Evening journal., 1900-09-13
How Many Will Obey Strike
Order is PrObICmatiCaI
EIGHTY PER CENT. MAY RESPOND
The Mine Employees in The Anthracite
District Of Pennsylvania Number
About l45,OOO

Hazleton, Pa, Sept. 19.-The expect
ed order calling out the organized min
ers of the anthracite region was issued
from indianapolis last evening. The
order, signed by President John Mitch
ell and Secretary Treasurer w. B. VIII
son, says.
AN the miners and mine workers
Of the anthracite coal region, whether
members of the United Mine Workers
of America or not, are instructed to
cease work on and after Monday, Sept
IL, 1900, and remain away from the
various ccllieries, strippings and break
ers until the demands Of the Hazleton
convention have been acceded to by the
coal companies. Be law abiding, self
respecting and quiet; do not allow any
person, whose interest 1t may be, to
provoke you into quarrels and viola
tions Of the peace. That is one of the
most common methods used by large
employers to destroy the public SYM
pathy and defeat our cause. With a
thoroughly aroused public sentiment
behind us, a cause the justice Of which
cannot be successfully questioned, and
the mine workers united and determin-
ed TO stand until their many wrongs
have been risnted, We have supreme
faith in the ultimate success of our
cause.
During the afternoon of Saturday,
Sept 6, while the board was still in
session, information reached this Of
fee that outside influences were being
brought to bear upon the coal compa-
nies to bring about a satisfactory set
tlement of the question in dispute
without resorting to a strike. Know
ing from a wide range of experience
the far reaching results of a prolonged
strike and the injurious effects it would
have upon the great commercial and
industrial interests of the country, we
felt that we should not be justified in
ordering a strike while there yet re-
mained the slightest hope that it could
be averted. The negotiations mention
ed are at an end and a settlement has
not been reached"
The first news of the strike declara-
tion was received in Hazleton from
press dispatches The news Travelled
quickly, and crowds of people soon
gathered on the streets. Business men,
when they heard that the order to
strike was ct last out, greatly deplored
the action taken. and fear that they
will suffer heavily if it lasts for any
time. Business has been completely
paralyzed for the last two weeks on
account of the threatened trouble, and
the word from indianapolis added to
the depression. While business men
fear the inauguration of a strike. coll
liery superintendents who could be
seen took the news calmly and said
they would patiently await develop
ments.
1t is certain that all the United Mine
Workers will obey the order, but il Is
a question whether the non-union men
employed at surrounding collieries will
quit their work. The mine workers'
leaders assert that all the men will lay
down their tools.
A Wilkesbarre dispatch says: Presi-
dent Mitchells strike order did not
create much OF a stir in the Wyoming
region. Just how many men will quit
work it is a difficult matter to estimate.
II the officers of the United Mine
Workers organization are to be be-
lieved fully so per cent Of the men
viii lay down their tools. The oper-
ators say their figures are too high,
and in their opinion not more than 40
per cent will join in the strike. John
Conyngham, president of the West
End Coal company, said that not per
cent Of the employees of his company
belonged to the miners union, and
that he did not expect that there would
be any difficulty in continuing opera
tions. Superintendent Williams. of
the SusQuehanna Coal company, whose
collieries are at NanticOke thought
that they would be badly crippled by
the strike. Their 5000 employees are
well organized. But Mr.. Williams did
not see how the strike could last any
length OF time. The employees of the
Susquehanna company are just recov-
ering from a long strike, and if they
are to enter upon another It will re-
quire considerable outside assistance
TO provide for them and their families.
Assistant superintendent Chase, of the
Lehigh Valley company, could give no
estimate as to how many OF their 5000
employees would quit work. Superin-
tendent Richards. OF the Lehigh and
Wilkesbarre Coal company, said his
company employed 1900 men. He did
not know how many of them were
members of the union. and he had no
means of ascertaining how many would
quit work until the strike order went
into effect. The officials of the Penn