Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-08-30
STRIKE is ON
A. s. VAN WlCKLE & CO.'S EMPLOYEES
STOP WORK SUDDENLY.

Foreigners Are Everywhere Turning Upon
the Corporations Which Brought Them
Here-The Outcome Will lie Interestiug K
to the Engiish-Spealting Miners.
Thatportion of the population of the
coal fields which is usually designated
as the "foreign element" gave another
demonstration of its power last week by
closing every coliery and stripping
operated by A. S. VanWickle & Co.
On Wednesday of last week an incip-
lent strike was inaugurated by employees
of the Coleraine stripping. The success
of the employees of the Lehigh and
Wilkesbarrc Company had imbued
the Coleraine workers with a desire to
have their wrongs righted, and they
struck. A compromise was effected by
promising the disaifected employees an
early investigation of their grievances,
and on Thursday work was resumed.
The rank and file Of the workmen
were not satisfied with this. They de-
manded immediate redress of the wrongs
alleged to have been inflicted upon them.
Meetings were held by the Italians and
IIungarians on Thursday night. The
decision unanimously arrived at was to
strike. Those who failed to attond the
gathering were awakened from their
beds and warned
NOT TO GO TO WORK
on the morrow.
The threatened tie-up on Friday
morning took place precisely as agreed
the night before. Beginning at No. 2
colliery, Beaver Meadow, the strikers
marched to the stripping operated by
the company. All work ceased upon
their arrival. Those who were inclined
to continue at their positions were
quickly told to get in line and were
rudely hustled along with the mob.
Evans colllery, which is now part of the
VanWckle operations, was ordered to
suspend, and all employees promptly
obeyed. There are no labor organiza-
tions at the bottom of the strike, still
the orders were respected with military
precision.
Over 500 men and boys had now been
taken from their work Everything
was closed down as completely as though
the operators had discharged every en-
ploye. Only the liremen. and pumpmen
were allowed to remain at their posts,
even the engineers, blacksmiths, car
penters and mechanics being
ORDERED HOME BY TIE MEN
who SO suddenly resolved to stand up
for that which they consider is right.
Elated with success, the word passed
along that MlnesvilIe, another of Van
Wickles towns, would be visited.
Forming in line, 400 men began the six
mile march. They passed through Haz-
Teton in an orderly manner, but there
was look of determination on every man
which plainly showed the earnestness of
their doings. Many carried clubs,
pieces of iron and such mpromptu
weapons, and the general appearance of
the regiment was not that of holiday
crowd.
When the strikers reached Mllnesville
the strippings and breakers, shutting
down the mines completely. The eX-
citement was intense, but the object of
the march was accomplished without diff
iiculty. The bosses and coal and iron
police had gathered at different points
aud tried to talk to the marchers, but
they were passed by unnoticed by the
men in line. The
UPRISING WAS SURPRISE
to the coal companies throughout the
region. For some years past they have
been cOngratulating one another upon
the impossibility of labor disturbance
in the Lehigh region, foolishly imagin-
ing that the foreign element" would
submit to every injustice that their
bosses could devise.
The recent strike at Audenried and
Honey Brook gave the corporations an
inkling of the sort of warfare future
strikes will consist Of, and they now
know that they must deal hereafter
with the hot-headed leaders of the
| foreign races, and not, as in former years,
with reasoning men. The latter have
in some parts been driven out altogether,
and where they still remain they are
IN A HOPELESS MINORITY
and their voice in labor affairs is drown
| ed by the languages of southern Europe.
Thus the supplanting of the English
speaking miner by the ch cap labor
people is already reacting against the
men who brought them here-and appa-
rently the troubles of the coal barons