The times., 1897-07-13

There is no cause for fear Oh the pant
b washington folks that they VIII not
have a full supply OF coal to last the
winter There is plenty OF il in town
now, and tens of it are coming in every
day.
OF course, "a strike Of the magnitude
which tie existing one is assuming IS
serious affair, hHu, happily, it is oenlefed
In q portion OF the country from which
very Itue OF the Districts supply IS
brought. According to late adyIces, over
2ou.uo0 men are at present involved, but
the Trouble is confined TO the soft-coai
miners exclusively.
TheIocaI dealers nave been keeping them
selves steadily Informed upon the stiike
and have maintained constant comEuni-
catio with the mines from which they
obtain their supply. All advices agree that
Washington VIII not feel the effects of
the difficulty, but that they Will te con-
fined TO the Western States exclusively.
Mr. johnson, the junior member OF John
son Bros, Was seen by Times repre-
sentative at his office On street yes
teTiay and willingly agreed 10 give what
ever Information he possessed for publica-
ton.
Nothing that has occurred so far" he
said, shows that the District coal supply
will be in any way affected by the pres
ent strife. cur mines are located in West
Virsluia, while the trouble is confined
mainly 10 the States OF Ohio and Pcnnsyi-
wanna. There IS Miners Protective As
ISOLATION hack OF this strike to which
West Virginia miners do not bflong. So
far these men have not experienced the
reduction Cr g cents a ton, on account OF
which ihe present strike arose.
..The key 10 lie whole situation lies In
West Virginia. If these men so out, then
the strike VIII lie a complete success. aud
unless the owners compromise the mine :
VIII bc pow eIfal enoTe eh TO aintain their
rights and foIoc things Now, IeIsemter,
there is not the Sig ghtest indication that
any sGrh thing VIII happen. in fact, we
e;e 50 sure OF our position that olCeTs ag-
gregai;n2 %. GOO tons of soft coal are
being Delivered TO Us at lie rate Of eco
tons q day"
The clerk in Mr. Charles Wemer's Of
flee, at Ninth and L streets, was busiiy
whiting way a. his ledger and hUnminr
the Tefrsin --Old King Coal was merry
Old SOll-" When Nj. Welner was asked
fpr. he ieESed his pen over to conner oi
the room.
u want TO know ali about the coal
Et-ik=.' said The Times man To the gentle
Blau Indicated rs the present difficulty
afgiy 10 affect your business in any wa ~
No" replied Mr.. Werner Il think no:
You see, like the ma jority of Washington
dealers ] obtain my supply from the West
Virginia and Cumberland mines. This rs
better quality than other bituminus coal,
and the nearness Of this city to the base
OF operations makes ii more advantageous
&c handle such. The Western people vii
feel the strike very much. but there ism I
anything which tends TO show a curtailng
OF ths local supply. OF cou Sc, there is a
20: sibility that the West Virginia and
Maryland men may Join in the lockout but
there is no ground for such supposi,iJn
Tn: nines throughout the section Ia ve
3ust mentioned are worked by negroes
when the strike broke out in 1s94
they were brought to operate them b,
the carload In a short while, it wa
found that they are more reliable ant
steady THE Hungarians and Poles pre-
vious!y employed did not listen TO reason
and when on a strike could not be con
troil"d. These men are not so excitable
but, on the contrary, exercise their in
diyidual judgment They have no common
interest with the foreigners employed il
other States, and it VIII be only unde
the strongest provocation that they vii
join in the cause OF the Others. However
it is always best TO be prepared, and
have placed my orders for over 25,Opt
tons Of soft coal, so that there VIII b
little likelihood of my customers being il
any way affected"
Az the wharycs and freight depots Their
appears 10 be no diminution in the luaI
uty or coal brought i'll Several othe
dealers who We're interviewed expresse
themselves as being in no way afraid {
o famine.