New-York tribune., 1900-09-18
BIGGEST STRIKE on RECORD.
PRESIDENT MITCHELL ESTIMATES THAT
112oO0 MEN ARE OUT

PRESIDENT MITCHELL ESTIMATES THAT
u2oOo MEN ARE OFT
HazIeton. Penn. sept 1.-THE great struggle
between the anthracite coal miners Of Pennsyi-
vauia and their nployers was begun to-day Each
side is confident of winning and neither of the con
tending forces shows any disposition 20 yield With
the exception of trivial incident az No cotlisrT
OF the Lehigh Coal Company, where "a gang ot BOYS
compelled a mule driver 70 seek cover oy throwing
stones at him the contest thus far has been en-
ti-eIy devoid oc violence Of any kind The exact
number OF men who struck cannot ~ this time ne
told. only estimates Of the number ol men "no
did not start work were mad@ to-day. Reports re-
cefvad bv the United Mine Workers officials from
the entire anthracite region were 70 them most
satisfactory. In this territory known as District
No : -here are 1900 men employed In and aE7u-
the mines OF this number IL is conservtt-ey et-
mated that about 80 per cent. or 500 miners.
obavad rhe orders Of President Mitchell 70 quit
work Five thousand OF these belong Jo collerieS
which did not work at all. and the remaining S'to
n mines which worked short handed The district
south OF this place. known as the South Side was
-35 mn cor7ulateIv with the exception Of Coeraine
Beaver Meadow and CarsOns washerieS- Tn this
-arrf+orv the United Mine Workers are very strong
on the North Side the Upper Lehigh. Nil1esville-
Ebervale and Drifton No l cOlljeria:'. employing
about I5G0 men. are shut down, the rn-ss A. Latt
rner and Pond Creek, employing 200 men, are work
ing full but every other mine in that big territory
IS working with badly crippled forces Three OF the
contention worked all dsy with about 81 per cenr
Of their men on the West Side eve-y colliery
started up to-day minus its union men except ar
the Hazleton mines. where the union miners went
TO work in consequence OF a misunderstanding.
EIazIeton to-day presented animated appear
sooA Strikers from all the surrounding mining
towns came here early in the day and gathered in
eroups on the street corners and discussed the sit
uation II most orderly crowd Around
strike headquarters at the Valley Hotel there was
49, all r7-r- z2z--
Mitchell who arrived from the West last night.
was kept busy all day and evening receiving re-
ports from every section OF the region Messengers
bringing information TO him from nearby points
kept coming regularly
Mr.. Mitchell decided ar important point today in
the matter OF arbitration IL win be remembered
that last week the miners employed by g. 2.
AIarkle & Co decided not 20 strike until the firm
had passed upon a set OF their own grievance.
which differ somewhat from those OF the United
Mine Workers The firm has agreement with i-s
men that If any differences fail OF adjustment then
the grievances shall be arbitrated- John MarkIe,
Of the Arm. yesterday agreed have Archbishop
Ryan OF Philadelphia, aror-aue the differences II
the rned!ato-s already decided upon BY the firm
and the men cannot come TO a satisfactory agree
ment- Mr. AIarkIe gave out an interview to news
paper reporters TO this effect and suggested the
reporters that they 20 what President Mitchell
would have say to the proposition. Mr. 8IarkIe
not caring 20 be put on record as recognizing the
union. This was done. and after due delberation
Mr.. Mitchell replied:
regard this as q rather unusual way OF convey
that We intend 70 ask the men employed by Mr
4Larkle 70 cease work We intend TO use all law
strike is probably different from any other strike
in the anthracite region before. If the miners
employed BY one big company in the anthracite
region fail they all fail They may prove success
fuI in some companies Tor a brief time but the
OF wages n the entire anthracite region Wi.
and fail at another the low wages must be brought
up 10 meet the high OF the higher must come
3 Go% - ~ 5-6n9ss 20 5 accept or refSS- for c-
organization any propositon Lor a se'tlernenI LlaL
other person 20 whom they viii give authority 10
act as their representative
Father Phillips who suggested the idea OF hav-
ing Archbishop Ryan brought n as arbitrator on
behalf OF the men. would not talk Of the decision
OF President Mitchell. but IN speaking on the sub
ject of an early settlement OF the strike he said
There can hardly be anything done FOR a few
days and it IS probable that the nature OF the
Archbishop efforts may depend upon the contin-
closely and keep him informed Of every opportu-
10 make this strike of brief duration That is
about an tnan can be accomplished or even at
TaTonra5 now that the conflict has begun uni
overrures COR arbitration should De made TO him.
sides agreeing TO il. II is too early 70 look for
basis or nesolt!I7YOi.s CI me
tending forces W. pIooaLI5 L5S1 e.~G = ol..5L -5S
war Il is vet hoped that 10 VIII be peace
r- * NOT Unlikely that Father Phillips VIII 90 20
Philadelphia TO see Archbishop Ryan this week for
the purpose OF getting the latters views on the
matter OF attempting settlement, and also
plain the situation fully 10 His Eminence.
President Mitchell tonight gave out the follow
ing statement;
information received UP this time Indicates thar
H. 600 mine workers are strike IN The anthracite
region or this number T2.0g0 are IN District No /;
5000 in District No and l0ooo IN District No Z
Feports received 10 the effect that large num-
hers OF those who went 10 the mines to-day VIII
ioin the suspension tomorrow.
We feel confident that the entire number or men
employed in and about the coal mines OF tne an
thracfre district viii De Idle in the next few days
The men appear determined 70 continue on strike
until their demands for justice have been &C
ceded
The number OF men now out on strike exceeds
thar OF any other Industrial contest n me history
OF country JOHN MITCHELL
President United Mine Workers OF America
President Nichols OF District No. I arrived here
to-day and made report President Mitchell 70
Continued on fourth page.