The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-10

PITTsBURG July s-Ths situation q.
the miners strike tonight shows but htS;e
direct change from yesterday. The prin-
cspal movement made by the strikers TO-
day was the securing OF conference OF
he national leaders OF the several power
fui labor orgaaiEa1i tons OF the country.
for the purpose OF devis:ng ways and
means 20 assist TIE strikers.
Il IS known thar concerted action will
be taken 20 make the suspension OF min
ing in West Virginia complete, which. II
successful, viii Kill OF the most effective
enemy the strikers have 20 encounter. /:
was this field that broke the strike in 1874
and 10 effort VIII be spared 10 bring il
into subsection az this time.
The greatest gathering OF labor leaders
that ever assembled in this country dur
ing R national strike was held here to-
night 10 devise means 70 assist the miners
in their contest foT increased wages. The
conference Was called suddenly. but the
officials responding represented nearly ev-
cry branch OF organized labor in che
United States. Those present were Samuel
Gompers. president Of the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor: II. u. Ratchford, ma
uonal president IF the United Mine Work
ers OF America; VI. NJ Garland. president
o. the Amalgsuated Association Of Iron
and Steel Workers: Vice President Ste
phen Madden, OF the Amalgamated Asso-
citation; J. NJ. Hughes. first vice president
OF the Federation OF Metal Trades: NJ. J.
Cou!ahan. national secretary OF the Jour
neymen Plumbers Association: NJ p
Carrick president OF the Brotherhood OF
Painters and Decorators. 7. =. Thomas.
president Of the National Patternnakers'
League. ". 3. Mahon. president of the
Amalga-nated Street Railway Employees:
Patrick Dolan. district president of the
United Mine Workers of America ". NJ.
Warner. district secretary of the United
Mine Workers
The session was secret, and Il was al
most midnight before IL was over After
al informal discussion, reports were made
by Ratchtord, Dolan and Warner in re-
gard 10 the situation OF the movement.
ard Il was demonstrated that the suspen-
sion was practically general in the COM
pet4tive bltuminous coal districts except
AZ few points in West Virginia. IL was
realized thar the situation IN West VIZ
GINA required attention. and in order that
the suspension should become absolutely
general and SUCCESS assured. IL was deter
mined that efforts be made on the part OF
those present to secure the cooperation
and practical! aid of organized labor Tor
the struggling miners. All the circum-
stances warranted the firm conviction that
the miners VIII achieve victory. and to
this end the aid OF labor and the sympa-
thetic public IS invoked. as follows;
We urge ana advise that a conference
be held by representatives OF the miners
and operators with a view Of arriving 1T
settlement OF the suspension"
Notwithstanding the positive announce
ment BY the COMMITTEES that the staten Mt
furnished the press covered all the pro-
ceedings Of the conference, il IS known
that an organized effort TO secure a & n
eral suspension OF mining in West Nir-
ginia was decided upon. After a thorough
canvass OF the situation il was agreed that
the West Virginia miners held the key 10
the situation. and without their united
support the success OF the movement
would be greatly 1eopard.zed.
Cleveland in Desperate Straits.
CLEVELAND. July s.-The situation Of
this city over the coal strike is becoming
desperate. Cleveland railroads are con-
fscating coal from those who depend on
the regular supply. The Inter-Ocean
Company. one OF the heaviest fueling
firms on the lakes has only coal enough
10 last its customers a few days. Several
other fue!ing firms have nearly exhausted
their supply. The Pennsylvania * Ohio
Company has suspended business alto
gether in Cleveland. The great plant of
the Cleveland Steel Company closed this
morning, owing 10 a lack Of fuel.
The surprise OF the day came when
Dan. Il. hanna manager for NJ. A. Ham
ma & Co, received a message stating
that every single miner employed at the
coupany's mines had gone out. The
Hanna people have been confident OF
their ability TO hold their men. Infor-
nation received shows that the shut
down OF the Wheeling division of the
Baltimore & Ohio railroad is absolute.
Unless coal begins coming into Cleve-
land in a few days the situation Will he
city may be left in darkness. The di-
rector Of public works is alarmed over
his inability 10 keep the water supply go
ing. The street railway companies fear
a suspension OF travel, and the manu-
featuring concerns with orders 10 hli are
fearful lest their plants will have TO shut
down for want OF fuel.
There is a strong probability that the
stree, railways and the suburban electris
railways may have TO shut down for
van. q coal.