The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-27
THE BIG STRIKE MAY END
PRESIDENT MITCHELL. OF NINE
WORKERS, BACK FROM ST. LOUIS.
Illinois Operators Agree to Quit Ship
ping Coal Into the Southwest-Oth-
er Phases Of the Situation.

President John Mitchell, OF the United
Mine Workers, arrived in the city yester-
day morning from st. Louis where he had
conference with the different coal opera
tors in the Illinois district regarding the
shipment of coal into the territory covered
by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas, the Mis-
souri, Pacific, the Iron Mountain & South
crn, the St. Louis & San Francisco and the
Cotton Belt railways, in the Southwest.
When seen at the Occidental last night,
Mr. Mitchell said that, for the first time in
several years, the miners had reason to
hope that the end Of the big strike in the
Southwest was near at hand He said the
Illinois operators had met the miners in
friendly spirit and had agreed. without OBJ
lection, to the request Of the organization
that they cease shipping coal into the ter
ritory covered by these railroads.
In laying the case before the shippers
President Mitchell thoroughly explained
the attitude OF the miners by saying that,
in case the Illinois operators refused to stop
the shipments, the United Mine Workers
would withdraw their men from all Illinois
mines.
This threat was not necessary, however,
as the operators felt the justice of the
quest and agreed to stop all shipments to
points along the lines Of railroads effected
by the strike.
in addition TO this decision of the opera
tors several representatives of railroads
were present and volunteered to refuse to
send cars to the roads that are opposing the
miners. OF these, General Freight Agent
Campbell, of the Louisville. Evansville &
st. Louis Railway, said that he had given
orders that no cars should be sent from his
road to any Of the roads engaged in the
coal strike, not because he felt any inter-
est In the merits Of the miners strike, but
because, when once his cars were in the NJ,
X. & Il. yards they were kept there idle or
sent further west in other service. thus de-
priving the L., Z. e. st. L. road of its own
cars, when they were badly needed and,
moreover, shut off any chance at recipro-
city.
President Mitchell said that the only hope
the railroads have at this time in opposing
the miners is that they can mine enough
coal from their own mines to supply their
own locomotives and buildings. They claim
that they have 5000 miners at work, but
emissaries of the miners union say that
there is not one-fifth Of this number at
work and what there is. is made up Of col
ored ex-convicts from Tennessee who are
not skilled miners, but merely drudges who
can do nothing but pick out coal after the
scientific work has been done for them.
Mr.. Mitchell Is of opinion that the big strike
will be settled in a short time. as the roads
must have coal and, under present condi-
tions. they cannot mine enough for their
own consumption and, moreover, all mar
kets are closed against them.
He said although ii had been reported that
the trouble with the day laborers in the
Brazil block coal district had been settled
on Saturday, he had received no notification
of IL and was inclined to doubt the accuracy
of the report, inasmuch as no such impor-
tant step would have been taken without
notifying the officers Of the union.