The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-27
A CHANGE OF FRONT


AS TO THE STRIKE
Indications that They VIII Give in to the
strikers-This Denied by the Leaders
The Conference of the Operators-Dis.
trIct President Doian Arrested for Lead.
ing a Party If Marchers Along Public
Highway
Pitsburg, August 25.-Coal operators
of the Pittsburg district have made a
decided change in front since yester-
day. Internal dissension mixed
with fear on the part Of some, caused
a split in their forces and a change of
base. On it's face, the move looked to
many like a temporary surrender to
the United Mine Workers of America.
This, however, is denied in most en-
phatic terms by the most prominent
lake shippers, who say they are going
to start their mines and supply the de-
mand from the northwest and not
stand idly by and let a large volume of
business go to operators of other states.
They publicly state that they are will
ing to wait for a week or ten days be-
fore a decided move is made. Some of
the operators in the meeting were
frank enough to state that the situa-
ton at the present time in all branches
of labor is critical and that they have
no desire to make any move that would
cast Odium on the operators Of the
Pittsburg district.
1t was under these conditions that
the operators went into session this
morning. There were many WHO had
signed he agreement to share their por-
tion toward the expense that might &C
crue in the effort to start the mines and
they were the lOudest in the appeals
to hold aloof to await developments.
No agreement could be reached and
the meeting adjourned sine die.
In the afternoon another meeting of
the most prominent and largest lake
shippers was held. The session was
short and as a result the following was
issued by the press committee:
THE organization composed of all the
coal operators which has been in ses-
sion at the Mnongahela house ad-
journed this morning sine die. This ac
ton puts affairs into the hands of a
committee appointed under an agree
ment which was entered into at Cleve-
land and which has since been ratified
a large majority of the railroad pro-
ducers of this district. This commits
tee is vested with discretionary power
to act"
All efforts to find out who composed
this special committee were futile.
]. 3. Scribe, who presided at the
meeting was emphatic in his assertion
that the presidents who had originally
gone into the compact at Cleveland to
break the strike had not changed their
intention.
The Cleveland operators left for their
homes tonight and it is probable that
another meeting will be held in Cleve-
land within the next few days.
Many of the local operators who took
part in the conference and withdrew
seemed to be in a good humor. 1t is
known that a number of the small pro-
ducers have been making more money
in buying and selling coal than they
would had their mines been in opera
ton since the strike began.
Patrick Dolan, district president Of
! the United Mine Workers Of America,
| was arrested in Washington county
| this afternoon while leading a body Of
marchers past the Allison mine Of
Cooke & Sons near McGovern station.
! Ever since the strike started, the min
ers have been making daily marches
from their camp to the mine. From
] the mine to the railroad there is a
| tramway, under which runs the pub
| lie road known as the Washington pike.
| This morning, with a band at their
| head, about 400 marchers tramped
| along the pike and passed under the
! tramway. On their return, they were
stopped by deputy sheriffs and told
| that they could not pass under the
| tramway, but must return to their
| camp by crossing a field and coming
| down the railroad. The marchers be-
| came enraged and for a time it looked
as if there would be serious trouble.
| The marchers held a conference and
! decided to remain where they were
| and communicated with President Do
| Ian by telegraph.
Dolan arrived shortly after o'clock
! and made a speech to the strikers. He
| said that the deputy sheriffs had no
right to stop them from marching on
| the public thoroughfare as long as
| their mission was a peaceful one and
| told them he would lead the process
| sion. The band with Dolan at its
| head and the marchers following, then
| started down the road to go under the
] trampway and on to the camp. When
| Dolan reached the tramway he was
| told by the deputy sheriffs that he
I could go no farther, and when he
| wanted to know the reason why, he
| was told that such a move was in vio-
| lation of the law and the injunction.
| This Dolan denied and the arrest fol-
lowed. He was taken to Washington
| ON the first train. The marchers were
| disconnected and were allowed to re-
| turn to their camp unmolested.
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Wholesale Lynching Probable
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