Evening journal., 1897-07-19
CONDITION OF STRIKE
Statement Of President Ratchford
on tie Outlook.
TIE STRIKERS ARE WELL SATISFIED.
The Men Realize Their Responsibility and
WIN Remain Firm-The Movement
Is Stili Growing and May Se-
riousiy Impede Business.

Columbus o., July 19.-Presldent
Ratchford sums up the strike situation
as follows:
The manner in which the miners are
conducting themselves commends Itself
to the country and gives their officers
renewed encouragement and strength
ems the belief that victory ultimately
Will crown their efforts.
The history of industrial strife has
no parallel to the present movement.
Deputy marshals. coal and iron police
and secret detectives have been at work.
but their presence has failed to incite
the miners to acts Of lawlessness or even
to a resumption Of work. Their pres
ence i'm peaceable communities with
chip on their shoulder gave some cause
for alarm and ordinarily would have
caused a resort TO violence. But our
miners in this instance, prohting by the
experience of the past would neither
cause trouble themselves nor allow
themselves to become involved In trou-
BILE by the action Of others.
Reports from some Of the cities to
the effect that the coal supply is not
short are only intended 10 discourage
the miners. If the coal supply is not
short, why are prices aVancing? Why
is coal worth 81 q ton and even $3.50
moro than il was two weeks ago? Why
are the railroads confscating coal ship
ments7 Why are the shops and facto-
ries whose wheels are put in motion by
the labor of the miner ceasing 10 oper-
ate? Why are operators all over the
states offering their miners a rate even
higher than the one demanded If they
viii only continue at work?
"The reason is patent TO all. Coal Is
scarce. Those who have II TO sell get
fancy prices. and those who offer an ad-
vance, particularly in West Virginia
and portions of Illinois do It for the
purpose of checking and defeating this
movement. and miners who do not know
this will realize 1t fully when the battle
is over If such operators have their
way
The Men Realize Their Responsibility.
1--WE have started into this movement
realizing fully the Importance of the
work before us and the responsibility
resting upon us and after two weeks
of suspension. involving more than $780,
600 miners. we are well satisfied with
the results. only those who are best
acquainted with the condition of the
miners have any idea Of the extent Of
this suspension and its paralyzing ef-
fects upon the labor and business Of the
/ country.
1T has not yet reached its full pro-
portions. The coming week viii add
/ 10000 men TO the idle column. The
week following wiz bring greater acces-
sions to our ranks The movement win
continue to grow not only from the
point Of the number involved. but pub
lie opinion will become crystallized more
fully and through the press Of the
country Will demand a solution Of this
great difficulty
"The organized trades Of the country
are today I'm closer touch than ever be-
fore. Never in the history of labor
troubles have they been found so close
ly allied. our demand for living wages
and the determination Of our miners 10
secure it have brought expressions OF
sympathy and moral and material sup
port from almost every branch OF or
ganized labor. whose efforts In our be-
half will endear them to all lovers OF
fairness and establish for the miners
with their own efforts, a living rate OF
! yaooc