New-York tribune., 1901-07-17
ENGINEERS HOLD THE KEY
IF THEY STAND BY FIREMEN THE
STRIKE SITUATION MAY BE SERIOUS.

Local anthracite circles much interested
yesterday in the declaration OF the strike by the
stationary firemen in and about Wkesbarre. Penn.
A visit made during the afternoon the Offices of
a number of railroads which will be directly af-
fected by the strike confirmed the impression that
the companies anxousy watching the prog
ress of the fight and were fearful of the damage
which might result from II The stationary fire
men OF the region affected-the Wyoming district
are un skilled laborers, and. as such, may be sub
sttuted by green" men. II they can be secured.
II. however. the engineers. who work with the
firemen. refuse to remain at their posts alongside
OF "scab labor the strike will assume proportions
which will greatly complcate the situation. Even
If the engineers do sympa thize with the fire
and decide remain at their engines the
scarcity OF labor in the coal hills will prevent any
immediate substitution OF this branch OF labor.
The fremen and engineers have the upper hand in
the controversy. It Is said because. with no fires
going with which 10 pump out the water from the
mines the operators Will he compelled either TO
grant the request of the men 10 have their
properties flooded with water A representative
anthracite operator said yesterday:
The companies which have the largest interests
in the Wyoming district the Lehigh Valley
Ioai Company. which IS Under the control Of the
barre Coal company csnrai ts Rsiroad %i Of New
Jersey concern: the American and Petersburg Coal
with ofiice in this city in the Washington Build
Office IN the same bniIdins and reppesent ,he h
Pennsylvania Railroad. and the mines OF the Della
and Hudson railroads, The properties OF Stick
ney. Conyngham & Co. are situated some distance
no doubt that they Will shortly be affected by the
ions Of dollars ana are dsrbgted oVer large n5 and
extremely productive area The anthracite mined
much in demand formerly the ehief market PRt
ties Of have found their way 10 the ports of the
Great Lakes and TO Southern points by way Of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
WHY THE FIREMEN STRIKE.
this large district much smaller than is generally
supposed The proportion is about 500 miners to
cases whore the finer grades OF anthracite are
burned one one man can handle from four to six
twelve boilers perhaps two three men only
ny many TO to keR up ra e
physical discomfort induced by the heat why.
at a depth OF $50 feet. where the temperature re-
The ruth is b be remeS
ara ara engineers work upon the surface, and. there
they are not compelled 10 work as hard as are the
fTemen on the ferry boats here in the harbor. All
amount amount of steam with which to pump out the
Any "Dago" fresh from Europe can pitch coal but
the trouble comes when the engineer refuses
mine thereby becomes idle the thousands Of men
caase seefe Se are to be idle II the
viii IN time MI up these miles and miles of sub
OF time viii result to the owners IN pampng d tbem
dry That That Is VIII! the fremen are, important fact
Whatever the justice of their claims NAV he il
is only fair to the owners state that the miners
generally are continually raising n "rumpus' are
always nagging at the superintendent in spite OF
the fact that they are. a class very well maid
II Is not that they wish curtail production he
cause the operators and Wholesale dealers are II
anything short OF coal There is plenty In the local
yards. however.
The owners have a rule been perfectlv fair
with the mon. At the November conference the
operators agreed TO an advance of 10 per cent THE
United Mine Workers seemed pleased at this and
went about their work again with every evidence
of satisfaction The fremen, who are not members
of the United Mine Workers. hut who have a union
of their own. shared in this advance of wages
TESTING MITCHELLS STRENGTH
When President Mitchell and Father Phil,ns
here In the spring 10 arrange for a CON
tinuance of this rate of wages they were ignored
completely In my opinion. the fact that the opera
tors refused them formal conference was simplv
the control which President Mitchell urged that
he exerted the The November arrange.
ment of prices continued by a tacit agreement
until November l. 1902. While nothing was signed
the agreement became. in the opinion of opera
tors. a binding contract.
Therefore. the interesting point issue for the
owners is whether MIR. Mitchell has suf1-
cient ascendency the engineers keen them
at their posts now that the fremen have gone
out. If he is not strong enough to keep them at
their engines he demonstrates clearly that he has
not the control the men which he has re-
peatedly asserted that he had and therefore, he is
not the future to be considered a man who
can live up 10 his half of a contract.