The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1897-07-14
THE MINERS STRIKE.
The Wage Struggle OF the Coal
Diggers Inaugurated
Thousands of Men Obey Orders to
stop work-Key tn the situation
End of the Difficulty
I'm Doubt.

Pittsburgh, Pa, July s.-Forty-eight
hours after the inauguration OF the
great coal miners strike comparison
of statements from both sides engaged
in the contest show favorable results
for the diggers. Discounting the min
ers' official announcements by the opera
tors opinions, there seems no question
that the workmen have scored de-
cided advantage in this district and it
is believed that as the Pittsburgh dis
trict goes so goes the country. Con-
servatives estimates place the number
of miners now striking in this district
from 10000 TO $4,000 men, an increase
CT about 5000 over Tuesdays record.
This leaves but from 5000 TO 5000 men
still working.
Key to the situation.
The KEY TO the entire situation from
present appearance lies in the success
or defeat of the strikers in securing
the cooperation of the men now work
ing for the New York and Cleveland
Gas Coal company. Without these men,
the strike can hardly succeed, because
they will be able, in a measure, to sup
ply the demand long enough to tide
over the present embarrassment. Pat
rick Dolan, president of the Pittsburgh
district miners, is confident that before
the present week closes he will have
succeeded in getting all of these men
to Join the ranks of the strikers, and
when this result is effected the bat
tie will be practically won.
Operators Also Confident.
The operators are just as confident of
success as the miners are, and have is
sued statement claiming large ac-
cession of men in different parts of the
district and heavier shipping list than
usual. One thing slightly in favor of
the operators is the freeing of navi-
CATION on the Monongahela river, which
went into effect Wednesday. Ten mill
lion bushels of coal which have been
stocked in the pools above here await
ing this event will be brought TO this
harbor at once and be available for
the present demand.
The Number on Strike.
Columbus. o., July o. - United Mine
Workers headquarters report from
$4,000 to 10000 miners out. This is
all who were at work except West Vir-
ginia outside of Pennington, and the
Wheeling district and the New York and
Cleveland Coal Gas company. of Pitts
burgh. Headquarters have advices,
| they say. that the feeling in Pittsburgh
is that mining for this company can be
stopped.
Leaders Confer.
Pittsburgh, Pa, July 10. - Labor
leaders met here yesterday to devise
means TO assist the miners in their con-
test for increased wages and issued the
following manifesto:
After an informal discussion reports
were made by Messrs. Ratchford, Dolan
and Warner in regard to the situation of
the movement and II was demonstrated
that the suspension was practically gen.
eral in the competitive bituminous coal
district. extending also to Kentucky and
Tennessee, excepting few points in West
Virginia. 1t was realized that the situa-
tion in West Virginia required attention
in order that the suspension should become
absolutely general and success assured.
With that object in view, action was rec
commended by President Gompers, of the
American Federation of Labor. and it was
determined upon TO overcome this feature
of the contest. 1t was also determined that
every effort be made on the part of those
present to secure the cooperation and prac-
teal aid Of organized labor for the strug-
Cling miners All the circumstances war
ranted the firm conviction that the miners
will ultimately achieve victory, and to this
end the aid of labor and the sympathetic
public is invoked Conscious Of the great
interest which the public has In a contest
so widespread as that of the miners gives
us great satisfaction to know that the
miners have not been and are not now OPP
posed to arbitration. We therefore urge
and advise that a conference be held by
representatives OF the miners and opera
tors with the view of arriving at a settle