Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-09-21
STRUCK IN EARNEST
Coal Miners Out in the An.
thracite Region.
MITCHELL SAYS $4,000 QUIT
No Violence Has Thus Far Been Re.
ported-Strike Extends over
Large Territory.

Hazleton, Pa, Sept< 19.-The great
struggle between the anthracite coal
miners of Pennsylvania and their em-
ployers was begun today. Each side
is confident of winning. and neither
of the contending forces shows any dis
position to yield. The contest thus far
has been devoid of any violence.
The exact numbe of men who struck
cannot at this time be told. Reports
received by the United Mineworkers'
officials from the entire anthracite re-
gion were to them most satisfactory.
In this territory, known as district No.
2, there are 10000 men employed in
and about the mines. OF this numb ber.
it is conseravtively estimated that
about so per cent obeyed the order of
President Mitchell to quit work. Five
thousand of these belong to the col
ieries which did not work at all, and
the remaining 5000 to mines which
work short-handed. The district
south of this place, known as the
South Side, was tied up completely
with the exception of Coleraine, Beaver
Meadow and Carson's Washeries. In
this territory the United Mineworkers
are very strong. On the north side.
the Upper Lehigh. Minesville, Eberales
and Drifton No. l collieries, employ
ing about 1000, are shut down. The
mines at Lattimer and Pond Creek,
employing 1000, are working full, but
every other mine in that big territory
is working with badly crippled forces.
Three of the Markle mines, over which
fhoro
worked all day with aobut IS per cent
of the men. On the West Side every
colliery started up today minus it's
union men, except at the Halle mines,
where the union miners went to work
in consequence of misunderstanding.
Hazleton today presented an ami
mated appearance, strikers from all the
surrounding mining towns coming in
early in the day and gathering in
groups on the street corners and dis
cussing the situation. 1t was 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. Mes
sengers bringing information to him
from nearby points kept coming regu-
larly.
Mr.. Mitchell decided an important
point today in the matter of arbitra-
tion. Last week the miners employed
by 6. B. Markle & Co. decided not to
strike until the firm had passed upon
set of their own grievances, which
differ somewhat from those of the Unit
ed Mineworkers. The firm has an
agreement with it's men that if any
differences fail of adjustment, then the
grievances shall be arbitrated. John
Markle, of the firm, yesterday agreed
to have Archbishop Ryan, of Philadel-
phia, arbitrate the differences, if the .
mediators already decided upon by the
firm and the men cannot come to a
satisfactory agreement. President
Mitchell, however. stated today that
he should ask the men employed by
Markle to cease work. The men might
gain concessions through arbitration.
he said, but it was now a case of secur-
ing uniform settlement throughout
the anthracite region.
About 100 foreign-speaking miners
left Hazleton today, and will take a
steamer for Europe. These men ex-
pect long strike, and, rather than re-
main idle here, they preferred to go to
their former homes.
President Mitchell tonight gave out
the following statement:
Information received up to tonight
shows that $4,000 mineworkers ale
on strike in the anthracite region. Of
this number, $4,000 are in district No.
1; 10000 in district No. 8, and 10000
in district No. z. Reports received
are to the effect that large number of
those who went to the mines today will
join in the suspension tomorrow. The
number of men now out on strike ex-
ceeds that of any other industrial con-
test in the history of our country.
Rewards For American Heads.
Uioforio q Cont 10 pnopu