The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-16
TO OPEN AGAIN MONDAY
Bosses Make Desperate Efforts to Keep
Men at Work.
OPERATORS SAY THEY VIII. NOT YIELD
They Refuse to Recognize the Union and Are
Determined Not to Make Any Increase
in Wages. Superintendent
LOOMS Statement.
(By the Associated Press.)


Philadelphia, Sept. 1.-THE much
talked-of strike Of the anthracite coal
mine workers in the coal regions of Penn
sylvania, under the auspices of the U. NJ.
GEO union and non-union workers, was
practically inaugurated today, and reports
received from the various sections indi-
cate that on Monday morning when the
strike officially begins according to the
strike order issued by President Mitch
ELL of the mine workers union, very few
of the collieries will be in operation. The
operators, however. are confident that
the proportion of striking miners has
been greatly exaggerated.
The situation tonight is practically one
of strike. At points where the most i'm
portant coal workings, there is pressage
OF a struggle between the operators and
their men that many fears may lead to
disturbance and perhaps worse.
Tonight, however, all is quiet. Miners,
meetings were held al a number of points
and the speakers counselled peace, or
derby conduct on the part of the men,
That some of the operators are prepar-
ing for the worst is indicated by their
fencing in and Swinging barbed wire
about their breakers.
IN THE COAL REGION.
Scranton. Pa, September 15-Nearly all
the collieries OF the Lacawanna region
that were not closed down yesterday be-
gun operations this morning, but before
noon arrived they were one by one forced
to suspend until only few of them were
doing anything at all and these few were
so badly crippled by shortage of hands
that under ordinary circumstances the OPP
orators would have given up the attempt
to work them.
The officers of the United Mine Work.
ers claim that no one except the exempt
ed engineers, firemen. barn bosses and
pump runners will respond to the whistles
Monday morning. TIE operators, one and
all, say that they do not know what the
men will do but are firmly convinced that
majority of their employees are opposed
| TO striking and that the general shutting
down of the collieries is due to the fact
that the reckless breaker and driver boys
turned out and prevented the anti-strike
| miners from working. Believing this the
operators will open up as usual on Mon
| day and give work of some kind to any
men who put in an appearance.
The Delaware, Luckawanna and West
ern Company is determined to at least
keep some of its 10 collieries going The
| bosses went among the men today offering
full protection and special favors to all
of it's men Of known anti-strike proclivi-
| ties if they would report Monday morning.
| If there are not enough men on hand to
start up all the collieries, those who do
respond will be congregated in a few of
the collieries and put to work. How many
promises they received was not discov-
cred
Organizer Dilcher today offered to Sher-
| if Proyer, free of expense, the services
| of $4,000 sober, reliable members of the
union to act as deputy sheriffs and main
| tain constant guard of the mine proper
ties.
The sheriff said he would consider the
proposition.
The number of men and boys idle today
in this district covering the Lackawanna
and Wyoming valleys, is estimated at
| headquarters to be fully 100000
The superintendent of the different
mining companies here were in conference
again today and from now on they will
meet daily. They have thoroughly re-
viewed the situation, and while deploring
generally the strike Of their employees
| they do not see how it is possible to
change from the decision heretofore made,
namely the impossibility of granting any
increase in wages and the determination
not to recognize the United Mine Work
| ers of America.
General Superintendent Loomis of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Com
| pany is looked upon as head of the super
intendents organization. Today he said:
THE position of the companies is thor
| oughly defined and there will be no devia-
| ton. We have conferred and while we
| think the men have been I'll advised we
are decided that none % their demands
shall be met. A line of action has been
determined on, this will begin on Monday
| morning with the blowing of the breaker
| gongs calling the men to their work.
Those who respond will be given places
and protected in their work. If necessary
| these men will be placed in one OF the
gether, and their work and safety assured
A supply OF stock coal is now in sight,
and can meet the immediate demands OF
upwards of two weeks. After that there
| must come coal famine. or the in-rush
| for bitumnous coal that will wine out q
large part OF the anthracite market I'M