The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-20
THE COAL STRIKE.
THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN OP-
ORATORS AND MINERS.

Firemen-Much Interest in the Situation
in West yjrginia-Tke Strepg 9Th by States
of the strikers Given Out from Head.
quarters-Ihe Coal Supply Becoming Ex.
hausted
Columbus. Ohio. July 16.-In a letter
received by President Ratchford rom
p. F. Sargent. grand master OF the
Brotherhood of Locomotive Fi-emen,
Mr.. Sargent offers his personal assist
nee in any manner deemed best by
MIR. Ratchford and also suggests a plan
for the membership Of the organization,
numbering 80. 900, to assist the strikers
financially.
Pittsburg, July 1~5.-Foreign coal is
beginning TO cut quite a figure in the
Pittsburg market and the miners Of
ficials recognize its appearance. They
are, for the time being, satisfied with
the small amount of coal that is being
dug in the Pittsburg district and from
now on will look after what they term
outside entertainments. Much coal is
being sold in the Pittsburg market
from the Clearfield and Cambria dis
tricts. 1t is true hat it does not come
to Pittsburg, but goes TO fill the con-
tracts made at the great lakes. The
miners are working at good wages n
it is claimed are willing to come out if
the matter is properly brought before
them.
THE men in the Clearfield and Cam
bria districts are working under the
delusion that they are not conflicting
with the general SUSPENSION said
President Patrick Dolan. I'VE have
arranged a conference with some of the
leaders in that section, the time of
which I am not at liberty to
I am satisfied hat we will be able to
make them see the error of their way
and join us in this great battle for
bread. AS far as the Pittsburg dis
trict proper is concerned, we have every
reason to be satisfied with the situa-
ton"
The local officials are manifesting
much interest in the situation in West
Virginia.
An important feature Of the local sit
uation was the shipment of several
hundred empty cars to West Virginia.
They will be loaded with coal and sent
to the lakes, filling contracts made with
Pittsburg operators. The PittSburg
operators claim that they were offered
coal from all sections Of the country
and had to refuse a number of PROPOSE
lions. The prevailing price was $1.50,
a change being noted from the quota
tons of the day previous. The oper-
atOrs claim hat the Enterprise, Bon
and Coke mines on the CHARTERS branch
of the Panhandle and the Bunola
mines or the Monogahela are running
at the SO cent rate. The latter was re-
Gently purchased by the National Roll
ing Mill Company at Mckeesport and
is claimed to be running in full.
The miners officials succeeded in
keeping the men employed at the Keel
ing, Eureka and Waverly mines from
going to work today at the So cent rate,
which had been offered to them by
their employers. According to the
miners officials, operators have closed
the company stores all over the dis
trlct ana supplies to men nave Deen
cut off. This leaves the miners depend
ent upon the fruits of forage and char
ity. In one or two agricultural COM
munities where the miners are on
strike, the have invited the
strikers to organize committees and
send them with a wagon into the sur
rounding country to solicit rather than
confiscate supplies. The strikers are
taking full advantage of the invitation.
tNAGS oAoANo ONNy AHoal S1AS
Pittsburg district, a truce seeming to
prevail pending the outcome of the
peace negotiations.
Columbus, OhiO, July 15.-President
Ratchford and Secretary Pearce have
issued official bulletin, No. 1 to the
miners, it being a review Of the sit
uation. The bulletin says:
Our 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 au-
thOrized or recognized. The second
week n the eigth day of our suspen-
sion brings with it greater assurance
Of ultimate victory than any previous
day. Our forces are increasing every
hour, our determination is unflinching
and u actions are law abiding in
every particular. The state and num-
Der of miners involved are as follows:
western Pennsylvania-Fully 20, 900
miners have joined us for living wages,
which makes suspension almost unani-
nous in every mine in the district.
Work still continues in the central
field, but steps will be taken in a few
days looking to a suspension, which is
believed will be successful.
"OhiO-28, 900 miners have laid down
their tools in their demand for living
wages, making the suspension general,
excepting in a few local mines.
'Indiana-Advices received today re-
port every mine and every miner in this
state suspended. Eight thousand have
joined the march for living wages.
1llinois-Reports from this state are
to the effect that suspension is practi-
cally general n that miners are de-
termined to Continue the march until
living wages are secured.
West Virginia-About 5000 miners
have joined the movement. Reports
from various sections OF the state con-
firm the belief hat miners will sus-
pend. Eight organizers left this city
today for West Virginia. The supply
of coal from that field will be cut off
in a very few days.
Kentucky and Tennessee-About
1900 miners I'VE ~suspended; others
may be expected to follow.
"Kansas-Miners are all at work but
will hold a convention on Saturday.
1t is expected hat they will also sus-
pend.
"Alabama-Reports indicate that 5000