Crisis Has Come In The Miners' Strike

M. D. Ratchford, president of the United Mine Workers, has telegraphed f rom Fairmount, W. Va., to Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, as folio ws: '-On the fair soil of West Virginia peaceable assemblage has been forbidden and free speech suppressed. A crisis is upon us which must be met if we would escape total slavery. ïhis is no longer a strike for justice, but a struggle against starvation, and every atom of nobility in human nature impels us to rise to the emergency. West Virginia is the field of action and here our forces must be converged. The miners here are eager, anxious to join in our movement for their emancipation, but are íestrained by the fear of discharge and eviction. They are as much the property of their masters as were the black slaves before the guns of Sumter thundered the doom of chattel slavery. The raülions of sturdy craftsmen of our country must be aroused. I therefore cali upon you in behalf of the struggling miners to help us meet this crisis and achieve victory for the cause of labor." Miss Jeaa Ingelow, the distinguislied poet and novelist, died in Londou in her 77th year. It is said at Yokohama that Japan will probably agree to submit her differences with Uawaii to arbitration. The moveinent to present Fiance with a statue of Washington as a gift of the American people has recoived a fresh ímpetus through a contribiition and a stronjf letter from ex-Senator liradbury, of Maine, now 90 years oid. A joint proposal of biinctallism was presented to represontatives of the liritish government on behalf of the United States and France by the ara bassadors of those governments and the special commission appointed by the United States. The proposals were taken under adviseraent by the Ilritish cabine t, an answer to bo give at a subsequent coufereuce.