The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09
MINERS READY TO STRIKE
The Entire Anthracite Region
Awaiting the Order.
Operators Confident That Few Men
VIII Go out-Labor Leaders Claim
That Not n Colliery VIII Ee run
ming After Mondny-Thc Union
Receiving Thousands of Recruits.

WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Sept. S-The en-
tire anthracite region is waiting fer the
coming of Monday morning whsn the
strike is expected to go into eject
There is absolutely no way of determin-
ing until that time whether the operators
or the union leaders are right. The for
mer still declare that not 20 per cent of
the men will strike and the latter assert
that not less than 80 per cent will an
swer the call The operators say they
have polled their workmen and the union
men that they have received reports from
the secretaries 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
coiliery will be operated.
The evidence of the last few days has
substantiated 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, in some places
all the men at mine joining. AT Min
ers' Mills, near here, $50 men were ini-
tiated last night and at Parsons $50 m n.
This was a great surprise to those whO
understand the situation, for in both
peatedly failed TO organize a union. The
Iaen there are of a class seldom found in
the coal region now-old Germans and
Irish and English who are quite pres
porous and most conservative.
When asked why, at the last moment,
the men had Joined the union some of
them said:
well, there is going to be a strike and
1t is better TO have whole strike than
half cne. We may gain something We
cannot lose much and if We are beaten
it will come quicker with every colliery
tied up and all the men idle than if
half of the men were on strike and half
at work. Besides. as union men, we will
get the financial support OF the union.
Otherwise We might be idle and gain moth
ing. But We do not approve of strike.
Times are too good. We have had more
work these last four months than in years
past and we should not let the oppor-
tunity go to make good money But, We
cannot help ourselves"
This is a feeling which prevails quite
generally throughout the region. Many
of the men are joining the union to get
its financial protection in the event OF
strike Over ee,oo0 have Joined in the last
few days, and at the big mass meetings
which Will be held tomorrow many more
are expected TO Join. These mass meet
ings will be the final effort Of the union
men before the strike.
prominent operator, speaking today
for the big companies, said that he did not
believe the miners and laberers would
strike, but feared very much that the
younger employes-the driver boys and
breaker boys-would strike just for the
fun of it, and because the fever of ex-
citenent is upon them. This would COM
oel the shutting down of the coliieries and
would create condition similar to a gen.
eral strike In this city today a seven
-yeGr-old driver boy at the Stanton
colliery, of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
Coal Company, was refused steady work
because there was no place for HIM lie
went on a strike" The other fifty boys
struck also in sympathy before they knew
what the question was. In consequence
the 500 men at the colliery were Idle.
It is this condition which many of the
operators believe viii exist during the
strike.
Experts who have studied the situation
say most of the men viii be able to exist
for two months or more with little or no
assistance from the union. They get their
pay for August next week. 1t will be
= the largest pay they have received in
years. Instead of paying their August
bills with this. they viii doubtless keep
it to tide them over the strike.
In October there will be due them the
pay for seven days work OF this month
These two pays will keep them for two
months. except at the places where the
company stores first deduct their bills. At
ter that the union will have 10 look after
them
There is a general belief that there VIII
be acts of violence, but this is disputed by
the union leaders. However. today Sheriff
Harvey received score OF applications
from people who want to be deputy sherilfs.
He has filed these and taken their ad-
dresses.
report sent out from Hazleton today
that Superintendent Richards. OF the Le-
high and Wilkesbarre Company, made an
effort to get the company employees &c
agree to arbitration, is denied by Mr..
Richards.