The evening times., 1900-04-11
COAL MINES SUSPEND.
General strike Suddenly Ordered
at Frost burg. Md.

90 Nhus
FRoSTBURG, Nd, April 1.-THE situa-
tion in the Georges Creek coal fields took
sudden and unexpected change. when
general suspension was ordered for IL
O'Clock tonight. 1t was not generally be-
lieved that a general suspension was so
near at hand. In fact. the impression was
abroad that the proposed meeting between
President c. X. Lord and the committee
Of Consolidation employees and business
men would have the effect OF deferrlng
any definite action by the delegation when
was to meet in Frostburg today. 1t was
not known that the strike was so near at
hand until Organizer Warner left the hall
at the end of the session. when III was
announced that he had ordered the call 1or
a general suspension to be placed upon a
bulletin board
Some forty delegates. representing the
miners of the Georges Creek and Meyers
dale regions, came to Frostburg and as
sebled in Nickel's Hall at 10 o'clock and
again at ] O'Clock, and finished their work
early in the afternoon. These delegates
were chosen in accordance with the IN
structions given at the Lonaconing mass
meeting for ihe purpose of conferring win
the coal operators if the operators should
consent to the Joint meeting. No reply
was r6C61Ncul iSOui AHS Optiotoio 49,
following was announced as the result OF
the action of the delegates:
We. the delegates. assembled in Nickel's Hall.
Frostburg April 10, acting by the authority Nesi-
ed in us by the resolution adopted by the mass
meeting Of the Georges Greek coal miners IN
Homecoming March 81. have resolved, lnasinuch as
our operators have refused TO meet in lolnt CON
vention in response 10 the sixth call ApIll :, we
therefore declare general suspension OF an
the mines in District No. lG United Vine Norkeis
saQ ton Of
Is granted. BE il further resolved, we endorse te
stand Of the employee OF the Constellation CoAi
Companv in defence Of themselves and fellow
President ALLAN BARBER
Secretary W H.. COCHRANE,
Vice President JAMES NJ. CONRAD,
District Officers.
Executive Board: Daniel Young Robert Slmp-
son George May. and Andrew NcManus-
This call will close down all the mines
in the Georges Greek region employing
over 4OO0 hands.
Frederick Dilcher Of Nelsonville. Ohio,
member Of the National Executive Board,
said he expected the strike to procure for
the miners Of the region their demands. In
order TO do this, he says. they VIII nave
the aid Of SOC coo members of the United
Mine Workers as well as the help OF the
Federation Of Labor, which will enable the
men Of this region TO fight to finish for
victory He claims that had the operators
consented TO meet the miners, as request
ed. the agitation would have ended with
cut a call for suspension, and the conpa-
nies are to blame for the strike
Organizer Warner also asserts mat the
present strike could have been aTetted had
the operators agreed TO meet the miners.
He is of the opinion THAI the suspension
will not continue a great length OF time,
as the companies will concede the demands
Of the miners.
The miners in general claim that they
can win their strike. ley say that tn re
is Sl5. 600 in the treasury OF the Uoi ed
Mine Workers for the aid Of The region,
and that other strong backing will be
forthcoming. They believe that they are
better equipped today to gaia Their DE-
mand than ever before. They hold that
In order TO make a great profit while
there is a strong demand for coal the optr- /
atoTs will shortly come to terms with them. |
In order TO save a great deal 9; coal from !
being lost by the idleness Of the miners is
another reason advanced by the miners as
in their favor for a capitulat;on on the /
part OF the operators. The miners are !
strong in their belief that the operators /!
will not be long in making advances for 1
settlement. The miners also say that the ,
companies brought on the present trouble ,
by failing to consent 10 a meeting with I
their employees. Ii is claimed by many OF /
the miners that the suspension and dis
charging of Consolidation employees b. ought .
on the strike Some OF the miners think
the strike will be very short, while some
OF them are OF the opinion that it will last
three months.
superintendent b. 6. Randolph is OF the .
opinion that the strike Will last two
months. In the meantime no effort will
be made to operate the mines. II this state
OF affairs prevails throughout the region
the battle will be one of silence.
The miners say the operators are not
justified in ignoring the rights Of the men
to organize, On the other hand, the op
orators claim that this is the great point
OF coutention-whether the owners of
pI CperJy or an organization Of employees is
to have control OF its management II is
claimed by some that the suspension Of
the Consolidation men by Mr.. Randolph
would not alone be sufficient cause on the
part Of the operators TO permit General
strike TO come and that il is a question
OF control rather than wages that is being
Forrphr