal and also makes you
do just what your enemies want you
to do"
Soon after the meeting the Sandy
Creek miners returned to work and
the strikers went into camp and had
lunch. The presence of the deputy
sheriffs was not needed, as there was
no trouble of any kind.