The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-07-19
ANOTHER STRIKE
Is PRECIPITATED
Firemen In Coal Fields
Demand Shorter Hours.
WALK-OUT AFFECTS MINERS
Big Galleries Are Forced TO Close
DOwn--Estimated That Fifty
Thousand Men Are Idle.

Thousand Men Are ldle.
A special from Wilkesbarre. Pa,
states that the strike order Of Presl.
dent Mullahy, Of the Firemen's Assoc
citation Of Pennsylvania, directing the
men to strike Tuesday for an eight.
hour day was obeyed by the men. Nine
hundred members of the organization
in that section Of the state refused to
60 to work.
Most Of the strikers are employed as
firemen at the coal mines, and their
failure to report for duty caused near
ly all the collierles in the northern an
thracite region to suspend operations,
throwing out of work, it is estimated,
10000 men and boys. Some Of the in.
dividual coal operators conceded the
demands of their employees on condi-
ton that the short hour day was not
to hold If the men employed 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 firemen were unreasonable; that
they had received a 10 per cent in
crease when the wages Of the miners
were raised last autumn, and that the
demands now made upon the compa-
MES was equal to a 20 per cent adj
vance.
Unable to Replace Strikers.
The strikers held a meeting in
Wilkesbarre city shortly before noon
Tuesday. Reports were received from
all the districts and they showed that
the strike from Pittston to Shickshin-
ny in Luzerne county was general, and
that the coal companies were unable
to secure men to fill 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 the foremen g fire
bosses into the service. This was done
at great many of the mines. Some
body had to do it, because there was
danger Of great damage being done by
water and the accumulation of gas.
Some Of the hosting engineers re-
manned at their posts, but their ser
vices were not needed in the absence
of the firemen In some cases, so it is
reported, where engineers were asked
! to do firing they refused and quit their
jobs.
The strikers claim that the engi.
neers are friendly to them and that
they will not work with non-union men
! President Mullahy said Tuesday night
that he had information from all over
the northern region 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.
Friction Between the Orders.
Despite reports to the contrary sent
out by officials at the headquarters Of
the United Mine Workers, it is known
that there is considerable friction be
tween the United Mine Workers and
the fremen. The miners think thai
the strike is inopportune and that the
firemen should have waited until Apri
next when the present agreement be
tween the operators and miners expire
before maying their demands. 1t is
also alleged that when the miners
went on strike last fall the firemen re
manned at work and this has caused
little feeling too Still the United
Mine Workers must be governed By
their leaders, and it is known that The
heads Of the organization are in favor
Of the strikers. Some of the operators
will be apt to put the United Mine
Workers to the test and see whether
they will live up to the agreemen
made with the operators last April
The agreement compels the miners t.
work at a fixed rate of wages for on,
year. There is no clause which per
mits the miners to remain out on sym
pathy strike.