The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-07-14
NO CONCESSIONS
On Either Side In the Great Wage
Struggle Of Coal Minors.
ARE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
The Result of the Strike Now De-
ponds Upon the Action of the
West Virginia Miners.
ARE CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
MORE MEN JOIN THE STRIKERS

OF the coal miners strlke mas begun ana
already it gives promise of being one of
the greatest wage struggles in the his
tory Of this country. Ten days ago the
coal operators in this district and the
miners themselves little dreamed that
within one short week such an era of
general suspension could be wrought as
now exists in the bituminous mining
industry. Then the mouth of the
many coal tipples that dot the Monon-
gahela, Youghiogheny, Allegheny and
Peters Greek valleys, and the valleys of
Toms and Miller's Run, were open, and
turning out thousands and thousands of
tons of the best coal that enters into the
competitive markets of the world. Now
all is changed. The vast caverns are
like so many graveyards. On the hill
sides, basling in the shade, there is an
army of $4,000 unemployed, who are
anxiously waiting for more TO join the
troops of idlers. On nearly every rail
road track leading to the mines, there
stand empty cars, apparently anxious to
be loaded, that their burdens may be
carried to the ports along the lakes.
The success that has attended the
movement has greatly elated the miners
effort will be made to bring out the
men in the few mines that are still
working. This will be difficult task
but they express confidence in their
ability to make the suspension complete
before the week is 48 hours old.
From the best information obtainable,
the Pittsburg operators are in no hurry
to have the difficulty adjusted So
many of them had stocks on railroad
sidings which they held for an advance.
Much of this was disposed of Saturday
at good profit. One prominent oper-
ator said that it would take another
week to determine the exact state of
the market, and by that time general
cleaning up will have taken place. All
interested will be ready to begin bust
ness ON a new basis and probably at a
higher price.
"This whole thing will result in a
compromise" said another prominent
operator. 1.-THE operators are in posi-
ton to stand it for some time, and be.
heve the miners are in about the same
condition. 1t looks as if business will
brighten up, and in that event the
operators will be able to get better
prices, and the condition Of business
o1d the condition of the miner will be
simultaneously improved"
Just now the greatest obstacle in the
way of success of the miner is the activ-
ity of the diggers in the West Virginia
fields. They are working night. and
day and are getting ready to supply all
the coal that is needed. They are re-
peating what they did three years ago,
when q general suspension was de-
clared. At that time there were num-
Der of operators in the Mountain state
that were ON the verge of bankruptcy.
The general suspension was declared,
and there came O great demand for coal
at prices that insured big profit. The
operators rallied around them large
number of men. whose friendship and
support they have encouraged ever
since. The operators profited by thou
sands and thousands Of dollars. When
the season had finished and the strike
was declared a failure, they balanced
their books and found things on the
proper side of their ledgers. They real
lied that they owed much Of their profit
to their miners, and rewarded them for
it. On every succeeding payday the
faithful miners were paid bonuses in
the shape of gold pieces, and naturally
the best of feeling prevails among the
the employers and employees.
This is the condition of affairs the
organizers that will go into the West
Virginia district this week will have to
encounter. 1t is argued by the miners
that there are more men out in that
section than there were three years
ago. and they express the greatest con-
fidence in bringing them out If they
can get their ears. This failing, the
railroad organizations will be appealed
to. This plan of campaign has been
outlined by the national officers, and
the Developments of the week will be
watched with interest.
The miners officials say that the sue
cess of the movements depends ON the
action of the West Virginia miners.
They argue that so many men in the
Pittsburg district, who were not affiliat-
ed with their organization, sacrificed
thousands Of dollars and Joined the
movement. They will tell the Noun
tain state diggers of the success in this
district. and every effort will be made
to have them join.
There are q number of operators in
the Pittsburg district who have ex-
pressed willingness to pay the price
demanded. But the miners have said
nay. They will insist that a majority
Of the operators in the district pay the
69-cent rate or none. This is the ulti-
matum of the national officials, from
which there is no appeal. 1t Is known
that some of the miner officials would
be glad to let all the operators paying
the 69-cent rate operate their mines,
but can not. owing TO the decision Of
the national officers, who desire to have
all the surplus coal taken from the
market
AT meeting of the United Labor
league of western Pennsylvania last
night SO out Of ~ labor organizations
were represented. Resolutions were
unanimously adopted, pledging finan-
cial and moral support to the miners
and calling upon all tho trades unions
In western Pennsylvania to aid and
assist in every possible manner in fur
thering the interests Of the strikers.
w. III. Carney, vice president Of the
Amalgamated association, and Rev.
Winston Green, the colored preacher
miner, were appointed organizers and
ordered 10 begin work at once. Six
more organizers will be appointed this
week. Messrs. Carney and Green will
hold meeting at Fayette City tonight,
and tomorrow will have charge OF a
meeting OF miners and their wives at
Gastonville II Is proposed to interest
the women, a. wen as tho men, IN this
movement.
The league also decided to send out
circular to all trades unsons requesting
Rn immediate assessnent for the bene-