The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-03
THE READING COAL-MINERS
Chairman Lee Says that All the Com
pany's Mines Will be Idle To-Day,
sibly Made Another Mistake-Railway
Traffic Moving Without Interruption.

PoTTsvILLE. Pa, Jan. AT 10 o'clock to-
night Chairman Lee said the strike was on and
not a company colery would be working to-
morrow. "A few Individuals said he ..have
offered to give the advance, but they dare
not ship by the Reading or Lehigh roads This
only leaves them the Pennsylvania with which
line, however, scarcely any have connection.
leave at noon tomorrow for Scranton to have a
conference with Powderly by special arrange
ment. A ass-meeting of 1900 miners at
Mount Carmel, to-day. decided not to mine a
pound of coal unless we get the advance, and
further, no shipments, in any event. on scab
railroads. The railroad and mine interests are
now one, and we are solid a rock"
READING, Pa, Jan president Anthony
Talley. of the Miners and Laborers' Amalga-
mated Association, was interviewed to-day at his
home in Ashland. respecting the miners strike.
He expressed himself as being heartily opposed
to a strike. He didn't think the miners or the
co mpanes could afford it, He desired the par
ties to come together and settle their differences
by arbitration. If Chairman John Lee is to be
believed. President Talley's ideas are not to be
foil owed out by the miners Chairman Lee has
been addressing large bodies of coal-workers,
and he says they are bent striking and moth
ing can prevent over $4,000 men from going out
tomorrow. The amalgamated association has
issued no statement from this city.
Coal and freight traffic. while in full opera
ton on the Reading railroad, is not brisk
1t was before the present labor troubles. 1t is
apparent that the men are not able to
move trains as rapidly as the old ones The
majority of the coal mines are idle, and this.
too. has its effect the traffic For the TWEEN
ty-four hours ending with midnight, 40 coal
trains, made up of 8. 172 loaded coal cars passed
down the road and 3S trains, composed of 3073
empty coal cars, came up from Port Richmond.
Usually the total number of coal cars. loaded
and empty. passing through this city on Sun
day is from 10000 to $4,000. Yesterday 16
0ivt,%4 va;- 49,
This is also a decrease froEn the daily shipments
a month ago. There is now fear by the bust
ness community that the shop-han in this
city will strike. 1t is assured fact that they
will not do So In evidence of this appreci-
alton of the conduct OF the men here, and
as further measure of Cancellation, q circular
was issued by Superintendent Cable and djstrb
uted among ali tbs employees here, thanking them
in the name of the company for their loyalty
and faithfulness in standing by the company
and promising that their good conduct should
not be forgotten. The men in this city, while
not taking any official action at their assem- oily
nesting, generally speak in denunciation of
Sharkey Lee, and other leaders wbo they say.
having now been discharged by the company.
try to foment trouble and lead old and faithful
employees, who have gri evances, to strike.
Advlces from north of Reading to-day say that
at Gordon Plane full complement of hands
is at work. The Plane was kept in opera ton all
OF Sunday. and large quantity of freight and
coal was hosted. Superintendent Lawler, of
Shamokin. reports to Superintendent Gable to-
day that he is well supplied with men, and really
has more than he requires to handle the trade.
At Mahanoy Plane the strike is
serious, but with the coleries all
idle the officials have not experienced much
trouble in handling its business. At all other
points on the Shamokiu division everything
reported quiet this morning. Police have been
stationed at all points where trouble is likely to
occur About 800 special officers have been dis
tributed from this city along the main line.
From now Superintendent Gable anticipates
lighter coal shipments, because all the coal cars
which have blocked the sdngs have been moved,
and the many idle coleries will cause great
falling off in the coal trade. All iron industries
at this vicinity are preparing to shut down if
coal strike takes place. There is not enough
coal On hand in this city to supply private
sumers more than several weeks and PRICES are
going up
PHILADELPHIA JAN 2-Thers is no material
change apparent in the Reading railroad strikes
here to-day. The Knights of Labor who left
the company's employ still in state of
mastery inactivity, while the companys officials
say they experience no difficulty in securing all
the men needed for the proper handling of the
business. The day being holiday. the quiet
ness prevailing at the several shipping points
here is attributed to that fact, but the Knights
claim that a great number of their fraternity
have retired from the service of the company
and that the effect will be shown tomorrow,
when the company's shipping business will be
resumed.
The Record has an interview with Mr.. Kelly,
in which that gentleman says: "We have posi-
tive assurance that not only will all the train
hands of the company refuse to work to morrow
Tuesday morning, but all Knights
OF Labor will refuse to accept
work under the company, and they will
their best endeavors to help in this fight,
which is to finish. We heard to-day from re-
liable authority that ten men, whom Superin-
tendent Bonzano had furnished with passes for
Ashland. where they were to report for work.
had refused to go. The company has been en-
ploying men whom it discharged six months ago
for color blindness"
The following was ordered posted in conspicu-
Gus places this afternoon:
1t is reported that some of men who refused to
obey the order to strike have been threatened with
personal injury. ask, special favor to the
pany. that prompt information in every be sent
to the general superintendent. and every offender
shall be promptly prosecuted at the expense of the
company. Any furnishing information of this
character shall be fully protected in every way and
at any expense A. A. MCLEOD,
General Manager.
Captain Quick still has force of sixty police
men on duty at Trenton avenue Junction
There has been but disturbance reported
thus far. and this was for stoning the crews of
the non-union engines The individuals were
given hearing and discharged with a repri-
mand.