Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-07
TIE GREAT STRIKE ON
Two-THIRDs or THE PrrrsrrRo
MINERS QUIT WORK..
fight FOR USIRSRH MAGE RATE.
Developments of Next Few Days
Will Determine Its Success or
F"ilure-A break in the OperatorS
Ranks.

PITTsBURG. VA. July s.-The strike
order Of the National Executive Board
OF the United Mine-Workers Of America
was obeyed by from 10000 to t5.c0o OF the
1000 miners In the Pittsburg District to-
day The great struggle is now on In
earnest. and the developments OF the next
few days will determine the success or
failure Of the fight for a uniform mining
rate.
Pittsburg Is the pivotal point In the
five States engaged in the contest, and
the success Of the local officials In their
efforts to secure a general suspension
In this district will have an important
bearing on the outcome OF the moys-
ment.
While 1t is estimated that at least two
thirds of the miners have thrown down
their picks. enough men are still at
work to seriously impair the chances Of
success, unless they can ultimately be
brought out. This, President Dolan CON-
fidently claims can be done. The ope-
rators, on the other hand, are In nowise
disconnected, and assert that the strike
cannot succeed. The first break In the
operators. ranks was made this after.
noon by J. w. Steen, of the o. l. q
mines at Rossvllle. The diggers refused
to work. and the mine was closed down.
but a notice was posted that after to-day
the 69-cent rate would be paid. 1t Is not
likely that the officials win allow the
men to work until a majority OF the
operators have agreed to the miners
demands.
FEDERAL. INTERVENTION.
CINCINNATI o., July GA very ims
portant step was taken here to-day in
connection with the local miners strike,
which puts the power Of the United States
against all violence or unlawful acts In
at least portion of the territory Of
Ohio An order of the United States
Circuit Court. Southern District CT Ohio,
Eastern Division, was made by Judge
Taft upon a showing made by Myron
T. Herrick and Robert Blickensderfer.
receivers OF the Wheeling and Lake
Erie Railway Company. and of tho
Wheeling. Lake Erie and Pittsburg Coal
Company. whereby the United States
Marshal is directed to protect their
miners at work. and to prevent unlawful
Interference with the operation OF their
railway.
BELLAIRE. o.. July GA large number
Of extra coal-cars were sent into the
Fairmount (W. Val District by the Balti-
more and Ohio Railway Company to-day.
The operators of that field have notified
the railway people that they can furnish
l,000 carloads of coal a day. and ship
ments are expected to begin soon. Most.
of the coal will be sent TO Ohio. to supply
the trade In this State. IL Is predicted
that trouble will result as soon as an at
tempt Is made TO move coal across the
river, like that which happened two or
| three years ago. during the miners strike.
WEST VIRGINIANs NOT STRIKING.
| PITTSBURG July 6.-In West Virginia
| the miners have been slow In responding
\ 10 the strike order. A dispatch tonight
| says that a general strike In that Stats
| is not probable. The men are not or
| ganized, and they are inclined 10 regard
| the strike elsewhere az favorable to their
| chances for securing plenty Of work at
good prices while II is pending. Great
pressure Is being brought TO bear upon
| them by the United Nine Workers ofii-
cials to join the strike. but so far with
out success. The impression among both
operators and miners I'm this State Is that
West Virginia will be able to supply tho
demand for coal In the event of a pro-
longed strike, and that the operators Will
be justified 10 offer the miners induce
ments to remain at work, as they did In
1894 iefMine-Inspector Paul says that
he does not look for much response TO
the order.
RATCHFORD STILL CONFIDENT.
COLUMBUS, o.. July 6.-There are quite
a number Of mining districts from which
President Ratchford OF the United Nine
Workers. had not heard tonight. yet
he was as confident as ever of the ulti-
mate success OF the strike. if any un-
favorable reports have been received by
him they have not affected his demeanor
in the least. He states that he has re-
ceived no reports from West Virginia.
Should the miners there not join tho
strike now, he thinks they can be induced
TO suspend work i'm a short time.