The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-12

WILKESBARRE. Pa, Sept. 1.-THE
situation In the anthracite region took
another tack today. Ben James, mem
Der of the United Mine Workers execu-
tive board, on his way home from Indian
| apolis. came here with word that strike
would be ordered within forty eight hours,
and that President Mitchell would arrive
on Thursday to personally direct the
movement OF the union against the opera
tors. He sent word to the district presi-
dent to this effect, and they have been
notifying the men.
The announcement is not received with
the best of feeling for many OF the men
are disheartened at the failure of the ex-
ecutive board to effect the compromise it
promised in its report on Saturday night
Many of them have believed that the ne
gotiations, said to be pending, would re-
suit in an amicable settlement. but this
renewal of the strike talk leads them to
believe that no negotiations existed.
The operators again today declared that
they knew of-none. That there is some
hope of a peaceful settlement is evidenced
by the departure today of Father Phil
iippS, Oh ttdZittcn, he
says he hopes to bring influence to bear
on operators and union officials which will
even at this late day prevent strike, but
he refuses to say what il is or how he
hopes to get it,
A man who is close to some of the lead
ing officials said today that he had it on
excellent authority that no strike viii be
declared. that the leaders will back down
gradually, and perhaps rely largely on the
70 ~. t,r,~-
treasury Rs an excuse for not ordering
the strike. He says the leaders feel that
the unions weakness in the Schuylkill
region is too great to be overcome. The
men there have two of the chief things
the men in the remainder of the region
demand. powder at $3.50 a keg and the
abolition of the company stores. Without
the Schuylkill region the other regions
could not hope to succeed.
The operators say today that the fore
men of the mines report that many of
the men who at first favored a strike are
now opposed to it. and their numbers are
growing every day. They estimate that
il a strike was ordered for tomorrow or
Thursday net more than 5 per cent would
strike.
The union officials, on the other hand
say that while some of the men are i'm
patient owing to the delay, they have no
mate that so per cent will obey the order
and quit work when the leaders direct.
They say the men are taking into the
mine each day only enough powder for
the days work. and have their tools ready
to bring out at a moments notice.
An intereating line the feeling of
the soft coal men was given today by an
operator from Pittsburg who was en-
quiring into the situation here. He said
that the men here hoped. in the event OF
a strike, to get assistance from ths soft
coal men. but he was very much afraid
they would be disappointed.
The soft coal men," he said, ARE not
governed by sentiment. They remember
the time they were on strike. when the
anthracite men not only did not help
them, but sent coal into the soft coal re-
gion and did their best to take advantage
of the strike. The soft coal men will ra-
taliate by doing the same thing il he
anthracite men strike, and 1 firmly be-
lieye will not contribute one cent. One
of the soft coal miners said to me: Wen
bust up our union before we agree to send
any money to the anthracite region"