Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-23
EXCITEMENT AT FEVER HEAT IN
THE STRIKE DISTRICTS.
DEPUTIES READY FOR DUTY.
STRIKERS MARCHING ON MINES
THAT ARE STILL AT WORK.
Attempts to Close Mines in the Con-
neIIsyiIIe Coke Region Unsuc-
cessfuI-New Pennsylvania
Weighing Law to BE
Tested.

Pittsburg Pa, July Excitement was
at fever heat in local mining circles to-day.
The operators were apparently prepared
for any demonstration, and before nightfall
they were convinced that matters had tax
en- a serious turn. Early in the morning
about 800 miners from the Finleyville dis
trict marched on the Bunola mines on the
river and succeeded in bringing the men at
work out. Sheriff Lowry, of this county.
has u force Of deputies ready for duty at
a moments notice and trouble is looked for
at any time. The deputies are i'm readiness
to go to the mines Of the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company. \ march on
the Turtle Creek. Plum Creek and Sandy
Creek mines is expected at any time. II
was learned from reliable authority that
such march was I'm contemplation. but
would not take place until the latter part
OF the week.
At Canonsburg it was reported that 1000
men would march to the Cook mines to-
night and stay there until the diggers came
out. Sheriff Clark. Of Washington county.
was on hand with a large number of depu-
ties and trouble was expected if the strik-
ers attempted to force the men TO quit
work.
The miners leaders continue at work in
an effort to get the miners in the Con-
nellsville coke region out. but dispatches
they are meeting with poor success. y
Uniontown dispatch says the leaders are
very much disheartened and admit private
ly that they have failed to create any strike
sympathy. The Red Stone miners, it is
claimed, will be back next week. Dunbar
dispatches say there is very little probable
ity that the Red Stone will become a fac
tor in the strike.
The new state law TO compel operators to
weigh the coal before it Is screened and to
pay the miners on its basis. is to be tested
to its fullest extent and the whole uni
formity agreement hinges on this test. A
large number OF operators are putting yin
scales. so as to weigh the coal according to
the new law. but others are preparing to
fight it. Among the latter is W. u. De-
Armit, who says the law can be abrogated
by the right Of private contract. and he in
tends to test II by the contract he has with
his men. Under this contract. he agrees
to pay his men "a cents per 1000 pounds for
coal screened over One-half inch screen.
with nothing 10 be paid for coal dropping
through said screen. He claims the miner
has right to mine coal to be paid for aft
er screening, and that the operator can
also pay the miner in this fashion. A mem
ber of the arbitration commission said to-
night that the new anti-screenng law would
cut figure in the new agreement and the
law would be thoroughly tested before IL
is Incorporated in the agreement.
The arbitrators were at work amOn9 the
Pittsburg operators to-day and they are
trying every means to bring about a meet
ing Of the operators. So far they have been
unsuccessful In arranging for a meeting,
but ii is hoped they will accomplish this
shortly. Mayor Ford said to-day that he
had not consented to call meeting and
that he would not do so. although II had
been suggested to him that such a pro-
ceeding would be the best thing to do under
the circumstances.
A ha min
the Boggs mine refused to come out when
requested by committee of strikers to do
so to-day, and arrangements are being
made for a demonstration OF strikers to-
morrow While it is declared to be a peace
full demonstration. another refusal TO ocme
out may precipitate trouble.