The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-15

pany created little excitement by rid
ing through the town and the surround
ing villages and proclainaing the strike.
The Exeter colliery of the Lehfgh Valley
company, which was idle yesterday was
closed today. No attempt was made to
resume. At noon today some of the
miners removed their tools from the
mines. BY tonight nearly all the miners
will have their tools out. It seems ap-
parent there will be a general suspension
in the Wyoming Valley on Monday.
GUESSING ON THE STRIKE.
Philadelphia, Sept. ia special from
information obtainable, it is probable
that about go per cent. of the 141. 900
miners employed in the anthracite coal
fields will lay down their tools tonight
Possibly the miners may develop
greater strength than this but there are
conservative judges who predict that
the strike will not attain to such form
liable figures.
Should the number of defections fall
under so per cent. the men will un-
doubtedly be disheartened. If so per
cent. go on strike there will be a fight
ing chance for both miners and operat-
vantage. If the workers display a
strength approximating so per cent,
they will have reason to be jubilant, and
may secure a speedy victory.
But the indications would seem to
point to a failure to get out expected
numbers, especially in this district, and
to collisions between the union and non
union elements as a consequence.
DEMAND CHEAPER POWDER.
Hazelton, Pa, Sept. 15-A commit
tee representing the miners employed
at the Cranberry colliery Of A. Pardee
& Co. held a conference today with A.
Pardee, at which they presented a num-
ber of grievances directly affecting
that the price of powder be reduced.
The committee was told that if re-
ductiOn was granted on powder the
price paid for certain kinds of work
would be cut down proportionately. The
conference was unproductive of direct
result and another meeting will be ar
ranged for. The men, following the re-
fusal of the company to make a con-
cession on powder, are now divided on
the strike question
A prominent factor in the situation is
the foreign element. If the Hungarians,
Poles and Italians quit work it is GER
tain that there will be a. tie-up despite
the stand taken by the English speaking
miners.
The first important conference of
strike leaders was held at mine work.
ers' headquarters today. Benjamin
James, Organizers Courtright and
Dempsey and President Duffy of dis
trict were present. At the conclusion
of the conference, which took place be-
hind closed doors, Mr. James said:
s-On the basis of the numerous reliable
reports received by me from all parts
of the Hazelton region, l assert that
there will be a complete tie-up on Mon
day. Various statements have been
given out by. the operators for the pur-
pose of deceiving the men, but you can
state positively that all hands will go
OUT
DETECTIVES POURING IN.
Hazelton, Pa, Sept. 15--Several of the
collieries in this region were running
short handed today. President Mitchell
is expected to reach here tonight and as
soon as he arrives he will take personal
charge of the strike. He will be accom-
panied by a portion of his official staff.
The men employed at the Colerain and
Beaver Meadow collieries of the A s.
Wyckle company will hold a meeting to-
night to decide whether to strike. The
men were warned this week by ]. Par
dee executor of the estate controlling
the mines, that if they were SO disposed
they could go out on Monday morning,
but that collierieS would be abandoned
as soon as the strike was settled. What
effect this will have remains to be seen.
The local mine workers leaders are
busily preparing for the Inauguration of
the strike. A meeting will be held in
this city tonight and in F'reeland. To-
morrow another open air mass meeting
is booked for Freeland at which Mitchell
and P. j. Mcguire of the Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners will speak
Detectives are said to be arriving on
every train.
The decision of the men employed by
G. B. Markle & Co. not to strike until
the expiration OF the Ten Gays WHICH
the company has been allowed for max
ing an answer to their demands, which
they submitted last night, means that
the Jeddo and Oakdale collieries, en-
ploying about 1900 hands will be op-
Grated Monday morning despite the
strike order. The Oakdale colliery of
the same company will probably be
closed down because the mine workers
union is strong in that town and only a
few miners from that place were present
at last nights meeting. Tt appears from
this that the strike can not be made
general throughout the Hazelton dis
trict but Benjamin James, who is in
charge of the mine workers headquar-
ters and in close touch with the menu
bers of the organization in every mining
hamlet within radius of fifteen miles,
declares that there are many union men
at both Jeddo and Oakdale, among them
the foreign element and they are de-
termined to quit.
Scranton, Pa, Sept. 15.-The position
of the miners was today further
strengthened in the Lackawanna region
by the going out of the miners and
laborers at half a dozen other collieries,
principally Delaware and Hudson at
Vandling, as well as the Clifford and
Forrest City collieries of the Hillsdale
Coal and Iron company at Forrest City
The day will close with as near COM
plete shutdown in the entire Lacka-
wanna Valley as can be imagined, for it
is almost certain that not a colliery in
the section can withstand the apparent
determination of the Mine Workers to
maintain their demands by a strike At
the headquarters of District No. today
Fred Dilcher the national committee
man in charge had reports from the
local unions, the men everywhere decid-
ing, according to reports, that where
work was not already suspended, it
would be today
In recent years many coal washers
have been erected hereabouts and they
are hauling thousands of tons of cUlm
daily at a trifling expenditure for
labor none of them employing more
than 80 men and boys These all will be
closed, too, shutting off a. large tonnage
of fuel that has been going to the east