The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-11
THE COAL REGION QUIET
Anthracite Miners Report for Work
at the Galleries.
The Strike Spirit Weakened by the
Men Now State That They VIII Alb
solutely Refuse to Go Out-Con-
servative Action Now CounseIed

WILKESBARRE, Pa, Sept. 10.-The
operators today reported that all the
miners througtou the region worked to-
day, and that there was no trouble at any
Of the mines. Some five thousand @ho on
Saturday took out their tools in antici-
patton of strike this morning carried
them back to the mines. The companies
had quickly followed this action of the
men by saying any man whose tools were
out of the mine today would be consid-
cred discharged and this, together with
the order of the union leaders for the men
to continue at work until the strike is
called, prevented any pretence of strike
today.
The situation now is very satisfactory
to the operators. They had expected to-
day to have many of their collieries shut
down, and they find them all working, and
what is still better. very decided change
of feeling among the miners. There are
many of them who now say that they will
not go out even II strike does come.
Work is steady. they declare. and they
cannot afford to miss it for chance of
gaining some concessions by a strike.
Some of the miners leaders here are fol-
lowing the lead of President Mitchell, who
says he cannot tell what the influences are
by which he hopes to effect settlement,
because publicity would destroy their ef-
fectiveDess. They say negotiations are
pending with some of the operators. The
operators are still emphatic in declaring
that absolutely no negotiations OF any kind
are under way with Mitchell the executive
board of the United Mine Workers. or
anybody else. They say they have not been
approached by individual or correspondence
of the unions since Father Phillips, OF Ha-
zleton, last Friday night, made his final
appeal to them. They repeat that they
have given their answer by refusing the
demands and recognition Of the union and
W. w. not deviate from 1t hairs breadth.
The operators say that the possibility of
strike being called is remote The miners
are being advised on every side not to
strike.
All the newspapers in the region are
calling upon them to remain at work. ex-
cept some three or four labor papers,
and they are not radical in declaring that
q strike is the best move. The business
I1en are making determined individual eff
forts to dissuade the miners from answer
ing the call, IL 1t comes, and from all the
towns and mining hamlets In the region
they report n better feeling on the part
of the miners. There is q very general
belief among the mining men now that
there will be very small response If a
strike is ordered now. They say there
will not again be a good time for ordering
a strike until the present steady work
falls off to one-third time. and that steady
work is assured for some months to come.
The Pennsylvania Coal Company today
ordered large board fences seven feet
high and topped with wire to be built
around their collleries SO that at any
time. in the event of trouble. they would
be easily protected. The Delaware, Lack
awanna & Western Coal Company also
placed electric lights about their works,
to protect themselves