Evening star., 1901-07-20
tCOAL REGIONS STRIKE
IN SOME LOCALITIES OF
AN END OF THE TROUBLE.
Active Efforts Being Made to Extend
the Area of the Region
Affected.

W1Lk Pa, July 20.-Opera-
tions were resumed today at the Avondale
mine of the Lackawanna Coal Company,
the striking firemen, who were members
OF the United Mine Workers. having re-
turned to work. The strike situation in
this district has improved materially to-
day, reports received at headquarters indi-
eating desire on the part Of the miners
to return to work.
HAZELTON, Pa. July 20.-The leaders
and executive officers Of the United Mine
Workers organization, who came here to
participate in conference with the off,
Gals OF the Stationary Firemen's Associa-
ton. have returned to their homes, and
truce has been declared. pending a joint
convention OF miners and nremen in VIII
kesbarre. tomorrow afternoon. There Is
feeling among the officers OF the anthracite
miners organization in three districts that
the strike OF the fremen should not be al
lowed to interfere with the work in the
mines. They want to control all workers
connected with the mines All the fremen
IN the Lehigh district belong to the
United Mine workers; Ninety per cent
OF the f1remen in the Wyoming district be-
long to the ffremen's organization In the
Schuylkill district 80 per cent Of the fire
men belong to each organization. The
miners want the engineers to return to
work and defer the enforcement of their
grievances until next spring. when the min
ers' one-year agreement with their employ
ers terminates. This sentiment may end
the f1remen's strike for the present and
send everybody back to work The mine
owners feel they have the best Of the sit
uation at present.
Statement From Strikers.
WILKESBARRE, Pa, July 2O-It ia
thought here that at tomorrow's meeting
in this city some plan will be agreed upon
by the fremen's association and the Unit
ed Mine Workers, which will bring about
unity of action and possibly a settlement
of the strike on Monday. The following
official statement was issued by the strik-
ers today:
1T is not question Of an eight hour
day with the companies, but they are tax
ing this opportunity to assume a hostile
attitude when there is seemingly some dis
satisfaction among the fremen and the
United Mine Workers. The public should
not be alarmed, as all differences and dis
satisfaction will be settled in a few days
''The statement regarding the strike sit
uation' given out by the district presidents
at Hazelton is satisfactory, and there is
ments Sunday. All things considered. our
hopes Of success are enhanced daily as
the reports from all places are very en-
couraging."
May Declare 1t on.
PITTSTON. Pa, July 2O-Under pressure
of opposition the part OF the United
Mine Workers, 1t is believed here that. the
mine f1remen, at their general meeting In
Wilkesbarre tomorrow afternoon, will de-
clare their strike off and return to work
early next week. The men will probably
be compelled to resume work at the sched-
ule Of hours and wages that prevailed be-
fore the strike began.
SHAMOKIN. Pa. July 20-With eight
collieries still tied up by striking fremen
and all the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Companys operations idle on ac-
count Of suspension until Monday, there
were Few plants shipping coal today The
strikers failed to close down the big Cam
eron mine today, as they had expected All
the miners went to work. although none
would enter the fire rooms. Bosses and
clerks continue keeping up steam. Unless
the United Mine Workers next week aid
the fremen the chances for extending the
strike south Of this region into the Schuyl-
XIII district are very slim.
To Extend the Strike.
MAHANOY CITY. Pa, July 2o.-As a re-
suit OF missionary work among the station
ary fremen in this region by representa-
tives Of the International Brotherhood of
Stationary Firemen, the men are fast re-
firing from the United Mine Workers OF
America to become affiliated with the for
mer organization. This is done that the
men may come out for the eight hour day
without violating the agreement entered
into by President Mitchell and the coal
corporations in April So long as the fire.
men remain members Of the mine workers
organization President Mitchell has de-
clared that they shall not strike Today
the firemen employed by the Lehigh Valley
Coal Company Mt Lost Creek withdrew
from the United Mine Workers and became
Identified with the International Brother
hood. Similar Withdrawals are expected In
other portions Of this district