Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-15
SITUATION GRAVE.
More Miners Are Daily Join
ing Ranks Of the Strikers.
thought that the West Virginia Mel
Will Soon Stop Work..
Then All the Coal Producing Sections Of The
Country viii Be Idle.

lull In the miners strike in this district
attributable to the fact that nearly
every mine in the district is idle. To
keep up the enthusiasm and prevent
the strikers from becoming lukewarm
in the cause, however, the officials
have arranged for a series OF meetings
in different sections every day. Three
meetings We're held, yesterday, at Ban
ming, Fayette City and West Newton.
and at each place resolutions were
adopted not to return to work until the
officials gave the order.
This morning, large meeting was
held at Snowden, on the Wheeling d.
vision, and the men were unanimous
in their determination to stand firm
for the 50 cent rate. The miners on
this division fear that the company will
soon begin evictions from their houses.
The meeting. today, was addressed by
President Garland, of the Amalgated
Association; Thos. Grundy of the
United Transfers; M. p. Carrick of the
Painters and Decorators and John
Kelly of the United Labor League.
News reached the miners headquar-
tiers, this afternoon, that the diggers
in the Camel, Warner and Morgan
mines, Beaver county had thrown
down their picks and joined the gen
eral strike The three pits employ
about 800 men The strike has also
spread to Mercer county. Five mines
are idle in that region. today. They
are Hallville Spear. Ridge and Dia
mond mines Nos. l and 2. The men
struck for an advance of 10 cents per
ton.
An effort was made to resume work
at the Eagle mine at Monongahela
City. 1t is a cooperative concern, but
the sentiment of a majority of the
stockholders was against resumption.
and it was decided to keep the pit
closed until the strike was settled.
A delega tion from Brownsville says
the Knob. Beaumont. Umpire ana
Albany mines have closed, and the
miners have joined in the general strike
With determination to remain out
until the question of wages Is satlsfac
torly settled.
National President NJ d. Ratchford
of the United Mine Workers, is ex-
pected in Phtsburg, tonight or tomor
row, and will meet the commissioners
District President Patrick Dolan came
from his home in Cecil, today He
said the strike as far as the miners are
concerned, is progressing in good shape.
When asked about arbitration he said:
IF arbitration brings satisfactory
settlement, then arbitration is the
proper course
President Dolan said a movement
would be shortly be made on the mines
above the Pennsylvania Railroad that
are still in operation and strong effort
will be made to bring the men out. No
plans have yet been arranged to bring
out the men at the three mines of the
New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Co.
| but Mr.. Dolan says they will receive
attention later in the week.
Governor Atkinson of West Virginia.
accompanied by his wife and number
of state officials, spent the day in
Pittsburg. en- route to Canada. where
| they viii attend the convention of the
| Epworth League Concerning th>
miners strike he said:
The coal strike is not affecting West
Virginia, very much, and | do not be-
leve the main body of our miners will
so out l do not anticipate any trouble
| whatsoever from the strike in our STATE
and believe the trouble all over the
country will be speedily settled by ar
| bitration."
! The proverbial calm before the storm
! is likely to be exemplilied in the min
ers strike situation. Throughout the
day everything in the district had a
| peaceful look Tonight however, it
developed that number of the opera
tors have been quietly planning coup
which is expected to bring dismay to
the miners.
| 1t is the intention to at once equip
| the mines with machines, and do away
/ with a great many diggers. When the
| mines are ready to start miners Will
be imported and put to work under
heavy guard. and the premises barri-
caded.
| With the cooperation of the other
operators J. A. Beadler. of the Webster
| Gas Coal Co, located on the Mononga-
hcla river will take the initiative. The
operators claim this plan becomes
| necessary because the West Virginia
| people are gobbling all of their con-
| tracts.
1t was reported at the miners head
quarters here, tonight. that 1000 min
| ers in that district We're getting ready
, to march on the Stickles Hollow mine
| and bring out the 400 men working in
! there The attempt is to be made Fri
/ day or Saturday.
| Word from Terre Haute, Ind, says
| 400 or 500 Belgian strikers attacked
colored miners at Danvilie, H., Tues
| day night, with various weapons, ana
were driven back. The miners also at
| tackled train carrying miners ana
| L. illa6 ono