Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-11
GAME OF WAIT NOW
The Miners. Can Hold Out
Indefinitely.
VEIL PROVIDED FOR
CLAIM OF xNTIMIDA-
TON UNTRUE.
Belief at Wilkesbarre That Presence
of Federal Troops Would Not
Alter Situation.

Special From Staff Correspondent.
WILKESBARRE, Pa, October 11-Presi-
dent Mitchell returned to his he adquarters
in this city today after his frutless inter-
view with the operators in New York
Mr.. Mitchell is very sorry that nothing
was effected at the conference He was
sincerely willing to go more than half way
toward a settlement of the strike and
would have conceded important features of
the miners claims in return for slight con-
cessions on the other side.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Mitchell has
made a deep and favorable impression by
his course.
Mr.. Mitchell said today that he did not
know what would be the next move. There
is nothing for the miners to do but to sit
down and wait. They are not suffering
and there is absolutely no distress in this
region more than the ordinary unfortunate
condition of the population. They are ac-
quainted with poverty, but they are no
worse off now than at any time in the past.
AS stated in these dispatches a few days
ago. money is pouring into the strikers re-
lief fund from every quarter. At this rate
they can hold out indefinitely.
Troops Have Little Effect.
The troops are all in the field, but their
presence thus far has not affected the sit
uation in the least The miners do not re-
sent their presence, but mingle with them
and Joke with them. What are you boys
going to do to us?" they ask the soldiers.
Are you going to drive us into the mines
and shoot US if we don't work?'
This city will be division headquarters
for the militia. Gen. Gobin's headquarters
and President Mitchelrs headquarters are
within half a mile of each other, but the
soldiers and the strike leaders do not come
into contact.
This city is also the home town of most
of the coal operators, whose representa-
tiveS are located here. There is only one
cry by these men. Send US federal troops"
they say, 'and we will mine coal" But
people who are conversant with the situa
ton say that they fail to see how the pres
ence of United States soldiers would alter
things The miners simply sit down on their
own door steps and say that they will not
go back to work until their grievances are
redressed. The federal troops might march
up and down the street all day and still the
men would not go back to work.
Talk Of Intimidation is Bosh.
The public ought to know by this time
that this talk of the miners being intimi-
dated and prevented from working is bosh.
The miners are fighting for principle,
and they are going to fight 1t to the end.
The attitude of the operators in the past
two months has demonstrated that the mine
workers union will get no mercy from the
operators; that whatever the men obtain
will have to be obtained by main strength
and not by graciousness from the employ
erS.
The strike leaders are not worried over the
intmation of the sending of federal troops.
They think that President Roosevelt would
make a mistake in SO doing. but that Is his
business, and 1t is not up to them to worry
about it
Federal Troops Not Needed.
General Goblin, who was called to Wash
ington in order that his views on the opera
tors demand for federal troops might be
learned is expected back this afternoon. 1
asked Major Miller, General Gobin's adju-
tant, who is In command during the gen.
erals absence, if federal troops are needed.
1T is absurd to be asking for federal
troops" said he; IF ten thousand men can
not control the situation any number of
men could not do it. The asking for fed
eral troops is positively absurd"
The operators say the troops are not
where they are needed; that they are in
camps and not on guard at collieries."
My dear sir" replied Major Miller,
troops are within a few minutes call of
every coiiiery in the region. Trains are
in waiting at every camp to take the men
wherever they are called There is no
red tape about 1t. We go on call from
an operator or one of his employees. If
workman should telephone from a mine
that there were indications of trouble we
would send detachment at once ! sup
pose the operators want us to keep march
ing up and down the state of Pennsyl-
Vania without place to camp or bivouac.
We are not here to do police duty in the
mines we are here to answer calls and we
do it,
What the Operators Say.
1.-The operators say that the troops ar
rive after an act of violence has been COM
mitted."
I'VE can't be mind readers. You might
as well say to a superintendent of police,
My house was robbed last night. Why
didn't you have a policeman tthere?' We
will arrest any man who makes threats,
and will hold him in the stockade, refusing
70 turn him over to the civil authorities.
We will close a saloon if crowd should
gather In 1t and talk violence. and i'm
prison the occupants of the place in a
stockade.
The truth is, the operators have got
abundant protection. We will send troops
to any mine to protect men who wish TO
return to work. If we are called on to do it.
but we are not voluntarily going to do po-
lice duty"
Maj. Miller has been on duty In the an
thracite country since July n. and no one
knows the situation better than he