Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-05

The opcrators Appear to Have Won
at Every Point.
others Dissatisfied.

BLUEFIELD, w VA. September A
Especial )-The strike in the Flat-Top coal
field is over. and after struggle of more
than three months, the union miners have
not bettered their condition. The only
thing they have gained has been the ill
will of their employers. and they have
spent the savings of months during their
long idleness.
The surrender was unconditional on the
part of the strikers. the operators not
even being represented al the conference
at which the situation was discussed, and
offering no concession whatever.
a meeting was held at keystone this
afternoon, at which there were present
Organizers Nugent. Davis and Farley,
several local strike leaders, representa-
tive of President Mitchell, and the Ad-
jutant- General of the State, and a special
representative of Governor White.
Every phase of the question was thor
oughly discussed, and at AIS o'clock the
foregoing decision was arrived at. The
official order was issued by member of
the National Board of the United Mine
'
Mitchell. and steps were Immediately
taken to notify the various camps. where
the miners were being taken care Of by
the union. A majority of the men we're
pleased with the result of the conference
and declare that they are glad of the
chance to return to work, even under the
same conditions that obtained before the
strike. A few, however. are bitterly dis
appointed, and seemed disposed to make
trouble.
To Prevent Trouble.
To prevent this Judge Saunders has
called a special term of the Circuit Court
10 meet d Princeton tomorrow, where
large number of deputy steriffs will be
sworn in,
All was quiet throughout the field to-
day and except the mines on Crane
Creek, all of the operations were work
ing. The Crane Creek mines VIII resume
operations to-day. ALI of the strikers
will be allowed to return to work at the
operations not now fully manned. and it
is said that it will still be necessary to
import a number of men. as many of the
non-unon miners have been SO terrified
by the recent lawlessness, that they have
lied the region, numbers of the operators
have lost hundreds and in some cases.
thousands, of dollars They have i'm
ported miners by the carload at an aver
age cost of transportation of 81 each. only
to have the new men desert them when
they learned of the prevailing conditions.
Story of the Strike.
The strike began Saturday. June 7th.
and for several days there was quite
tieup. Knowing that If they could load
the cars it would weaken the strikers
position. the men in the mine managers
Office. and comnissary men, and every
body else that could be prevailed on, went
in the mines and dug coal. The forces at
work grew larger daily, and in a. week
the backbone OF the strike was broken.
The output of the field steadily increas-
ed and very soon was up to the aver
age.
All this time large numbers of strikers
held out and We're provided for from the
strike fund of the union.
Acts of Violence.
Two weeks ago Officer ". A Tanning,
killed Preach Cook, strike asitator.
whom he had under arrest, and on the
night of the same day was assassinatec.
On the Saturday previous there was
some shooting on Crane Creek, and i'm
mediately following Fanning's assassina-
ton the Caswel Creek operation was the
CURED on Crane Creek. and the miners
were terror-stricken and fled.
An appeal was made to Governor
White, who sent General Baker and ex-
Sheriff Walton. as his personal represen-
tatives to the field.
Shortly after their arrival the West
mine of the Pocahontas Colleries Com
pany was set on fire by miscreants and a
demonstration was made by armed strlk-
ers at various points.
Many consultations were had. which
led up to the meeting of to-day, and the