The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-07-16
WILL COME OUT.
a High Official of the Mine Workers
Unions is Confident
That the West Virginia Miners VIII Join
tire Strike-An They Wait for is q
Little Urging From the Union
Labor Leaders Among Them.


Little Urging From the Union
Labor Leaders Among Them.
CLEVELAND, o., July 14.-Within 48
hours developments of a very definite
character are expected to take place
in the West Virginia coal fields. A
leading operator received a long dis
lance telephone message at ten o'clock
Tuesday morning stating that nine or
ganizers had just left Pittsburgh for
the West Virginia coal fields A per-
son who occupies high official posi-
ton in the Mine Workers union, was
at the Pittsburgh end of the phone.
'You may look for something start
ling in that direction within the next
As hours" he said, reliable advices
which l have received Tuesday morn
ing, convince me the West Virginia
miners will come out. All they wait
for is a little urging from the union. l
am free to confess to you that while 1
expect many men would come out, L
never hoped for such complete and
overwhelming victory as this"
The foregoing message was repeated
to a reporter who was standing at
hand by the operator who received it.
When that point is reached that the
coal mine operators ''refuse to talk for
publication" the situation is grave in
deed. The operators now urge upon
their interviewers that under no cir
cumstances must their names be used
in connection with the information
they have supplied. A leading op-
orator made a plain statement, a
startling statement. in fact, Tuesday
morning, but insisted his name must
not be used.
''Is there not some parts of your
statement which 1 may accredit to
you," asked the reporter.
mo You see if talked for publ
cation 1 would have to say to you just
the opposite of what have said. You
appreciate that there are many reasons
why would not want my name to APP
pear as admitting all these facts"
Since Saturday the coal strike has
assumed very grave aspect but a full
realization of the change did not
reach Cleveland operators and dealers
until Tuesday. Excepting few OPP
orators who had some inside informa-
ton, they were disposed to speak light
ly of the matter, and loudly declared
that there was coal on hand
more than enough to supply the
country regardless of the outcome
of the strike. Tuesday all this seem
ing or pretended confidence had
disappeared. Several operators went
to Pittsburgh Monday to attend the
voluntary conference of the state arbi-
traitors. One of these, whose knowl-
edge of the premises is above question,
said Tuesday: 1.-The situation is very
grave and anticipate some very start
ling developments within the next 4s
hours. believe the West Virginia
miners will come out and that
will make the tie-up practically
complete, for the strikers will
then concentrate all their efforts
on the Dearmitt's men. A small
amount of coal is now coming from the
mines along the Pennsylvania main
line and from the coke regions, but it
is in comparatively insignificant guam
titles. l think it will be shut off en-
tirely very soon. From what 1 could
learn Monday at Pittsburgh 1 do not
hesitate to say that in my belief the
railroads will hesitate to haul West
Virginia and Dearmitt's mines coal.
The engineers and trainmen are re-
garding the situation with lowering
brows, P. M. Arthur's statement to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
Mr.. j. j. Phillips. a coal operator,
received the following telegram from
Pennington, w. Va, Tuesday after
noon: Miners all went out on a strike
this morning"
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July 14.-There is
bare possibility that the joint arbi-
tration conference may yet lead to the
termination of the miners strike on
the basis of the true uniformity"
agreement proposed by President
Dearmit, of the New York and Cleve.
land Gas Co., last year, but which fail.
ed for the reason that the 81 per cent.
of the operators in this district
required by Dearmit 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, being
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 strug-
giles for better conditions. He told OF
the great uniformity movement in
1886, which failed Of its purpose.
Mr.. Dearmit said:
If the operators of the Pittsburgh
district will abolish their company
stores, use uniform screen, give hon
est weight, 900 pounds of coal for a
ton-pay cash every two weeks, will
leave it to any committee to settle the
price of mining and pay it, no matter
how high, providing all my competitors
pay the same price. Unless these con.
ditions can be brought about will not
agree to abolish the contract with nv
men, nor can l afford to do 500
The board will meet Dearmit again
Wednesday and will endeavor TO get
the operators together for the purpose
of inducing them to mako another a r.