The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-10
He HAS POWER TO
ORDER BIG STRIKE

This information was divulged by an
attacfle OF the executive offices at Harris
burg while passing through here on his
way to. the coal regious Developments
show that the rumors which were circd-
lated I'm July soon after Bryans nomina-
ton, that the Democrats would abet
strikes and labor agitations for cam
paign purposes were not unfounded. not
withstanding the loud denials OF Bryan
leaders.
There will be an attempt to duplicate
the condition of eight years ago. when
Homestead strikers had TO be suppressed
by the National Guard. thereby creating
an issue that was largely. IL not wholly,
responsible for Cleveland's election"
WAITING THE DECISION.
Wilkesbarre. Pa, Sept. 10-The eager
ness with which the entire anthracite re
gion is waiting for the decision as to a
coal strike is equaled by no event which
has ever stirred the people in this part
of the state. There is absolutely no way
of determining until a clash comes wheth-
er the operators or the union leaders arc
right, the former i'm declaring that not ~
per cent. of the men will strike and the
latter In asserting that not less than 80
per cent. will answer the call and qu.,
work
The operators say they have polled
their workmen; the union men that they
4
ries OF various locals. The operators have
endeavored to destroy any impression
that the strike will tie up the region, while
the leaders have declared that when the
strike is ordered not colliery will be
operated.
The events of the last few days have
substantiated largely the assertions OF the
labor men.
In every part of the region the ranks
of the union have been swelled by large
bodies of recruits, I'm some places all the
men at a mine joining. Al MIners' Mills,
near here. $50 men were initiated last
The Democratic campaign managers
have kept a sharp eye all over the coun-
try, ever since the Kansas City conven-
ton, to produce state now existing in
the threatened region. Two things fa-
vored them. One was the haggling that
always exists between miners and opera
tors over powder and minor supplies. The
other was the appointment of Gen.
Charles Miller of Franklin as major-gen-
eral OK the National Guard of Pennsyl-
SaniQ.
Gen. Miller and Congressman sibley
own II per cent. of the axle grease works
at Franklin. which plant Is part OF the
Standard oil system. the Standard COM
pany owning the other 40 per cent. OF
stock. Miller was not appointed ma jor-
general by Gov. Stone on account OF his
connection with the Standard Oil, but
for his superior executive ability his pr-
vatc business interests employing more
hapds than the 10000 composing the Ma
tonal Guard
lin his appointment the Bryan conspi-
rators saw their chance to spring their
trick on Pennsylvania, cause big strike,
riots and then suppression by the Ma
tional Guard. Then they would have a
sp,endid chance to howl at the Coal Trust,
aa ar1
can administration and a whole lot of
other things.
They lost almost a month trying to fo-
ment trouble i'm the btuminous regions OF
western Pennsylvania, where their efforts
were thwarted by the excellent state OF
business.
Then they came on TO the anthracite
region. No eastern Pennsylvania miners
ever thought of striking until agitators
were sent out from Indiana only a month
ago. The agitators came unsolicited by
any set OF people that lived I'm the region
or by any oppressive Industrial condition
that existed I'm Pennsylvania. The im~
pending strike did not come about in
natural or spontaneous way and the first
news was that which always comes from
indianapolis.
"rhe agltators out In Indiana, the old
hotbed OF copperheadsm, closeted in Sc
cret session. should arrogate to them
selves the regulation of industrial condif
tions in Pennsylvania r. creating intense
indignation. Business here. as elsewhere,
has surpassed all records during McKin-
Iey's administration.
I "The Lehigh Valley is the granary OF the
anthracite region. and carloads OF meat
| for Hazleton and Wyoming towns are
sent daily from the packing houses of Al
| Ientown. business men here are opposed
| to the strike. saying II Is senseless, and
millers and meat men along the Lehigh
| river declare that they will not feed the
striking miners"