The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-13
PANA MINING TROUBLE
THE LABOR ORGANIZATIONS UNUSU-
AL METHOD OF STOPPING WORK.
Executive Board in Session Here to
Consider the Pittsburg Dis
trict Strike.

The executive board Of the United Mine
Workers met in the national headquarters
in this city yesterday to consider several
matters of Importance. Chief among them
was the trouble in the Pittsburg district
where 1000 of the % 900 miners are on strike
Reports submitted at the meeting from rep
resentatives in the field indicated that there
is not man at work in the district who is
not receiving the full price under the Chi
cago agreement scale. The operators re-
ports indicate that they are unable to COM
pete with the West Virginia operators, who
have not for some time been paying the
scale. The coal from the two fields naturally
completes in the same markets, according to
the operators, and as the PIttsburg men
claim they cannot quote prices as low as
their rivals, who are not paying the SCALE
they in turn are compelled to quit doing So
The miners. however, claim that the boycott
which was inaugurated sometime ago for the
protection of the Pittsburg operators against
the West Virginia operators has been effec-
tive, and there is little reason for the opera.
tors to use that as a justification for break
ing their part of the agreement. So far
there has been nothing definite decided on
in the way of plans for winning the strike,
and the trouble is of too recent origin to be
more than a matter for conjecture as to It's
outcome.
The trouble in Pana, ILL.,, however, is in a
much better condition according to the
opinion of the board members, and there is
every probability that the mine will be
closed for at least six weeks by process of
law. The law provides that every mine
shall employ fire Inspector" who shall
be provided with a certificate of competency
from the board appointed by the Governor
to examine applicants. His duties are to ex-
anime the mine he is employed in at least
once day and pronounce on it's safety be-
fore the miners are allowed to enter it, His
duties include tests for gases and defects
in construction of pockets and 'halls .
The United Mine Workers have applied for
an Injunction restraining the company from
operating the mine except in accordance
with the law. There is not at present a
fire inspector at work in the mine, and
1t is not expected there will be for the rea-
son that all of them belong to the Mine
Workers. The law also provides that each
mine shall have two exits of proper dimen-
SionS and construction to be used in case of
necessity. This is also ignored in the Pana
mine, according to the miners, and will con-
stitute the ground FOR the longest delay in
reopening the mine after the Injunction is
granted, new slopes" and Chambers
will have TO be built.
During the day it was decided to allow
President Ratchford to continue in office
during his service on the national industrial
commission, to which place he was recently
appointed by President Mckinley. During
his absence the duties of the office will DE
discharged by Vice President John Mitchell.
The following officers were present and
will continue in session to-day President
NJ. d. Ratchford of Indiana; Vice Presi-
dent John Mitchell, of Spring Valley, ILL.,
Secretary and Treasurer w. c. Pearce. of
indiana Edward Mckay, of Buena Vista,
Pa; John Fahy, of Pottsville. Pa; Henry
Stevenson, of East Broobank, w. Va; Fred
Dilcher. of Jacksonville. o.; ]. II. Kennedy.
of Terre Haute, Ind. and w. d. Ryan, of
BraidWood. Ill.