The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-14

convention of the United Mine Workers
this week will not order a general strike
every effort is being made by the larger
consumers of the Indiana product to be pre-
pared for a long strike in this bituminOus
field The railroads are laying in a supply
of coal as big as possible and the larger
manufacturing industries are doing the
same. The railroads are serving them
selves first with whatever comes to hand,
both by orders on the mines and by con-
fiscating shipments that happen to get
coupled up with their engines. The Indiana
operators and the men at the headquarters
Of the United Mine Workers of Indiana do
not believe IL is likely that the convention
will order a general strike, yet Ii is more
than possibility Two weeks ago the
railroads and the manufactures had been
storing coal for use in the event of strike
on the cars by placing them on sidings,
but the shortage in cars was about to cause
a complete cessation in the industry, and
the operators. with public sentiment back
Of them, insisted that this was too much
of an advance preparation and that the
cars might be unloaded and filled and un-
loaded several times before the meeting
of the convention. They were released and
sent back to the mines empty. Since then
until two DAYS ago the order was to load
and empty as fast as possible. 1t is now
too near the day Of possible failure to re-
load and unload and loaded cars are again
held by the railroads on their tracks at d
vision points where locomotives are coaled
and on sdings at factories. Railroads and
manufacturers are not limiting the supply
have had bitter experiences with strikes
at the mines, when two and three prices
were offered and it was a nerve-racking
effort on the part of purchasing agents TO
dalia Railroad two weeks ago was the first
OF the roads to yield to the demand for
''empties, and to do SO the coal was
dumped on the ground, entailing a heavy
extra cost in handling, that the cars might
be returned to the mines. The road has
pile of coal on the ground in this city GOO
h4crb 4 60
wide. At other division points the fuel is
piled up in like manner. At the factories
it is heaped in piles near the furnaces. If
ii is to be a strike, say the men who are
best acquainted with the temper of the
coal miners and the general conditions il
may be for month and 1t may be for two
months. Still, the operators and miners
leaders Go not think there will be a general
strike. They fear it less to-day than they
did a week ago.
There is no doubt that John Mitchell has
been exerting all his influence, direct and
indirect, to prevent a vote for a strike. He
wants the convention to vote a money as
sessment which will enable the anthracite
miners to remain idle long time, and by
that sign alone ne hopes TO conquer The
miners OF Indiana, as also those of the
other fields which are parties to the inter-
state agreement under which a contract
exists for continuous mining until April /,
1903--Illinois. Ohio and the Pittsburg dis
trict-have elected delegates to the con-
vention who will vote sOlidly against a
strike. The danger of ma jority vote for
strike was in the vote of the anthracite
delegates and those from what are termed
outside States-such as Missouri and
Kansas, where there is no obligation of
contract with the operators such as that
existing in the field of the interstate agree
ment. Ii is now understood that Mitchell
has convinced some of these outsiders
of the unwisdom of a general strike and
also that the delegates from the anthra-
cite field viii be less likely to insist on a
strike by their fellow-miners of the btu
minous fields.