The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-09-21
COAL MINERS STRIKE
BEGUN IN THE ANTHRACITE DISTRICT
OF PENNSYLV WANNA
STRIKE LEADERS ENCOURAGED
At the Large Number of Mines Closed
Down the First Day Many More
Miners Expected to Join the Strikers
To~day-Strfke Agents at Work I'm b
Districts Where the Miners are Not
Union Men-The Operators Express
Confidence.

Philadelphia, September 1.-THE
great strike of mine workers in the
anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania.
which represent practically the hard
coal output Of the wrold, began today.
According to president Mitchell, of the
United Mine Workers of America, who
is personally directing the strike from
his headquarters at HaZelton, the
success of the first days effort to tie
UP the mines exceeded the expecta-
tons of the strike leaders. The hard
coal region is divided INTO four great
districts-the Lackawanna, the Wyom-
ing, the Lehigh and the Schuylkill. In
the first two, representing nearly co.
900 men, the tie UP is practically COM
| plete, only one mine employing a few
hundred men being operated, and this
the strikers say hey hope to close
soon.
In the Lehigh region, the
is a stand off, about 5000 Of the 16, 900
mine employees having quit work.
Principally because the union has COM
| paratively little strength in the Schuyl-
kill region and the workmep there
have no decided grievance, as in other
districts, the strike was not general
aPOA IN "a cSbSSS
| ployed. Indications tonight, however,
point to the closing tomorrow of some
mines in the last named district that
operated today, despite the assertions
of the officials of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company and
other companies operating the region
that they will keep their collieries in
operations. Naturally the efforts of
the strike leaders are being devoted to
organizing the men in the weak
Schuylkill and Lehigh regions n to-
night their organizers n orators are
| redoubling their efforts.
No violence worth mentioning has
marred the first day of the truggle
Practically no progress has yet been
made in spite of the efforts of some of
the clergy to bring about a settlement
of the trouble through arbitration.
| great struggle between the anthracite
coal miners of Pennsylvania and their
employers was begun today. Each
| side is confident of winning, and neith-
er of the ~contending forces show any
disposition to yield. With the excep-
I ton of a trivial Incident at No. 8 col
liery of the Lehigh Coal Company,
wher a gang of boys compelled a mule
driver to seek cover by throwing
stones at him, the contest thus far
has been entirely devote of violence
of any kind.
The exact number of men who struck
cannot at his time be told, as only es-
Inmates of the number of men who
did not start work were made today.
Reports received by the United Mine
Workers officials from the entire an
thracite region were considered by
them most satisfactory. In this terri
tory, known az district No. z, there
are 16, 900 men employed in and about
the mines. OF this number it is con-
servatively estimated that about so
per cent, or S,000 miners Obeyed the
order of President Mitchell to quit
work.
Hazleton today presented an animal
ed appearance. Strikers from all the
surrounding mining towns came here
early in the day and gathered in
groups on the street corners and dis
cussed the situation. 1t was a most
orderly crowd. Around strike head
quarters at the Valley hotel there was
more or less of a crowd of men all day.
President Mitchell, who arrived from
the West last night, was kept busy all
day and evening receiving reports from
every section of the region. Messengers
bringing information to him from
by points kept coming regularly.
President Mitchell tonight gave o u
the following statement:
Information received up to his
time indicates that 112, 600 mine work
ers are on strike in the anthracite re-
gion. OF his number 1900 are in dis.
trfct No. /; 10000 in district No. 9, anG
10, 900 in district No. Z.
Reports received are to the effect
that large numbers of those who wen
to the mines today will join the sus.
pension tomorrow.
1--WE feel confident that the entire
number of men employed in and about
the coal mines of the anthracite dis
tricts will be idle in the next few days
THE men appear determined to con
tinue on strike until their demands TO
Justice have been acceded to.
The number of men now on strik,
exceeds that of any other industrial
. contest in the history of u country