The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-09-19
MINERS REMAIN CALM
Quiet Prevails Throughout An.
thracite Region.
President Mitchell Says That 10000
Point Settled - Miners and Operators
Testing Each Others strength-No vio-
lence Reported.

HAZELTON, Pa, Sept. 1S.-The first
day of the struggle between the an
thracite coal miners of Pennsylvania
and their employees ended last night.
Each side is confident of winning and
neither of the contending forces shows
any disposition to yield. With the ex-
ception of a trivial incident at No. 8
colliery of the Lehigh Coal company,
where a gang of boys compelled a mule
driver to seek cover by throwing stones
at him, the contest thus far has been
entirely devoid of violence of any kind.
The exact number of men who struck
cannot at this time be told as only es-
Inmates of the number of men who did
not start work were made.
Reports received by the United Mine
Workers officials from the entire an
thracite region were, to them, most
satisfactory. In this territory, known
as District No. Z, there are 10000 men
employed in and about the mines. OF
this number 1t is conservatively esti-
mated that about so per cent, or 5000
miners, obeyed the order of President
Mitchell to quit work. Five thousand
of these belong to collieries which did
not work at all and the remaining 1900
to mines which worked short handed.
The district south Of this place known
as the South Side was tied up COM
pletely with the exception of Coleraine,
Beaver Meadow and Carson's washer
les. In this territory the United Mine
Workers are very strong. On the north
side the upper Lehigh, Milnesvllle Eb-
ervale and Drifton No. l collieries, en-
ploying about 1,50O men, are shut down.
the mines at Lattimer and Pond Creek
employing 1900 men, are working full,
but every other mine In that big ter
ritory is working with badly crippled
forces. Three of the Markle mines,
over which there has been so much con-
tention. worked all day with about 65
per cent of their men. On the west
side every colliery started up minus its
union men, except at the Halle mines
where the .nion miners went to work
in consequence of a misunderstanding
Important Point Decided.
Mr.. Mitchell decided an important
point yesterday in the matter of arbi-
tration. 1t will be remembered that
last week the miners employed by G. c.
Markle & Co. decided not to strike un-
til the firm had passed upon set of
their own grievances which differ
somewhat from those of the United
Mine Workers. The firm has an agree
ment with its men that If any differ
ences fail of adjustment then the griev-
ances shall be arbitrated. John Mar
kle, Of the firm, agreed to have Arch
bishop Ryan of Philadelphia arbitrate
the differences If the mediators already
decided upon by the firm and the men
cannot come to a satisfactory agree
ment. Mr. Markle gave out an inter-
view to newspaper reporters to this ef-
feet and suggested to the reporters that
they go and see what President
Mitchell would have to say to the prop
ositlon, Mr.. Markle not caring to be
put on record as recognizing the union.
This was done, and after due dellbera-
tion Mr.. Mitchell replied:
II regard this as a rather unusual
way of conveying the wishes of Mr..
Markle, but 1 wish to say that we in
tend to ask the men employed by Mr..
Markle to cease work. We intend to
use all lawful means to induce them to
join the strike. This strike is probably
different from any other strike in the
anthracite region before. If the miners
employed by one big company in the
anthracite region fail, they all fail.
They may prove successful in some
companies for a brief time, but the ra-
region will get to a certain level. III
we succeed at one place and fail at An
other the low wages must be brought
up to meet the higher, or the higher
must come down to meet the lower. so
that / am not now, and do not propose
to, officially accept or reject for our
organization any proposition for a set
tlement that is not made either by the
company or by some other person to
whom they will give authority to act
as their representative"
Must Wait Few Days.
Father Phillips, who suggested the
idea Of having Archbishop Ryan
brought In as arbitrator on behalf Of
the men, would not talk on the decision
of President Mitchell, but in speaking
on the subject of an early settlement of
the strike, he said: There can hardly
be anything done for a few days, and
it is likely that the nature Of the arch
bishops efforts may depend upon the
contingency that may arise in the
meantime or due to the continuance
of the strike. will watch events close
ly and keep him informed of every op-
portunity where mediation or interces.
sion can serve to make this strike of
brief duration. That is about all that
can be accomplished or even attempted
now that the conflict has begun, unless
overtures for arbitration should be
made to him, but. of course, that will
have to come from both sides agreeing
to It. 1t Is too early to look for a basis
of negotiations or mediation, as the
contending forces will probably test
each others strength before deciding
on peace or continued war. 1t is yet
hoped that it will be peace"
It is not unlikely that Father Phillips
will go to Philadelphia to see Arch
bishop Ryan this week for the purpose
of getting the latter's views on the
matter of attempting a settlement, and
also to explain the situation fully to
his eminence.
Number of Men on Strike.
President Mitchell last night gave out
the following statement:
Information received up to this time
indicates that 10000 mine workers are
on strike in the anthracite region. OF
this number $4,000 are in District No. /,
10000 in District No. Q, and 10000 in
nistript No