The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-09
Great Deal of Money Is Being spent
i'm Attempt to Recruit Ii to the
Fighting Point.
OPERATORS HAVE TIGHT HOLD
THEY ARE ABLE ALMOST TO CUT
OFF THEIR EMPLOYEES SUPPLIES.
Houses i'm which Miners Live Are
Owned by Operators, Who Can
Evict on Very Short Notice.

The executive board of the United Mine
Workers yesterday took up the West Vir-
ginia situation and the strike In the block
coal district of Indiana, but no determined
steps were taken in either matter. A COM
mittee will be appointed TO go to the block
coal district to attempt to settle the trou-
BILE James Cantrell. president of the dis
trict, and William Huston were here yes
terday to confer with the board. Mack
Taylor, chief of the Coal Hoieting Engi-
neers, also attended the meeting. The
coal hoisting engineers are on strike also.
and desire to know the attitude of the
miners before continuing negotiations for
a settlement
The West Virginia situation was re-
Viewed but no policy was outlined by the
board that would indicate a strike in that
State, although it has been stated that a
suspension of work would likely be or
dred unless the situation frightened. The
district officers from that State are here
with information relating to the situation.
Among other things they brought is copy
Of the West Virginia statutes, which con-
tains the law relating to landlords and ten
ants. 1t is said that in that State the men
are bound to the coal companies. The COM
panies hold leases of their houses, which
are forfeited, in some instances, if the
men join the union, and all are subject to
ejectment if they participate in any labor
agitation or quit the employ of the COM
pany. AS the companies own all of the
houses and stores, it is said that the miners
are helpless. The provisions of the leases
specify that upon notification they must
vacate in from five to seven days.
The strength of the organization in that
State will not be given out at headquarters,
but the number of organizers that have
been at work in West Virginia and the
amount of money that has been spent for
organization indicate that the United Mine
Workers appreciate the proposition they
have to encounter and that the recruiting
has been slow. The conditions there make
1t more serious when considering a strike,
in view of the fact that the companies have
1t in their power TO almost cut off supplies
from the miners On account of these con-
i'm ordering strike and it may be post
poned until the miners are in better posi-
L tion to fight.
A small strike i'm one of the subdistricts
of central PENNSYLVANIA where 10000 miners
have been on strike last night was settled
at the Occidental Hotel. ]. Z. Thropp, rep
resenting the coal operators interests, and
r. w Z. Salkeld president OF the sub
tional officers and last night an agreement
was signed, conceding the Altoona scale
which gives the miners an advance of 20
per cent. in wages. 1t is said that other
operators in the district are preparing TO
sign the agreement. Board Member Rice
left the conference yesterday to go to his
district and interpret the basis OF agree
ment reached at national headquarters
Monday. 1t is believed that soon after his
arrival matters will be adjusted and all
the men will return TO work