The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-07-19
ORDER 0BEyED IN THE PENNSYL LVANIA
MINING DISTRICT.
MANY MINES FORCED To CLOSE
Most OF the Strikers Firemen at the
Mines-Thirty Thousand Mine En-
ployes Made Idle The Mine Engf.
neers Friendly to the Ffremen-Suc-
cess of the Strike Depends on Action
OF the Miners - Demands Conceded
ConfftionalIy by Some Coal Operators

Wilkesbarre. Pa, July 16.-The strike
order of President Mullahy, of the Sta
tionary Firemens Association, of
Pennsylvania, directing the men to
strike today for an S-hour day was
obeyed by the men. Nine hundred
members of the organization in this
section of the state refused to go to
work.
Most of the strikers are employed as
firemen at the coal mines and their
failure to report for duty caused near
- all the collieries in the northern an
4 thracite region to suspend operation
throwing out of work, it is estimated,
10000 men anIlboys. Some of the indi-
vidual coal operators conceded the de-
nnands of the employees on condition
that the short hour day was not to hold
IL the men employed by the big COM
panies did not get the same conces-
sfons.
The big companies, however, refused
to make any concessions. The officials
claimed that the demands of the fire.
men were unreasonable; that they had
the wages of the miners were raised
last autumn, and that the demands
now made upon the companies were
equal to, a 20 per cent. advance.
J The strikers held a meeting in this
: city shortly beforssnoon. Reports were
received from all the districts, and they
showed that the strike from Pittston
in 10 n
was general and that the coal DOM
pan1es were unable to secure new men
to take the places of the strikers, al
though 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 dnto the SER
vice. This was done ut a great many
of the mines. Somebody had to do it.
because there was danger of great
damage being donef by water and the
accumulation nf-gAs
Most of the large companies were sue
cessful in getting sufficient number of
men to keep the pumps running. Other
small companies were not so fortunate.
They were left entirely helpless when
the firemen quit.
4 Some of the hosting engineers re-
Alained at their posts, but their SER
vices were not needed in the absence Of
the firemen. In some cases, so it is re-
ported, where engineers were asked to
do firing they refused and quit their
jobs.
The strikers claim that the engineers
are friendly to them and that they will
not work with non-union men. PreSi-
dent Millahy said tonight that he had
information from all over the northern
region and that the men were stand
ing firm and that the engineers were
with them. He thought the coal COM
he n
and that the strike would soon some to
an end.
At the headquarters of the operators
it was claimed that the demands of the
strikers would not be entertained and
that as soon as new men could be Sc
cured operations would be resumed.
The duration of the strike will depend
upon the miners. If they stand by the
striking firemen, the lockout may be a
kng one; but if the miners return to
work as soon as the companies fill the
places of the strikers, the strike will
be lost to the firemen-
Despite the reports TO the contrary
sent out from headquarters Of the
United Mine Workers it is known that
there is considerable friction between
the United Mine Workers and the fire.
men. The miners think that the strike
is in opportune and that the firemen
should have waited until April next,
Wh9n the present agreement between
the operators and miners expire, be-
fore making their demands. 1t is also
ALLEGED that when the miners went out
on strike last fall the iremen remained
at work and this has caused a little
feeling too. Still the United Mine
Workers must be governed by their
leaders and it is known that the heaIs
OF the organization in this section are
inffayor of the strike. Some of the
ookrators will be apt to put the United
Mine Workers to the test and see
whether they will live up to the agree
ment made with the operators last
April. The agreement compels the
miners to work at fixed rates Of wages
for one year. There is no clause which
permites the miners to remain out on
sympathy strike.
The strike did not effect industries III
this or surrounding towns to any ex-
tent. Nearly all the large manufactur.
ers acceded to the demands of thsiI
firemen. The only notable exception
was the Sheldon Axle Works, employ
ing ]. 400 men. That establishment shut
down indefinitely. The strike centre is
the wyoming coal fields. The failure
OF the men in the Lehigh and Lacka-
wana regions to take concented action
is not received with favor by the strik-
ers here.
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