Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-28
MITCHELL ON GUARD.
Soft Coal Miners Warned Not to Load
Coai for Anthracite Markets-A
Warming to the Strikers


HAzIETON, Pa, September 81
President Mitchell, of the United Mine
Workers, to-day sent a telegram to the
central Pennsylvania bituminous coal
fields, which possibly may have the
effect of bringing the soft coal miners
into the contest which the anthracite
workers are now waging against the
mine owners. The telegram was sent to
Richard Gilbert, secretary of District
NO. 2, Clearfield, Pa, and was as fol-
lows
Issue circular letter instructing all
mine workers in Central Pennsylvania
that they are not to load coal for ship
ment into markets formerly supplied
by anthracite operators. We are in
formed that the Philadelphia & Read
ing, Delaware & Hudson and the Jer-
sey Central railroads are now attempt
ing to defeat the anthracite strikers by
sending their cars into Central Penn
sylvania to have them loaded with BIZ
luminous coal. Please comply with
this request at once"
President Mitchell said that he had
been watching the bituminous coal
held closely for just such a move as he
alleges has been made by the railroads
mentioned in his telegram, and he does
not fear that they will make much Of
a success in getting the soft coal into
the anthracite market. The miners in
the Central Pennsylvania region, he
continues, are in thorough sympathy
With their fellow workmen in the east
ern part of the State, and President
Mitchell feels sure that as soon as they
hnd that the coal they may be loading
or asked to load is to take the place of
hard coal they will refuse to handle it,
Labor leaders do not anticipate any
suspension Of work in the soft coal
field unless the operators insist upon
sending their coal to the anthracite
market. Considerable interest is being
manifested as to the effect of President
Mltchell's action in attempting to de-
fea the alleged coal carrying roads.
This was a day of rumors. Around
strike headquarters there were stories
in circulation that Archbishop Ryan
and Senator Hanna were coming here
TO see President Mitchell; that all the
coal-carrylng roads had agreed to ar
bitrate all differences and that the
strike had been settled
The last mentioned rumor was the
only one to which the labor leaders
paid any attention, and in connection
VITA ..ltr~they seIis q talegranlg..to -ss4a
presidents of the three unions compris-
ing the entire coal field of Pennsyl-
Vanla. The telegram is as follows:
Report is current that operators
have made concessions in wage scale
and will attempt to induce mine work
ers to resume work. Please advise all
miners in your district that no atten-
ton should be given to these reports
and that they will be officially notified
should any offer of settlement be
.4-4de. Undof no consideration what
ever should work be resumed unless
authorized by convention represent
ing all mine workers in the anthracite
field. 1t is vitality important that all
miners stand firm and determined and
not be deceived by those whose inter
est it is to defeat the purpose Tor
which the strike is inaugurated.
In speaking about the rumors of a
settlement, Mr.. Mitchell said the strike
could not be ended without him know
ing it, and that he had no knowledge
OF any effort that might now be in
progress which would lead to an i'm
mediate settlement.
Mr. Mitchell also denied having any
knowledge of the opening of the nego-
tiations mentioned by President Trues-
dale of the Delaware, Lackawanna e
Western railroad. He does not know
who the third person is that Mr.. Trues-
dale speaks of and says he has not
been approached in any way.
The entire Hazleton region was Quiet.
to-day and the only noticeable change
in the strike situation was at the col
lieries of G. B. Markle & Co. AS pre-
dicted by the strike leaders yesterday
there was a considerable reduction in
the forces working at the various col
lieries operated by this firm. TFhe
strikers say that the mines are practi-
cally idle, while all that the general
superintendent of the mines would say
was that the collieries were started as