The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-25
COAL MINERS STRIKE
NO FURTHER CLASH BETWEEN STRIK-
ERS AND OFFICERS
A DESIRE To RETURN To WORK
Manifested by the English Speak Strik-
ers-The Foreigners Holding Out for
Extremes - The Presence of State
Open the Mines Prevents Further
Disturbance-Statem From Pres
ident Mitchell and Father Philips

Philadelphia, September 22-At the
end of the first week of the strike in
the anthracite coal fields of Pennsyl-
vania there are not wanting signs Of
a desire on the part of some of the
strikers to return to their work Thi.
sentiment is generally confined, so far
as reported, to the English speaking,
element among the mine workers. Ex-
perience has shown that these men are
the most conservative, the foreigners
being impulsIve and hot tempered in
strike times
Notwithstanding the outbreak neces-
stating the sending OF troops to
Schuylkill county, everything is quie.
in the coal region tonight There is a
feeling that efforts will be made in all
districts to start up mines that are idle.
The persistence of corporations and in
dIVldual mine owners in asserting that
they Will consider grievances of their
employees individually, but will never
under any circumstances treat with
the United Mine Workers mas undoubt-
edly had its effect and it would not be
surprising If many mines that have
been tied up since the strike began will
resume operations, at least partially,
the beginning of the next week
ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM
PRESIDENT MITCHELL.
Hazleton, Pa, Sepembter 22.-Presi-
dent Mitchell, of the United Mine Work
ers of America, tonight issued a state
ment giving his views on the calling
out of troops at Shenandoah and the
killing of member of a mob by depu-
ties at Shenandoah yesterday. The
statement is as follows:
From information 1 have received
from those who have investigated the
situation it appears that the shooting
on the part of the sheriff and his depu-
ties was entirely uncalled for, inasmuch
as the strikers had not injured a sim
gle member of the sheriff's posse: and
the circumstance forcibly illustrates
the ruthless disregard the sheriff and
his deputies have for the lives of per-
sons whom it was their plain duty to
place under arrest if they had violated
any of the laws of the state of Penn
SylVanla- The governor in calling out
the state troops, has, in my judgment
acted incOnsiStently and without a
| thorough investigation. / am confident
| that the miners who are on strike are
| fully impressed with the necessity of
observing the law and conducting them
selves in a peaceful manner at all
| times
Father Phillips. of St. Gabriels Cath
Ollie church, who has worked diligently
| for arbitration as a means of settling
| the strike. tonight issued a statement
| in which he comes out fatty on the
| side of the strikers. In his statement
| he says:
IF the executive officials G the big
| coal carrying companies have been cor
| rectly quoted by today's papers arbi-
| tratiOn is no longer a means to the end
! desired by the general public, namely,
| a discontinuance of the conflict be-
| tween labor and capital. There is now
no alternative but a fight to the finish
between organized labor and organized
| capital. Honest efforts for peace have
| been throttled and since reason and
| justice and mercy will not be heard.
| the operator must either arrogate to
| himself the title of coal king and sway
| his sceptre over unwilling subjects or
| the miners must meet the issue by re-
| newed efforts to deplete the markets
| by the complete prevention of produc-
| ton"
| Shenandoah, Pa, September 22.-With
| the arrival of the militia here today
| this borough assumed it's normal con-
| ditiOn and the anticipated resumption
| of violence on the part of the miners
| did not occur. 1t might have been the
| presence of the soldiers that restrain
the residents believe the lack of riotous
| seer es was due to the fact that all the
coll aries here were closed.
| F2artng that an attempt to work the
| mil today would result in possible
bic ished, Sheriff Toole last night re-
ope ationS until after the troops had
arr we'd. The only colliery which at
tempted to work was the William
Penn, operated by the Susquehanna
Coal Company. The employees were
however, intercepted on their way tc
the mine by strikers, who succeeded
in persuading them to return to theiI
homes.
The first detachment of troops arrived
here shortly before O'Clock this morn.
ing. 1t consisted of the Schuylkil
county companies of the Fourth anG
Eighth regiments.
General Goblin established headquar.
tiers in the Hotel Ferguson until he car
find a suitable place in the field. The
arrival of the troops occasioned much
excitement among the residents, anG
especially the strikers, who thronget
the vicinity of the railroad station from
early in the morning until late in tht
day. They were Sullen and vented NUT
| tered threats. but made no attempt a
violence Aside from the incursion o.
the militia, the most important occur
renee today was a meeting OF the En-
glish speaking mine workers of thi!
vincinity Among the speakers were
Organizers J. F. Purcell and Georg'
Harris, of the United Mine Workers
and Paul Pauleski. Lithuanian Ia
Dor leader of this place
| The meeting. which was secret, Il
said to have been dominated by th'
foreign employees. The English speak
ing men favored returning to work OF
Monday, but the foreigners voted then
down and adopted a resolution to re
main on strike. The English speaking
employees declare that they will go t
the mines on Monday, and serious con
| sequences may result
This was pay day at the William
Penn colliery and a number of armed
deputies were brought form Mahano,
City. and placed on guard around tn,