The age-herald., 1902-03-26
Have Been Making Prepara- tiOns for Some Time
AN ASSESSMENT IS LEVIED
National Organization WlIf Soon Bring Matters to an Issue In West VIr- ginia-strongest Organizers
 Are Now There Ready.

Indianapolis, Ind, March 25.-The United | Mine Workers of America, whose nation- al officers are in Indianapolis, have for some time been making preparations for trouble in both the Pennsylvania anthra- cite region and the bituminous fields Of West Virginia and Virginia, and 1t is said the organization is in better position than ever before to make a fight for re- cognition.
 The January convention of the miners | in Indianapolis empowered the nationsl executive board to levy a strike assess. ment of 10 cents a month a member. The board met immediately following the ad- journment of the joint conference of the miners and operators and no time was lost in ordering the special assessment The first returns are now coming in at the national headquarters.
 It Is expected that this source alone will net the organization for strike purposes something like $25.O0O or s3O.O0O a month as 1t is understood that over 25o,o0O men are paying the assessment. Last year the national organization expended s202,O0O in carrying on strikes. In addition to this the locals In many districts subscribed to the strike fund without reporting to the national In this way probably $5O,- GOO was spent
 Laboring Under Strain.
 It has been evident for some time that the officials of the national organization have been laboring under an unusual strain. They feel that a critical period 
 of union men in the world has arrived, and that It's future status depends large | ly upon the outcome of the present nego- | tiations in Pennsylvania and the Virgin | ias.
 If there be strike in the Anthracite | region all the members of the organiza-
 ton which cover twenty-four states may
 be called out as the January convention
 in Indianapolis empowered the national
 officers to go to that extreme if neces
 sary to bring about a settlement.
 VIII Bring Matters to Issue.
 It is believed that the national organi
 zation Is preparing to bring matters to ar | issue in West Virginia. The best or ganizers at its command are being mass ed there now and 1t is said they have re l ceived carte blanche to fulfill their mis- | sions. West Virginia must be organized | if the competitive agreement between | | Ohio. Illinois and Pennsylvania Is to be | maintained. If it were not for the i'm | pending trouble in the Anthracite regions, | it Is understood that the national officers | would call strike at once in West Vir- ginia.
 Secretary and Treasurer Wilson, who | left tonight to attend the convention of the bituminous men of the Central Penn sylvania district at Altoona, Pa., said q qfr ka Tn ot,fa ic fy,aY,, the district officers have been instruct ed to call a strike if they fail in another attempt to get a conference with the operators. It Is thought, however, that there will be strike in West Virginia until the Anthracite is cleared
 New Orleans Strike Imminent.
 New Orleans. March 25.-The street car strike may start any time after tomor- row nights meeting of the street car mems union. Even MT. Mahon, presi- dent of the car mems union, now says that 1t looks like a strike, and both sides are preparing. The union will run coach- es as was done in St. Louis and will bring the weight of all the other unions to bear on the situation. The railroad companies have been quietly arranging to secure men, depending on the city for protection A volunteer police force is already being formed by the citizens on the lines of the organization which suppressed the Charles riots and the militia will be called | out If necessary.
 Hanna Arrives in New York. New York, March 25.-Senator Hanna | arrived from Washington tonight and was met by Ralph M. Easily, secretary | of the National Civic Federation. The | Senator announced that he would pre- side at meeting of the ccnciliation com mittee of the federation tomorrow morn- l ing which will consider the threatened strike of anthracite miners. President John Mitchell of the United Mine Work | CTS, accompanied by Presidents John Fahy, Thomas Nichols and Thomas Duff | fly of the anthracite district organizations also arrived in this city tonight
 Norfolk Strike About Ended. Norfolk. Va, March 25.--It seems prob- men and conductors of the Norfolk Rail- way and Light Company will end tomor- row morning and that the larger portion of the men will return to work. At meeting of the Central Labor Union a committee of three was appointed to ad- just the differences between the strikers and the officials of the company and was given full power to come to some agree ment.
 General Manager c. B. Johnston of the company has named 10 o'clock tomorrow as the time for the consultation and it Is expected the strike will be settled at, hot tft.an