Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1893-11-23
HOW THE STRIKE GOES.
COMPANY AND EMPLOYEES ARE CON-
FIDENT OF WINNING.


Trouble Originated.
The strike inaugurated by the railroad
employees of the Lehigh Valley Com
pany on Saturday night still continues.
Freight and coal traffic on the main line
between Jersey City and Buffalo is at
standstill. Passenger trains which car
ry mails are yet running, but all are an
hour or more behind time.
On the Hazleton, Mahanoy and other
branch divisions, passenger trains are
running slowly, and the service is badly
crippled. All colleries depending on
the Lehigh Valley to move their coal
have suspended operations, as cars can
not be brought from or taken to points
along the main line.
The company and the men hold about
the same positions this morning as they
have since the strike started, and the
indications are that the trouble will be
lengthy and bitter. The company s claim
that everything is in good shape is not
borne out by the facts. Mails from
points on the main line were from
two to seven hours late yesterday, while
the men maintain an unbroken front and
gain new accessions to their ranks daily.
The points in this county where the
greatest interest is centered in the
strike are at White Haven and Wilkes
Barre. A dispatch from the county
seat yesterday states that upon request
of the company Sheriff Walters has
sworn in about fifty deputies, who are
quartered in and about the station, al
though striker has not been seen near
the railroad property this week. The
brotherhood men there are out to
man, but are keeping very quiet.
There are 110 engines on the Wyom-
ing division and out of that number
twenty-three are in service and manned
by non-union men. The company's Off
cials claim to be receiving applications
by the dozen for positions as engineers,
firemen and brakemen, and many of
these are by telegraph from the western
partsof the state and from New York
and Philadelphia. The applicants ask
for orders and say they will come on at
once.
The strikes saddest feature is the en-
forced idleness it brings upon the miners.
A conservative estimate of the men lying
idle on account of the colleries failing to
pa, ,,1a ha har q 00l -,
the Wyoming, 1000 in the Lehigh and
and 5000 in the Mahanoy regions.
About 1000 railroad men are on strike.
In the ultimatum sent out by Presi-
dent Wilbur on Tuesday, in which he
gave notice that all who did not report
for work by Wednesday noon would be
considered discharged, he also says:
1.-The engineers cannot, of course,
fairly represent the grievances of the
telegraphers, nor can firemen properly
represent telegraphers. The company
maintains the right to employ men upon
such terms as may be agreed upon, and
settle all complaints only with its en-
ployes, and to discharge for cause with
the right to appeal, but without reference
to the judgement or action of any organi-
zation."
The following from John Rice, of
Wilkes-Barre, chairman of the en-
gineers answers the president:
''No fireman eyer attempted to say to
President Wilbur or any other official of
the Lehigh Valley road what an en-
min chnnl1 ohnrlI do
telegraph operator ever tried to present
the needs of the brakemen, the conduc-
tors, the engineers or any one else but
the telegraph operators. The truth is
that the grievance committee of the Le-
high Valley road was always composed
of one gentleman from each department
and that man had full authority to re-
present the men in his department, and
TO make arrangements for that depart
ment.
eff Mr.. Wilbur will think while he
will remember that the men on this road
never sent committee to him as a re-
. preventative of any labor organization
or railroad organization. AS / have
said, the five men on the committee
represented five different departments
and they went to Mr.. Wilbur as ac-
credited representatives of the employees
If Mr.. Wilbur, who was not willing to
treat with them then, is willing now to
treat with them and to live up to what
he once agreed to and to sign the bulletin
to that effect, then that committee is will
ing to call on him tomorrow morning,
and III agree to have the road in run
ming order and in as good condition as
before the strike within two hours from
the time that he puts his name to the
paper"
The press committee of the men at
Wilkes-Barre have published the follow
ing statements: They say there are
many rumors that they are striking for
an unjust cause and they desire the pub
lie to guide its opinion by the following.
Below is the scale of wages paid on
the Central Railroad of New Jersey as
given by the committee:
Engineers so for 100 miles, and three cents
per mile for over 100 miles and extra time over
twelve hours.