Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-09-20

Philadelphia, Sept. 18.-The greatest
strike of mine workers in the anthTa
cite coal fields Of Pennsylvania, which
represents practically the hard coal
output Of the world, began yesterday
According to President Mitchell OF tbs
United Mine Workers OF America, who
is personally directing the strike from
his headquarters at Hazelton, the sue
cess of the four days effort to tie ur
the mines exceeded the expectations 0.
the strike leaders. The hard coal re-
gion is divided into four great districts
the Lackawanna, Wyoming, LehigE
and Schuylkill regions. In the frs
two, representing nearly 10000 men
the tie-up is practically complete. Only
one mine, employing a few hundred
men, is being operated, and this tht
strikers say they hope to close soon
In the Lehigh region the situation is (
stand-off, about 5000 of the 1906
mine employees having quit work.
Principally because the union ha'
little strength in the SchuyIkil
region, the workmen there have no de
cided grievance, as in the other dis
tricts, and the strike is not genera
among the $4,000 men employed. In
dicatiOns, however, point to the closing
today of some mines in the last named
district that operated yesterday
Nearly all efforts Of the strike leaders
are being devoted to organizing thu
men in the weak SchuylkiII and LIE
high regions and last night their or
ganizers and orators were redoublinE
their efforts. No violence worth men
tioning has marred the first day of thu
struggle. Practically no progress ha
yet been made in the efforts of somt
of the clergy to bring about a settle
ment of the trouble through arbitra
ton.
Each Side Confident.
HazeIton, Sept. 18-The great strug
gle between the anthracite coal miners
Of Pennsylvania and their employers
began yesterday. Each side is cent?
dent of winning, and neither of thu
to yield. With the exception of a triv
ial incident at number colliery Of thu
Lehigh Coal company, where gang o
boys compelled a mule driver to seel
cover by throwing stones at him, thu
contest thus far has been entirely de
void of violence of any kind.
The exact number Of men who strucl
cannot at this time be told, as onl!
estimates Of the number Of men whC
did not start work were made yester
day. The reports received by tn,
United Mine Workers. officials from
the anthracite region were to then
most satisfactory. In this territory
known as district No. Z, there are l6,
lively estimated that fifty per cent
Obeyed the order of President Mitchell
to quit work. Three of the Markl'
mines, over which there has been 81
much contention, worked all day will
about 60 per cent. Of their men, Or
the west side every colliery started VI
yesterday minus it's union men, eXcep
at the Hazel mines, where the unio1
miners went to work in con
sequence Of misunderstood
ing About one hundred foreign
speaking miners left yesterday for New
York, where they will take a steame
for Europe. These men expect a Ions
strike and rather than remain idle her
preferred to go to their former homes
President Mitchell last night CAV
out the following statement: ''InfOr
nation received up to tonight indicate
that 10000 mine workers are on {
strike in the anthracite region o
this number 10000 are in district No.
10000 in district No. 9, 10000 in dis
trict No. 7. Reports received are t:
the effect that large numbers Of those
who went to the mines today will joiI
in the suspension tomorrow We fee
confident that the entire number o
men employed in and about the Goa
mines of the anthracite district will bt
idle in the next few days. The meI
appear determined to continue thu
strike until their demands for justice
are acceded to. The number of mer
now out on the strike exceeds that o
any other industrial contest in the his
tory of our country
President Nichols Of district No
arrived yesterday, and made a reporr
to President Mitchell to the effect tina
the entire Wyoming and Lackawannl
districts are tied up completely, will
the exception OF one small corporation
employing 250 men Public meetings
were held last night at Jeddo, Har
wodd, McAdoo and West HazeltOn
President Mitchell addressed the two
latter.
Hazelton District Tied Up.
Hazelton, Sept 1S.-The great an
thracite strike was begun yesterday
throughout the entire hard coal region
Of Pennsylvania. The launching OF
the strike in this district was attended
by varying success. With the eXcep-
ton Of Coxe's coIIiery at Beaver Mead
ow the entire territory known as the
South Side, which includes about
twelve mining towns, is completely
tied up. This territory is strongly or
ganized, which accounts for the gen
Of