Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26
TENTING ON THE FIELD.
The Importation of Italians Hasn't
Changed the Situation.
TROUBLE EXPECTED TOMORROW.
Grand Army Men Threaten 10 Take Up
Arms if the Ged Flag Floats.
STRIKERS DRILL WITH WOODEN GUNS
rrRoN A sTAFT CORRESPONDENT.

NONNELLS lLLEs ApIll -O-4uc ldst
SIX held by the operators above the heads
of the strikers has fallen and yet the men
stand firm in their fight for their orgGniza-
tion. Evictions are always the last power
welded by the coke operators to force their
old men to 60 to work, and for the past week
strikers by the dozens have been thrown
from their homes. Now that the men re-
fuse to go to work, but live in tents instead,
the battle narrows down to a siege and each
party is watching tor the other to be starved
out.
During the week very few of the men
have gone to work rather than be thrown
on the world" and the increases made in
the working forces at the different plants
have been made by shipping in Italians. 1t
would require nearly 10000 more of them to
man the works as usual, and even then the
labor leaders claim that only about one
third the work could be done, as it requires
three Of the men brought in to equal one ex-
perienced coke drawer. The strikers assert
their confidence, and saw that the strike will
continue, Notwithstanding the fact that
Italians are found to take their places.
It's Still Drawn Battle.
While there has been a very considerable
increase at the majority of the works, the
situation is really no different from what it
was week ago. 1t would be impossible for
the operators to ship in enough of the ine1-
perenced Italians to run their works, and
they must soon begin to draw their REIN
forcenents entirely from the ranks of the
strikers. Unless the money comes in pretty
freely they will soon he able TO do SO, as the
longer the strike lasts the more men there
will be who have spent all their savings and
are ready to cry for quarter.
As the miners Of the region made good
wages last year their fight is made all the
stronger. To-day 1 met man who worked
all last year but five weeks, when he was
sick, and earned $500. He was employed at
driving headings When asked his opinion
Of the scale offered by the operators, the
miner said: sit is the most liberal ever
given, and there has never been time when
81 was the minimum price of digging 100
bushels of coal. OF course some of the un-
skilled laborers would be reduced, but they
are usually greenies who are just learning.
However, the operators want to break up
our organization, and that is wrong. I
would be satisfied with the pay if the organi-
z1tion would be allowed to stand, but will
not go to work unless it is. 1 Will simply
stav at home Snd mind my own business
and wait for the strike to DE settled -
Will Stand by His Organization.
This man is one OF the most conservative
and il would iniure HIM with the strikers il
they were TO know he made the above state
meut. He has received quit notice and
his goods are already packed up waiting for
the Sheriff's order to move. He saws if
others were TO follow his example there
would be no trouble, and he is about correct.
Are the operators willing to treat with
the men provided the leaders are ditched?'
was asked of Manager John Bremen, of the
Mcclure Company.
NO, sir, >" he replied, "our every move
and word would indicate that there was no
such intention on our part. The operators
are more determined than ever to win this
fight, and we are bound to do it. The
stories about weakening are all bosh, and
well show them that there's no such word
on our side"
At Painter the increase of the week has
been about 59 men, and more are expected
Monday. EYlctions will begin there Tues
day. Some Of the men have moved.
Manager Thomas Lynch, of the FrIck
Company, expressed himself as very we'll
satisfied with the weeks work and reports
increases all around. He saws there was an
increase OF about 40 at Leisenrng No.
Yesterday, and that the total number is 172
About one-third Of the increase are old em-
ployes. Kyle had about the same as yes
terdsy and Adelaide had small increase.
H., l.
shipped,
Nearly Half the Plants Running. 4
The Frick Company now reports ten of !
iheir plants running we'll, and three have
just started with small forces KYLE made
a start with % men without the scale hav-
ing been posted. The company has % |
plants, but at of them the scale was never |
posted. The scale was posted at Standard, |
but'nOn of the men seem inclined to 60 to |
work. Manager Lynch SAYS that six men |
want to start the Valley Works, but he don't |
think the number large enough.
At Morewood there was an increase of |
about half a dozen reported Yesterday. |
Nearly all the works In the region make |
similar reports. Michael Barrett the labor !
J, ader, says that he has kept account OF the |
increases expected at Morewood from time |
to time, and if all the men had gone to work |
there would have been three times as man, |
as is necessary TO run the plant
An Ofier of Three Dollars
The same man is authority for the state
nent that Manager Bremen offered man |
B per day il he would 60 to work. The !
nan said be would if given a contract for
three years, but the manager only wanted
him for week at that price. 1t is claimed |
by the strikers that Manager Bremen DIS
charged two store clerks because they would
not draw coke.
At labor headquarters the claim is made
that there has been no increase because as
rapidly as the Italians are shipped in some
Of the other men quit. There is no doubt
that some of the old men have quit work /
during the week, but not as many OF them
rs the strikers claim.
A trip from Scottdale to Adelaide by way
of Dawson at night shows large number of
ovens burning, and many more than the
strikers care to admit However, this is the
part OF the region in which several of
Ralney's works are located and they are
-unning at the woskingmen's figures.
FRANK a. PARKER.