The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-11-22
THE LEHICH STRIKE.
The Freight Blockade on the Road
Still Continues.
PASSENGER SERVICE AFFECTED.

The Hen on the Rochester Branch Of the
Road Obey the order to Quit Work.
Fears That the Strike VIII Extond to
Other Roads.
wfLKEsBARRH, Pa, Nov. 22.--In the
great railroad strike both sides are lying
on their arms. At Q o'clock last evening
two branch engineers reported for work
on the main line. This is first blood for
the company. The strikers fear the branch
men because they know the road. Pres-
dent Wilbur in an interview expressed
no serious apprenslons concerning the
future and felt sure that the affairs Of the
road would be speedily settled. He inti-
mated, and the dispatches received by him
seemed to prove it, that there were plenty
of applicants for situations from engi-
neers down. Mr.. Wilbur said that he be
lieved 1t would not be much trouble TO fill
the places of all the strikers within a
week.
Iu response to the order Of President
Wilbur that all men not reporting for
duty at 10 o'clock yesterday would ,con-
Gdered as having left the company's en-
ploy Superintendent Esser showed three
kilograms favorable to the company.
Tho press committee gave out the fol.
ing bulletin: 1.-THE Lehigh Valley railroad
ts tied up tighteE and more firmly than it
has been at any time since the strike was
tnaugurated. The company is running
only mail trains, no freight or coal having
been moved"
President Wilbur, being interviewed on
his arrival said:
II am willing to meet any employe. Any
enc of them will get a hearing IL they
come to me. will receive them cordially,
and will do my best to adjust their griev.
ances"
"I,ut they must come as employees. and
mot as Brotherhood men, suppose said
che reporter.
"That's precisely the condition." re-
plsd Mr.. Wilbur. "Our road is not de-
nominational or sectarian, and we would
not permit preacher, should he attempt
Il, to dictate to US a policy toward our
smployes who might be members of his
shurch any more than we would a com
mtttee representing them. We are not
Ar sagonistic to labor organizations, and
neyor have been; nor have we questioned
the right of our employees to become mem
bers of such organizations should they
desire"
Colonel Kock, commander of the Ninth
regiment, National Guard, is u very nerv-
II his regiment is called out he knows
what the result will be. II is safe 10 say
that nine out of every ten men in the
regiment sympathize with the strikers
In fact the whole regiment is made up OF
men who toll in the mines or railroads
III don't see," said Kock, "how we car
protect the company's property il trouble
eomes There are 10000 men within q
radius of eight miles OF WilIesbarre, nnd
srery one of them is in sympathy with the
strikers How can u single regiment com
pste with such an army
The strikes saddest feature, perhaps, Il
Che enforced idleness 1t brings upon thu
miners. Eighteen thousand men are idl'
In the Wyoming region alone. How lOnt
shey will be idle cannot be told, but they
Ssrtainly cannot resume until they ge
ampty cars. The mines in the llazletor
And Mahoney divisions, if they becomt
fdls, as they must in n day or two, unles
eoal trains are moving freely, will max
Che list of idle collleries number seventy
nye, and 10000 men will be out of work
II the idleness continues week the singh
item of loss in wages will be nearl.
$4,000, o say nothing Of the loss TO th
sompany, TO merchants and TO genera
business interests.
The strikers refuse TO admit they ar
losing ground. The company officials sa.
ehey are and point to the fact that thei
passenger trains are making better time
A Brotherhood engineer said this morn
Ing: This is the fight of our lives, II tn
'Corst comes to the worst you will fin
Shat there will be u general tie up on ever
railf6Aasxh here Brotherhood engineers ar
employed. We must win now or never. p"