Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-05
IMPORTANCE OF THE COAL MINERS
STRIKE TO BE KNOWN SOON.
THE OUTCOME is DOUBTFUL.
SUCCESS DEFENDS ON MINERS IN
THE PITTsBURG DISTRICT.
IL They should Return to Work the
strike Would BE Failure
President Confident the
Strike VIII BE
GeneEaI.

Pittsburs. Pa. July 4-The coal miners
strike will be on tomorrow. The success
Of the struggle for higher wages in five
states depends on the miners in the Pitts
burg district. II they fail 10 quit work.
the movement will be a failure. Fully l0J
mines were represented at the miners con-
vention on Saturday by fifty-five delegates.
This is larger attendance than at any
convention since the great strike of 1894.
Many more miners came. but having no
credentials they could not gain admittancs
10 the convention. The resolution adopted
was strong enough for the emergency. \
resolution was also adopted requesting
Governor Hastings to sign the weighing
and coal commission bills passed by the
legislature and now before him.
one OF the significant points about the
convention Saturday was the fact that no
representatives were present from the
mines where ironclad contracts and signed
agreements exist. These employ almost
5000 men, and the indications are that IL
the men at one of these mines refuse to
quit, all the diggers at the others will act
accordingly.
A strong effort is being made 10 get the
cooperation of the river miners in the
coming fight. II they work. they can cut
quite hgure in supplying coal, as the fuel
Tor local points can all be supplied by
water routes.
The operators are making no effort to
ccnciliate the miners. Not an operator
can be found who will say the miners are
entitled to what they demand-59 cents a
ton No effort will be made TO operate the
mines, unless II should be the river mines,
hence no trouble is anticipated.
Great apprehension is felt as to what
course the vast number of foreigners will
taken in the strike. Many Of these speak
M English, and care nothing for the land
Of their adoption They do not conform to
the customs of the American speaking min
ers and the latter nave very little influence
over them.
one OF the points made by the operators
Is that more mining companies have gone
into the sheris hands this year than
during any year in the history of the trade.
There are too many mines.' said Patrick
Dolan, not TOO many miners. II Is the
surplus Of operators that causes such suf-
feTings and low wages"
The officials of the United Mine Workers
of the Pittsburg district held a meeting to-
day and heard reports from various parts
of the district. Each of these indicated
that the men would quit work. The ques-
tion of securing sustenance for the vast
army Of idle men is the most serious ques-
ton confronting the officials. The Organi-
zation has no money I'm its treasury. The
miners have been unable to save anything
and only those who have little garden
Curing during the % CESSATION IS ton o oMork. NOR nut e"os'i'iS
The exodus from the fourth pool to West
Virginia has begun. The West Virginia op-
orators are hiring miners as fast as they
apply for work Those who wish immuni-
ty from trouble seek safety by fight into
West Virginia, where the miners will work
unmolested. Scores Of small mines in Bea-
yer. Mercer, Lawrence, Cambria and other
counties. which have been practically idle,
will resume operations i'm fun to supply coal
TO factories and shops in their districts
Taking the Cannelton coal field in Beaver
county into consideration, the Thompsons
Run in Lawrence county. and the numerous
mines in Mercer county. there will be no
During the strike Of 1894 all these mines
closed down.