Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-01-17
A FIGHT OF ENDURANCE
REPORTS OF MINERS WEAKENING
 FORCIBLY DENIED.

No More Effectual and Complete Lockout
 Ever Before Reported-The Outlook.
 Very Discouraging-Public Sympathy
 Favoring the Miners
 READING, Pa, Jan. 17.-There was aprar- ently but one weak spot in the coal regions yesterday, and that was at the big Mine Run colliery in Ashland. However, before night fall the miners in that locality were as firm as ever, and instead of holding meeting last night the entire subject was dropped, the men deciding to complete the total lockout of tho miners in the Schuyllxill coal region. All the weak points are reported firm and unshakea, and every claim made by the labor leaders here has been more than verified. Not one of the collieries that on Saturday expected to go into opera tion resumed work, and not car of hard coal has passed down the Reading lines since last Saturday. No more effectual and complete lockout was ever before reported, and those parties who were disposed to ridl- cule the claims of Lee and Lewis to-day are much deiected and believe that long and desperate struggle has fairly set in. The issue now, say the men, is the Reading Rail toad company against organized labor, just IS President Corbin defined it last week, and which tine miners and trainmen have unani- morlsly accepted by completing the lockout md strengthening every weak spot jn the re- zion. Reports that the miners are beginning to weaken are forcibly denied by the miners themselves.
 Yesterday afternoon word was again passed over the wires that General Manager Mcleod said the company expected to start some of it's own collieries ill a few days to mine fur lace coal. which is so greatly needed by the 'eading iron men ill Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The labor leaders simply smile and reply: Eff the individual collieries cannot tart owing to the disaffection, the company's collieTies most certainly cannot. If the com pany's employees would turn traitor while the individual miners remained loyal to us, that would be the worst treason on record. There is no danger of that. From every important point in the Schuylkill coal basin comes the report that everything has settled down for a iong and stubborn siege. The still hunt for miners has proven complete failure, because he few collieries whose engines were started his morning had no men to put out coal"
 The first disturbance of the strike was re- ported yesterday afternoon from Mahonoy lane, where number of idle men interfered with the extra coal and iron police on duty guarding the company's property. Foul epi- hets and insulting language were applied, lnd the police had considerable difficulty in making arrests Similar disturbances were eported down the road. The outlook is very liscouraging, and there are many who look or repetition of the scenes of the dark days ,f the long strike of 1875.
 Public sympathy seems to be turning ill avor of the men, but the company's friends :ontend that the officials cannot change theil policy now, as to surrender would be aSslln ng yoke which would be heavy burder indeed. The labor leaders say it would be nc 7oke, but simply recognition of organized abor by organized capital with arbitration. 0 govern all questions of difference.
 The supply of company coal is becoming hort as soft coal was used yesterday for the irst time on the engines ill the companys ervice on the Lebanon Valley and East Penn ylvania branches. The company's new en- sineers are making sad work along the line, ,s five burned out locomotives have beel brought to the shops here within the past few lays.
 The joint committee of the board of trade md city council, appointed to present a memorial to President Corbin, met here last light and formulated their address. It vii. oe transmitted to MT. Corbin tonight. Mayor Kenny, oho is president of the joint commit
 The executive committee of the railroad strikers held meeting at Wilkesbarre last aight, and decided to agitate the strike by holding public meetings all along the line ol the road