Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-07-24
PRESIDENT RATCnFORD'S
BULLETIN 70 MINERS
Announces Positively That No Local
Settlement Will Be Author
lied by Him.
SURE OF AN ULTIMATE VICTORY
Operators In West yirgiaia 60 Raise
tho Rate aud Try 20 Hold
Their Men---Foreign
Coal a Factor.

Columbus, O., July 17.-President
Ratchford and Secretary Pearse have
issued an official bulletin, No. ], to the
miners, il being D review of the situa-
ton. The bulletin says:
"Onr fight for living wages now COW
ers, in whole or in part, eight states OF
the union. 1t is a general suspension,
and no local settlements will be an-
th0rized or recognized.
"Ihe second week ard the eighth
day of our suspension brings with 1T
greater assurance Of ultimate victory
than any previous day. Our forces Dire
Increasing every hour. u determine
lion is unfiinching and our actions are
taw abiding in every particular.
The states and number Of miners
involved are as follows:
Western Pennsylvania-Fully 10000
miners have joined MS for living wages,
which makes the suspension almost
unanimous i'm every mine in the dis
trict. Work still continues in the CEN
trail field, but steps will be taken in n
few days looking 10 a suspension which
il is believed will be successful.
"Obio-Twenty-eight thousand min
rrs have laid down their tools ia their
i''iia'ib hffHS "dktSs h'hNihS wv
suspension general, excepting "a few
local mines.
"Indiana-Adyices received report
every mine in this state suspended.
Eight thousand joined the march for
living wages.
Illinois Reports from this state are
80 the effect that suspension is prac-
ticaily general and that miners are de-
termined TO continue the march until
living wages are secured.
West Nirginia-About 5000 miners
have joined the movement. Reports
from various sections of the state con
firm the belief that miners will sus-
pend. Eight organizers have left this
city for West Virginia. Supply of coal
from that field will be cut of in n very
few days.
Kentucky and Tennessee - Four
thousand miners nave suspended.
"Kansas-Miners all at work, but
will hold a convention on Saturday. 1t
is expected that they will also sus-
pend.
'Alabama-Reports indicate that
5000 miners or more have suspended.
"The supply of coal is fast becoming
exhausted at the various distributing
points, and in fact a coal famine is on
hand
In a letter received by President
%fiatchford from l.. +. Sargent, grand
master of the brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Firemen, Mr.. Sargent offers his
personal assistance in any
deemed best by Mr.. Ratchford, and
nlso suggests a plan for the member
ship of the organization, numbering
10000, TO assist the strikers financially,
West Virginia Operators Action.
Cincinnati, July 1j.-An important
counter movement against the organ
izers of the United Mine Workers now
in West Virginia was begun here by a
conference of five operators in that
state. They determined to give their
miners al advance of IA cents n ton
above the present rates and to make
a corresponding increase in the price
of coal at the mines. They have re-
turned TO ask all other operators in
the state To do the same. 1t is tho
opinion of coal men here that their ac-
ton will be approved and followed by
the other operators in the state. The
price of coal at the mines is raised to
$l.25 per ton.
Foreign Goa Becomes "A Factor.
Foreign coal is beginning to cut
quite a figure in the P%ittsburg market
and the miners officials recognize it's
Importance. They are, for the time
being satisfied with the small amount
Of coal that is being dug in the Pitts
burg district and from now on will
look after what they call outside en-
croachments.
Much coal is being sold in the Pitts
burg market from the Clarified and
Cambria districts. 1t is true that it
does not come to Pittsburg, but goes
TO fill the contracts made at the great
lakes. The miners are working ut
good wages, and il is claimed are will
ing to come ont If the matter is prop
erly brought before them. President
Ratchford says that so far as the Pitts
burg district proper is concerned, he
has every reason to be satisfied with
the situation. The local officers are
manifesting much interest in the sit
uation in West Virginia.
The Pittsburg operators claim thai
they We're offered coal from all Sec
tons of the country, and had TO refuse
a number of propositions. The pre-
vailing price was $3.50 n ton, no change
being noted from the quotations of
the day previous. The miners Off
cials succeeded in keeping the men en-
ployed at the Keeling, Eureka and
Waverly mines from going to work
yesterday.
According to the minera' officials the.
store operators ave closed the com
pany stores all over the district, and
supplies TO the men have been cut off.
This leaves the miners dependent up
on the fruits Of forage and charity.
In one or two agricultural commune
ties where the miners are on strike
the farmers have invited the strikers
10 organize committees and send them
with a wage into the surrounding
country TO solicit ratherth han coniscate
supplies. The strikers are taking full
advantage Of the invitations.
Quiet reigned yesterday throughout
the Pittsburg district, a truce seeming
peace negotiations.
VIII Take Time.
Pittsburg, July To- True uniform-
ity may win eventually In the Pitts
burg district but it will take time. 1t
is expected it win require several
weeks to secure the signatures Of the
operators TO the proposition. In tho
meantime the miners officials will
make efforts to force the strike to .
successful issue.
A Big Advance.
Cleveland, July 16.-The Baltimore
and Ohio railroad has advanced freight
rates on West Virginia coal to As cents
a ton. The effect Of this will be to cx-
clude West Virginia coal from compe-
tition. and It is openly admitted that
such was the purpose of the advance
in order to further the settlement o.
the strike.
Hanna Will Help.
Washington, July 16.--In reply to
the request Of the state arbitration
commissioners for his assistance in
settling the coal strike. Mark Hanna
has sent word that he would be glad to
cooperate and that his Representatives
Is on the ground ready to act.
Situation In West Virginia.
Wheeling, w. Va, JAY i6.-No min
ers have returned to work. The num-
Der Of idle miners is comparatively
ALM III