The Washington times., 1903-09-07
OPERATORS AND MINERS
TO DISCUSS STRIKE
Secret Conference May Set
tie Coal Dispute.
TIME AND PLACE WITHHELD
Serious Trouble Anticipated in West
Virginia Regions if Agreement Is
Not Soon Reached.

An important meeting of soft coal op-
orators. railroad officials. and miners
will be held this week in the West Vir-
ginia soft coal region for the purpose of
settling the strike which has been on
for weeks in that territory.
Thirty-three hundred men are con-
cerned in the strike and the situation
has become so desperate that rIoting
and outbreaks are daily expected. I'm
less settlement is soon effected. there
viii be this winter a serious shortage
Of soft coal in Washington, Baltimore.
and Philadelphia. Already the local
market has been affected to the extent
OF a rise of 80 cents a ton in the price
of soft coal.
An Extensive Tract.
The strike region extends from Pied
mont on either side Of the line of the
West Virginia Central and Pittsburg
Railroad for eighty miles due west. 1t
embraces one of the richest soft coal
fields in the country and was largely
developed by the Davis Elkins inter-
ests.
The fields adjoin the Georges Creek
coal fields, from which the Cumberland
coal comes. Employed by the Davis
faction and independent operators there
are 5000 men.
Within the past two months organizers
from the United Mine Workers have
been busy in organizing the miners. no
organization having existed there for
fifteen years before.
Mines Tied Up.
About a month ago there was a con-
ference OF operators, railway officials.
and miners. The employers then refused
TO recognize the union formed by the
mine workers, and the result was that
$500 men at the Thomas mines, the
Douglas mines, the Elk Garden mine
and the Abrams Creek Coal and Coke
Company, and other independent COM
pany mines went out on a strike.
Almost nothing has been done since,
as few non-union men have been en-
ployed. and it is estimated the strike is
costing the operators $1,000 day.
So far there has been little disorder.
but as the miners grow desperate from
lack of food, threats and mutterings are
heard The country is one OF the wild
est in West Virginia The miners are
mainly mountaineers, there being few
foreigners.
While 1t is hoped a settlement can be
effected at the coming conference, the
organizers declare their intention of
organizing the entire State of Vest Vir-
ginia- The operators are equally deter
mined 10 operate their plants in accord
ance with their own views.
The Miners Demands.
The only demand the miners have made
so far is for recognition OF the union, but
II is well understood that after the union
has been recognized the miners and out
side men will demand better gage5 and
a guarantee of tonnage. Concessions OF
this kind. the operators maintain. would
be fatal to them.
On the side OF the operators 1t is said
the men are now earning 65 cents a ton
in rooms, and 20 cents in chambers and
that outside men are getting from S1.75
to $3.50 and $3.50 a day. Under this scale
miners are getting $3.50 to IS day and
steady employment. 1t is said the COM
pany store question does not enter into
the trouble, as the miners are allowed
TO trade where they please.
Out OF 500 men at the Elk Garden
mines only sixteen were reported as
working yesterday. Extensive coke ovens
all along the line of the railroad are
idle. Yesterday President ". E Am
brose of this city, of the Abrams Greek
Coal and Coke Company, left for the
conference
1t IS not divulged where the confer
ence will be held, this being kept secret
to prevent disturbance and annoyance
from labor detectives. Neither is the
exact time of the conference given out.
About two weeks ago an unsuccessful
cnnfnrnnce Was held al Piedmont