The Irish standard., 1897-07-17
MAY USE MACHINES,
Threat Of Operators In the Pitts
bugh District.
FEAR OF TROUBLE IF CARRIED OUT.
Prospects of Settlement by Arbitra-
ton Are HriHhter-West Virginia
Mines May Shut DOwn-Strifa
at DRnyilIe, Ill.

Pittsburgh, Pa, July 14.-The proven
bal calm before the storm is likely to
be carried out in the miners strike sit
uation. Throughout the day every
thing in the district had peaceful
look, all the mines but TWO or three
were closed down and both operators
and miners appeared to be resting on
their oars as it We're. At night, how
ever, it developed that a number of the
operators have been quietly planning
coup which is expected to bring dis
may to the miners. 1t is the intention
to at once equip the mines with mu-
chimes and do away with great many
diggers. When the mines are ready to
start miners will be imported and put
to work under heavy guard, and the
premises barricaded after the manner
pursued by the Carnegies during the
great strike of 1892. With the coopera-
ton of the other operators, j. A. Beid-
Ter, of the Webster Gas Coal company,
located on the Mononguhela river, will
take the initiative. The operators claim
this plan becomes necessary because
the West Virginia people are gobbling
all of their contracts. 1t goes without
saying that the diggers will resort to
every possible means to prevent the
carrying out of the proposed scheme.
Fears OF Bloodshcd.
From present appearances the Sickle
Hollow tragedy of 1894, when seven
striking miners were killed is likely to
be repeated soon. This mine is in the
Washington Run district and was re-
ported Monday as closed The man
ayers deny that it has closed for an
hour. They are determined to con-
tinue work and have made preparations
for trouble. 1t is reported at the
miners headquarters here that 1000
miners in that district are getting
ready to march on the mine and bring
out the 600 men working there. The
attempt is to be made on Friday or
Saturday. This mine is shipping daily
100 cars and is a menace to the success
of the strike. A movement is on foot
among the strikers along the Pan
handle to march to the Boone and ALI
son mines and compel the miners there
to quit work. If these threats are car,
ried out there will probably be repe-
tition of the bloody scenes that char
acterized the closing days of the strike
of 1894.
Seek to Settle the Strike.
Pittsburgh, Pa, July 14.-The arbi.
tration commission representing the
five states in which miners are now
striking, will make a strong effort to
bring the operators and miners to an
understanding that will result in arbi.
trating or concliating their differ.
ences. The Ohio, Indiana and Pennsyl.
vania commissioners were enforced
Tuesday by those from Illinois and
West Virginia. The Illinois members
are Daniel j. Keefe, Edward Ridgelly
and Horace d. Calof. I. V. Barton, labor
statistician, is here to represent West
Virginia.
There is bare possibility that the
joint arbitration conference may yet
lead to the termination of the miners
strike on the basis Of the true uni
formity" agreement proposed by Pres
ident De Arrnit, of the New York &
Cleveland Gas company, last year,
but which failed for the reason that the
OF per cent. of the operators in this
district required by De Armit could not
be secured.
Two sessions Of the arbitration board
were held Tuesday, Representatives
from the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio
West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois be.
ing present. At the afternoon session
President Dearmit appeared before the
board and told of the conditions which
exist from his point Of view. He re-.
cited the history of the miners struggles
fer better conditions. He told of the
great uniformity movement in 1S95-o0,
which failed of its purpose. Mr.. Dear.
nit said that IL the operators of the
Pittsburgh district will abolish their
company stores, use a uniform screen.
give honest weight, 1000 pounds OF
coal for ton, and pay cash every two
I! weeks, he will leave it to any commit,
tee to settle the price of mining and
| pay it, no matter how high, providing
all his competitors pay the same price.
Unless these conditions cnn be brought
about he would not agree to abolish the
contract with his men.
President Dolun and Secretary War
ner, of the Mine Workers association,
| were before the commission in the
evening and recited their grievances.
They disputed much that Mr.. De Armit
had said and questioned his sincerity
at this time. They claimed that when
90 per cent. of the operators had been
secured for uniformity De Armit
agreed to it, but later he found tech
nical loophole and awaited himself of
1t to repudiate his original proposition.
Eastern Ohio Mines Closed.
Cincinnati, July IA 1imes-Sta:
special from Bellaire, o., says: The
miners in Schck's mines on the Balti-
more & Ohio road were on Tuesday per.
suaded to stop mining and with the
closing of these mines all the mines in
eastern Ohio will be closed.
strife Mt Dnnvllle.
Danville, ILL.,, July 14.-strfe between
the miners commenced in this district
Tuesday night. About 400 or 500 Bel
gian strikers and other foreigners gath
cred at the Pawnee mine, and when
cage full Of coloretl miners who hat
been at work reached the top of the
shaft they were assaulted with diff
ferent kinds of weapons, some using
knives and others slaves. Reed, one O
the colored miners, secured bar O.
iron and n revolver and defended hi.
life. s;e.a we're g. s7. ": -~'';eg No.
probably be divided into three big de-
| epa.;onS reDre sentinr the Irish HOm