Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-09-20
THE BIG STRIKE NOW ON
Men of the Anthracite Region Sus-
,aaz ,aza.ss1> pend Operations.
A QUIET SUNDAY IN MINE REGION
The First Conflict of the Strike Pre-
cipitated by Boys, Who Attacked
Two Men Who Had Declared Their
Determination to Remain at Work.

Hazleton, Sept 17-With the excep-
tion of President Mitchell's arrival
there was little evidence shown here
yesterday that HaZleton was the storm
center of the present coal war between
labor and capital. Nothing occurred
TO disturb the serenity of the Sabbath.
Quite a large number of miners came
to town, but soon left when they found
there was no news floating around.
With the exception of the engineers,
firemen, pump runners and repairmen
no one was around any of the mines
in this vicinity Public meetings OF
miners were held during the day at
Harley, Ebervale and Freeland, on the
north side, Shepton and Harwood on
the west side and at Coleraine, south
of here. The largest gathering was
that at Freeland, II miles north, where
the union men are not so strong as the
organizers would like to have them.
This meeting was held in the open air
and was addressed by National Com
mitteeman Benjamin James and a
number of other labor leaders well
known in these regions. There were
1000 persons in the crowd. When Mr.
James asked all those to raise their
hands who were against a strike, not
an arm went up. All the meetings
were held for the purpose of encourag-
ing the uen to stand firm in the pres
ent conflict and also to strengthen the
union by recruiting new members.
The foreign speaking miners are in
the majority in the Hazleton district,
and most of them are in favor of a
strike The English speaking work
men who are in favor of striking are
not so numerous. 1t seems to those
who are in close touch with the sit
uation that all depends on the for
eigners. The territory south of Halle
ton is we'll organized and there is
some apprehension here that disturb
ances might occur among the foreign
ers in that locality. Some of them
have made threats of bodily harm
against any one who attempts to work.
The United Mine Workers officials
are doing their best to prevent any out
breaks. Mr. James authorized denial
Of story telegraphed from here that
the Italians at Bunker Hill, seven miles
south of here, are manufacturing
bomb balls" for use in case trouble
with the police should arise. He also
denied intent to agitate a sympathetic
strike in the bituminous field. Mr..
James said no steps will be taken in
that direction unless the bituminous
fuel is sent into the hard coal regions.
In that event President Mitchell would
call out the soft coal miners within
As hours.
Contrary to expectations only three
or four clergymen in the Lehigh Val
ley preached on the labor troubles and
only one, the Rev. Carl Houser, took
a decided stand against the strike. He
is the preacher of three Lithuanian
churches, one at Eckley, another at
Harwood and the third at Freeland.
A last desperate attempt is being
made to bring about peace between
the coal operators and their men.
Father Phillips, who has worked hard
for a settlement of the differences be-
tween the employees and the mine
workers, has again entered the field
with the proposition that Archbishop
Ryan, of Philadelphia, be accepted as
arbitrator. John Markle, managing
partner of G. b. Markle & Co., is ia
vorable to the proposition, and de-
clares 1t is now "up to the miners"
Father Phillips says that If all the
other operators followed this example
and submitted their case to arbitration
the whole trouble would be settled this
week, or maybe within three days.