New-York tribune., 1900-09-24
STRIKE CRISIS TO-DAY.
AN ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
TO RESUME WORK.
SCHUYLKILL COLLIERIES TO BE OPENED
UNDER MILITARY PROTECTION
SERIOUS TROUBLE FEARED.
Inr rELEeaAPH TO TIE rRIBrvE.l ]

SnenandOdn. Penn. sept. @3.-Ihe question
throughout the Schuylkin region tonight is
viii the Reading company be able to resume
work at it's colHeries tomorrow with the aid OF
the militia" II this can be accomplished at the
mines around Shenandoah and Mahanoy City in
the morning big victory viii have been achieved
over the miners union well the lawless
element. It is believed here tonight that this
can be done majority of the coIIieries a.
these places. Reports received here from Ash
land say that the miners there are sure to re-
turn 10 work tomorrow. The same is the case
at Tamaqua. In that neighborhood is the Pan
ther Greek Valley. where the Lehigh Coal and
Navigation Company's mines are located. It's
men desire to continue at work The Reading
company's men around Shamokin who have
been thrown out of work by the closing OF the
mines there viii have opportunity TO enter
other cOllieries owned by the company
To-day the principal attraction in the SchuyI-
kill district was the camp Of the militia Crowds
came from the surrounding country to see the
soldiers. A majority were women and children
The regimental chaplains preached. In almost
all the churches in the schuyIkiH region to-day
the pastors counseIled moderation and obedience
to the laws In Shenandoah there were several
drunken street fights. but they bore no relation
to the present trouble.
FEAR OF TROUBLE THIS MORNING.
Tonight there is much excitement. and strfk-
ers have made assertions which may lead to
trouble in the morning The aim of the Reading
company officials IS to break the force OF the
strike in the entire anthracite coal region by
getting a fair supply to market. The trouble. as
it now stands, IT was learned to-day mas cut
off over 50 per cent OF the product OF all the
mines. The Reading company's allotment ia
21 per cent. and this can be filed with the
collieries only partial time With the aid Of
the military 1t is intended 10 push work al
every mine, if possible. but this can hardly
be accomplished At the beginning OF the
trouble the officials assumed that because their
men had few grievances except in the matter OF
wages. they could continue 10 operate their
mines The actions OF the rioters at Shenan-
doah, and a change Of sentiment among some
OF the miners. have served 70 cast doubt on
this point. but it is well known that many Of
the miners in the SchuyIkilI district want 10
continue at work. A majority do not belong to
the union. and many may be kept from going
to their employment tomorrow by the dread OF
assault
The military officials. headed by General
Goblin. and the mine superintendents. had q
final conference to-day. with the result that
notices of full resumption tomorrow morning
We're posted. Most of the neutrality-suspicious. min
ers in the SchuyIkiH region want TO go to work.
but TO this many OF the foreigners are opposed.
There is a bitter feeling between the two ele-
ments in consequence
BOTH SIDES EXPRESS CONFIDENCE.
Superintendent Boyd. Of Shenandoah. and
Superintendent Tasker. Of Mahanoy City say
that the company will have no trouble In start
ing UP in the morning. and believe that fully So
per cent OF the will return to work On
the other hand. the strike leaders declare that
they are perfectly satisfied with the condition
Of affairs, and that it will be impossible for the
company to resume with anything near that
number of hands. This depends entirely on the
men who have expressed a desire to work They
have promised to respond in the morning and
the truth will be known within the next twelve
hours.
notwithstanding the fact that many Of the
collieries were short handed last week and all
were idle yesterday, official OF the Reading
Railway Company said to-day that on an aver
age 200 cars of coal were loaded at the various
breakers every day Of the week. including to
day. Allowing twenty-sfx tons TO a. car, which
is a fair average. this would place the amount
for the week at 21S4OO gross tons. This is less
than the average output when the men worked
three-quarter time. They are now on full time.
or nine hours a day
Numerous meetings were held by the strikers
all over the SchuylktH region to-day. The ar
tion Of Sheriff Toole in calling for troops was
denounced. but those who are not in sympathy
with the strikers think he acted wisely. Ar
Mahanoy City 'scab' miners were burned An
efigy in a number Of places last night
THE TROOPS READY FOR ACTION
The National Guard has been distributed so
to control all the principal highways. and
General Goblin is kept in touch by courier, tele-
phone and telegraph with the various detach-
ments. The men of the Governors Troop were
employed as scouts It is rumored that a por-
ton of the 4th Regiment Is TO be stationed at
Mahanoy City. Special trains have been placed
at the disposal of the military and in casa OF
an emergency a detachment OF soldiers can be
hurried any point at short notice To-mor-
row is awaited with the greatest interest, be-
cause all employees who are loyal are expected
TO respond for work. To-day few would eX-
press themselves on this point.
On account of the disquieting remarks OF
strikers and the increased excitement around
Shenandoah, the military officials became more
active tonight. Secret orders were issued to
the regimental commanders for the distribution
of their troops The men 10 leave their
camps at o'clock tomorrow morning and
they will be distributed a large section or
the coal country surrounding Shenandoah.
These orders based on threats by the lead
ers of the foreigners that any man who goes to
work tomorrow will never get home alive.