New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-27
NICHOLS CRIES BRIBERY
SAYS OPERATORS OFFER MONEY FOR
VOTES TO STOP STRIKE.

tBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.l
Wilkesharre Penn, Sept. 26.-Governor Stone
this evening directed that troops be sent to
Columbia County. the sixth of the anthracite
counties to ask for them. The request was
made this afternoon by Sheriff Knorr after he
ana mis- deputies had failed to control a tur-
bulent crowd Of strikers which held possession
or the roads about the Centralia colliery, of the
Lehigh Valley Coal Company. The crowd this
morning blocked the passage of the working
train carrying men to the colliery. and COM
pelled Superintendent Robert Mercur and the
force to return. All day they remained about
the roads. refusing to allow workers to pass.
General Goblin says that he will send couple
OF companies OF the Sth Regiment tomorrow
morning. They will not remain he said. be
cause do not expect further trouble, but will
aid the Sheriff in making arrests. warrants
being out for large number of men who were
concerned in the rioting"
AT the Packer No. > coery which is near
Centralia Edward Hewitt. a coal guard was
shot from ambush and severely wounded this
morning. His condition is critical
A sensation was caused to-day by President
T. D Nichols Of District No. l. comprising
Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. issuing a
bold statement accusing the operators of try
ing to brtbe officers OF United Mine Workers
locals in the Scranton district 10 vote for call
ing off the strike. The statement IS addressed
10 the strikers Of the district and is
Il have just come into possession Of facts
which are OF such vital importance TO YOU that
take this opportunity OF making them brown
TO you all. Notwithstanding that the opev4t6srz.
stated that no efforts would be made to K i IN !.
miners return to work till they came back
Of their own volition, desperate efforts be
ing made to brbe portion of our membership
hat mill
rest of the to return to work.
Michael Grimes, formerly mine foreman at
different collieries in the region, with headquar
teTs now in the Valley Hotel al Scranton. is
apparently an agent for one or more companies
and has tried to brbe some Of our local officers
to their influence to get their locals to
break the strike. He offered to give local
presidents 81 800 each if they would get ten
other men from their locals to draft a resolu-
ton declaring that the local would go TO work
and have il adopted by the local union. Two of
the TO get $500 apiece, and the other
eight were TO receive 500 each. This would De
paid. besides the $500 to each president
He offered TO furnish money for expenses, and
said that if they were exposed they would De
taken care of He said they could get any
place under the company that they were able TO
fill. but not TO ask for any until three naoHCns @
after the strike broken. He said II they
were not qualified for foremen he could arrange
for the certificates. as the examining bodIu
was controlled by them. He said that for ms
work he to receive a tease OF coal lhi'N5
from the Erie company. ,
Now, be warned by the foregoing and keep
ponr aves on all members and officers Let no
argument cause you 10 let go the NlCtoly w"
have so nobly fought for and won
Reware of Grimes and his hirelings, and stand
true and manly Remeinper a,t tmar tNun roenobers
have hired Grimes to Try 10 corr .tar what
1yith money cannot be trusted. no matter wa ,
tbeir nrofessions and that to return 10 WoIh WORN
and trust TO their promises TO adJuS' Soul eiiN'
ances will be the height OF foiy.
,,ba aho,,a statements were furnished to me
nv men Who are willing to TESTIFY 10 the sailie
in court, If necessary
President Nichols did not give the Names anu
&c oon+a,t for the present to say no more dp"u'
tho matter President Mitchell. before depart
ing for Philadelphia, said of II:
80 o..,aarca and can substantiate what ne
says" nosnopdent
- 10. he had to say, did not appear to be
-. efoc+ed He said: Z know nothing A' ali
o.,,4 :. and am as astonished as ahypouS ei'o'
A. ,,ot ranresent any operator. ana "e'e'
- .n an offer You can deny the "hole
+b,,a shall consult my attorneys apou' 1t
and then make a statement s,. ,a
M ov,orators deny all knowledge OF IT, anu
saw that # is absurd, that they are ualls -
ing gains and that the unlteo 4Sii'i ., ~
knowt,p f. are resorting TO such hie'A' 80,
create a. wrong impression anu ea'D
benefit from it. c+.oro and
frou the troupe at
paol-ar No Q comparative quiet reisheu
,,raI,,,,o,,+ the region to-day, and there was
less interference with workers than on any any tas "a.
for some weeks. In the upper coal neiu .
o.ios from three regiments patToAieu 'ie
roo.. ., .,o,+ the coIIieries where ~ofh was e
dona .nd disnersed crowds of strikers VIM
anv trouble They remained ou' ,,o
o'clock and in that time most OF the men WIN
wanted to return to work did So ana 'he ou'pu
of coal was increased to within a, sa1
t,,o,Sa.a tons of the amount mined each uaS
last week. I NTH the
Company I, of the 18th, had brush WIN r,hile
strikers at Forest City in the i ~
protecting some workmen from iiioD 800
soldiers lined UP in front of the cro"1; SON
atnuas sp,ue wnra ~ thrown at them. Captain bseiow
ordered the men to load. and told the n,YO 10.
- a,o+,.r stone was thrown he wouio . oiue
ms men rsH who showed some signs Of resist
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