The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-06
GREAT STRIKE IS ON.
EXACT FACTS WILL BE KNOWN
TODAY.
Every Reason to Believe, That, With
the Exception of Few Mines the
Walkout Will be General.

Pit;sburg. July 5.-The great wage
struggle of the coal miners was in
augurated throughout the Pittsburg
district today, but it will be impossible
to tell anything about the situation
until tomorrow. as this is a general hol-
iday and work is suspended in all the
mines Of the district.
By a preconcerted arrangement of the
district executive board OF the United
Mine Workers, meetings were held to-
day in nearly every mining settlement
that was represented at Saturdays con-
vention in this city. and the miners
We're instructed not to falter in the
great struggle that has begun. What
effect the meetings will have cannot be
determined until Thursday morning.
When it is learned just how many men
refuse TO work, then the magnitude of
the strike will manifest itself.
Much doubt is expressed as to the
action of the Pittsburg and Chicago
miners in the Wheeling division OF the
Baltimore & Ohio, the NJ. A. Hanna
cOmpanyS miners on the Pan Handle,
who are working at the so cent rate.
under an ironclad contract, and the
New York and Cleveland miners at
Turtle Creek. Plum Creek and Sandy
Creek. The miners officials claim these
men will strike and the operators say
they will not.
President Dolan said today: Il have
every reason to believe that with the
exception of a very few mines. the sus-
pension will be general. Our men real
ize that this is the fight of their lives,
and from the expressions of dete-mina-
ton that l hear on all sides ! have
every reason TO believe the strike will
be successful We are in good shape to
stay out all summer. BY good shane
mean we have warm weather and a
prospective big demand for lake coal
trade in sight, which makes the times
much more opportune than in winter.
There is 4 general impression that
by reason of so many Industries beir &
shut down there will be little demand
for coal. 1t is not generally known, but
the supply of coal for the manufactur-
ers in the Pittsburg district is but a
drop in the bucket when compared with
the lake trade. which supplies the mar
kets where coal mines are practically
unknown"
the general suspension presents some
very discouraging features. The past
winter has been severe on the mining
craft. Business has been very dull and
in addition the lowest rate ever paid
in Uhe district prevailed for the little
work that was done. Women and chill
starvation, and many of them have
been wards Of the county. With spring
the conditions were a little improved,
and during the past month many mines
have been running continuously What
little has been earned was used in pay
ing debts contracted during the reign
of semi-starvation. 1t is expected at
the meetings today to make an effort
to convince the miners that by reason
of the suspension being general. victory
is bound to follow. 1t win be argued
that the public is in favor of the miners
being paid higher price. and that sup
port will be Forthcoming
President RatchfOTd, of the United
Mine Workers. states that he is aston
ished at the great number of kilograms
received from operators requesting per-
mission to operate their mines by pay
ing the price demanded by the miners.
These requests cannot be granted, for
the reason that 10 do SO would be de-
feating the very object which the strike
is intended TO accomplish. The Ohio
miners will be governed in their course
entirely by the action of the Pittsburg
operators. If the latter agree to an adj
vance in the price. the Ohio operators
will not object but will readily pay the
advance.
The miners throughout Ohio general
ly observed Monday as a holiday. and
it cannot Re determined until tomor-
row what extent the order for susDcn-
sion will be observed.
1t is generally conceded, however,
that the strike win be enforced in this
state.