The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-24
THE STRIKE IN THE PENNSYLVANIA COAL
REGIONS.

q REGIONS,
~~~-No->A~S-~..ASs
| Increased Migratory DEVELOPMENTS Of the
Strike Movement-Operalions Of che strikers
In and About MISUNDERSTANDING of the
Strike Becoming Universal In All che Coal
Region.
Is WILKEsBARaE, July q, 1868.
| The strike among the coal operatives inaugurated
In tho lower coal regions and prosecuted with such
success there-f closing all the coneries be proper
| standard for estimating success-has at length
reached this section. Present appearances indicate
that the strike will become as universal here as
elsewhere throughout the coal regions The torch
has been lit The innammabe material so susceptible
to the slightest touch of the torch is kindling into
broad blaze. People look on wonderingly, but
poweess to stay the progress OF the spreading con-
Migration.
The strike began yesterday. The operatives at the
Empire coliery, on the border Of the town. opened
the ball. Just before noon they laid down their
picks and shOvels, announced that they would work
no more except under the Eight Hour law formed
themselves In q double line outside the mine and
marched for the FRANKLIN mines. The miners here
speedily Joined Them and In the of the afternoon
some half dozen Others OF the smaller cOeries in the
neghborhood were closed. There was no opposition.
Uninterrupted victories followed their line OF
and the strikers rested from their abors. This morn
ing the line Of march was resumed They now come
out in large force-some two hundred altogether
and under more perfect organization The battle
had only begun; 1t had been all on one side there
might be opposition. They had prepared themselves
abundantly 1or TINS possible emergency-had equip
ped themselves with bludgeons and pistols II in
fused some military enthusiasm into the expedition
They copied the example of the strikers elsewhere
and marched forth 10 the music Of fife and drum and
with an American banner proudly flying to the
breeze. The workmen at the Wilkesbarre coal
and iron works, where more than two thousand
tons of coal shipped In day. were soon added to
their ranks as also the aborers at the old Baltimore
works, now worked by the Delaware and Hudson Com
pany. They marched to the Lehigh and Susquehanna
Railroad shop and stopped work there but not with
out some opposition which they very soon and etecu
ally terminated. One locomotive engine, which
elevated on some jack planes the wOrkmen requested
time to finish.
mo humbug fOOling with uS,n said the leader.
'DOwn with it, men 7"
To command was but to obey Quicker than can
write it the workmen jumped from the engine, the
strikers removed the jack screws and let the lOcOmO
tive down on the track. This accomplished and TAX
ing the machinists along with them the party made
their way to the colliery OF Messrs Parish Thomas
Sugar Patch closed this and as soon as the roure
OF march could be made accomplished the same
suit at the coery OF J. II. SwOgin and that Of the
wyoming Transportation Company. This was not
satisfactory. They stopped some men working on
the jail and then marched to the Gas C0mpany's
works
'Your men have got to stop work or else receive
full wages for eight hours" announced the spokes
'sCan't think Of having them stop" answered the
superintendent at won't do for the city to be with
out gas. Further, the men nave made no complaint
about wages; and still further don't this is
any business of anybody but my men, and they are
old enough and know enough to speak for them
selves"
Gwen let you know it is our business" retorted
the spokesman. "The thing must he decided here
and ROW. You must agree to pay your men their
present wages for eight hours work, or Wen stop
them"
al accede to your demand" said the superin-
tendent, "fOr the present. at least"
''Mind, you can't fool us: we shall watch you and
know whether you keep your promises. A second
visit here won't be pleasant your said the spokes
man, as a parting sautation, and away the party
went, heading for Dixons Manufacturing Company
Works. The coward.ce of the strikers and how
little positive and well supported opposition Is
needed to put them down was here most striklngy
SWorking on the ten hours system hereqn in
CURED the same aforesaid spokesman of the super
intendent.
ayes, sir" ne laconically answered.
otis got to be stopped"
"StOpped Why?"
'You must employ your men under the eight hour
''who says thatsn
"You'lI have good time doing it," spoke up the
superintendent; "my men are armed and there'll be
blood split If any one OF you raises his hand to inter-
The spokesman oueted down; his followers sub
sided into the peaceful auietude Of doves. Those
suSdnng eect Tey had seem enough OF the pSog
Manufacturing Company hands; they left for the
peaceful plains Of Pittston, nine miles down
here in TIE course or the afternoon. They
shut up all the colieries and al night returned to
town. The understanding now Is that tomorrow
they will make a demonstration on the colcres and
workshops in and about Scranton, and thus keep 1t
up till they have made clean sweep OF this whole
region.
Thus stands the battle as have described 1t,
though very one sided battle 1t is as write my
letter tonight AZ IL well known, from the very
commencement OF the strike In the other coal regions
there have been loud and persistent prophecies that
this region would not strike. The fact that dur
ing the strike here two years ago the miners
in the other sections would not join in it
was considered sufficient basis for these prophetic
declarations Such was the reasoning OF the coal
TO their souls: such was the deIusive phantom OF
hope they Rugged with unyelding pertinacity. As
the effect OF the strike elsewhere they oil looked for
a monopoly OF the coal trade Yesterday and to-
days operations have dispelled these dreams of
profit, and instead OF the quiet complacency that
they have shown for some time they are now
boiling over with displeasure and disgust. As
they will not do 1t, at least until advanced
prices IN coal warrant such steps Again
the strike here has put a new complexion on
the matter. From the strike becoming universal az
IL now promises to become, there IL every likelihood
OF the miners stubbOrny holding out which
they certainly would not have done much longer In
the other regions with the c0erIes here continuing
In full operation.
Halt and Preparations by the Strikers
for Further Advance.
wmKEsBARRE, July 20, 1858.
Either overcome with the extraordinary efforts OF
the past two days the long marching in the midsum-
axjc