The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-17
Demands of the Strikers Conceded
ProyisionaIIy by "A Few of the
Individual Operators.
MUCH DEPENDS ON MINERS
SOME ARE NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH
THE FIREMEN'S STRIKE.
Judge c. ID. Clark Strongly Opposed to
observation-disclosures and Boycott
ing Not Matters for InjunctiOns.

WILKESBARRE, Pa. July 16.-The
strike order of President Mullahy, of the
Stationary Firemen's Association of Penn
sylvania, was promptly obeyed at o'clock
this morning when 900 members of the or
ganization in this section of the State re-
fused to go to work. Most of the strikers
are employed as fremen at the coal mines
and their failure TO report for duty caused
nearly all the collieries in the northern an
thracite region to suspend operation,
throwing out of work, il is estimated. 3d.
600 men and boys. Some Of the individual
coal operators conceded the demands of
their employees on condition that the short
hour day was not to hold If the men en-
pioyed by the big companies did not get the
same concessions. The big coal companies,
however. refused to make any concessions.
The officials claimed that the demands Of
the fremen were unreasonable, that they
had received a 10 per cent. increase when
the wages of the miners were raised last
fall and that the demands now made upon
the compapies are equal to a 20 per cent
advance. The strikers held a meeting in
this city shortly before noon.
Reports were received from all districts
and they showed that the strike from Pitts
ton to Shickshinny, in this county, was
general and that the coal companies were
unable to secure new men to take the
places of the strikers, although it was
claimed they had made desperate efforts to
do so. The best they could do. it was said.
was TO press foremen and fire bosses into
service. This was done at a great many
OF the mines Somebody had to do 1t be-
cause there was danger OF great dana ge
hE1 hxr rETcf fnf and rlof tora
of gas.
The strikers claim that the engineers are
friendly TO them and that they will not
lahy said tonight that he had information
from all over the northern region and that
the men were standing firm and that the
engineers were with them. He thought the
coal companies would be unable to get new
men and that the strike would soon come to
an end
At the headquarters of the operators ii
was claimed that the demand of the strik-
ers would not be entertained and that
as soon as new men could be secured oper-
alton would be resumed The duration of
the strike will depend on the miners. IL
they stand by the striking firemen the
lockout may be long one; but If the
miners return to work al soon as the COM
panies fill the places of the strikers, the
strike will be lost to the fremen.
Despite reports TO the contrary sent out
from headquarters OF the United Mine
Workers 1t is known that there is consid-
cradle friction between the United Mine
Workers and the firemen. The miners think
that the strike is inoppor'une and that the
firemen should have waited until April
next, when the present agreement between
the operators and miners expires before
making their demands.
Several manufacturing concerns gave In
TO the demands of the firemen, among
them the Wilkesbarre Lace Company, en-
ploying 100 hands, and the Hazard rope
works, employing 1000 men. The Wilkes
barre and Wyoming Valley Traction Com
pany officials told their fremen TO go 10
work at the increase.