The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1900-09-21
STRUCK IN EARNEST
Coal Miners Out in the An,
thracite Region.
MITCHELL SAYS 10000 QUIT
No Violence Has Thus Far Been Re
ported Strike Extends over
Large Territory.

Hazleton. Pa, Sept. l9.-The great
struggle between. the anthracite coal
miners of Pennsylvania and their en-.
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 number OF men who struck
cannot at this time be told. Reports
received by the United Mineworkers'
Off ficials from the entire anthracite re-
gion 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,
it is conseravtively estimated that
about 80 per cent obeyed the order of
President Mitchell to quit work. Five
thousand OF these belong to the coll
lieries 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, Eberale
and Drifton No. collieries, employ
ing about 1900, are shut down. The
mines at Lattimer and Pond Creek,
employing 1900, are working full, but
every other mine III that big territory
is working with badly crippled forces.
Three of the Markle mines, over which
there has been so much contention,
worked all day with aobut 65 percent
of the men. On the West Side every
coliery started up today minus its
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 crowd OF men all day
President Mitchell. who arrived from
the West last night. was kept busy al
day and evening, receiving reports
from every section of the region. Mes
sengers bringing Information to hin
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 G.. b. Markle 81 Co. decided not t.
strike until the firm had passed upor
a set OF their own grievances, which
differ somewhat from those of the Unit
ed Mineworkers. The firm has al
agreement with its men that If an
differences fail Of adjustment, then TIN
grievances shall be arbitrated. Johi
Markle, of the firm, yesterday agreed
to have Archbishop Ryan, of Philadel
phia, arbitrate the differences. II tn
mediators already decided upon by tn
firm and the men cannot come to
satisfactory agreement. Presiden
Mitchell, however. stated today tina
he should ask the men employed b,
Markle to cease work. The men nigh
gain concessions through arbitration
he said, but it was now a case OF secur
ing uniform settlement throughou
the anthracite region.
About 100 foreign-speaking miner
left Hazleton today, and will take
steamer for Europe. These men OK
pect long strike, and, rather than re
main idle here, they preferred to go t
their former homes.
President Mitchell tonight gave on
the following statement:
Information received up to tonigh
shows that 10000 mineworkers 81
ON strike in the anthracite region.
this number, $4,000 are in district NJ
j; 10000 in district No 8, and 10, 0U
in district No. z. Reports receive
are to the effect that large number {
those who went to the mines today wi
join in the suspension tomorrow. III
number OF men now out on strike 0,
ceeds that of any other industrial col
test in the history OF our country.