New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-30
NCN-UNION MEN ARRIVING.
OPERATORS STILL DETERMINED. But
MINERS SEEM TO WEAKEN.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

10y TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE
w'iikesbsrre. Penn. May 29.-PTesdent Nichols
q the First District OF the United Mine Workers,
made admission to-day which sheds new light
upon the strike situation. Yesterday meeting
81 about 800 engineers. punpmen and hremen was
held AZ Scranton n discuss the order TO strike
June 2 A resolution passed calling upon the
trited Mine Workers Executive Board. which is
sued the order rescind IL. and implying that the
viii refuse obey the order If II is allowed to
stand. The meeting was attended by employees Of
the Delaware. Lackawanna and Western. Ontario
and Western. Peoples Coal. Scranton Coal. Erie
Railroad. Delaware and Hudson and other coal
companies. President Nichols said:
II these men do not want eight hour day and
are not willing to fight for il the board may with
draw the demand for an eight hour day made upon
the companies that employ them.
He has since been qualifying the statement to
show that IL meant that he believed II would act
as incentive the men TO strike by showing
the union ignored them. II had. however. Just
the opposite effect. and the more decided
than not Ia strike. while many others OF the
same companies who have been doubtful have cast
in their lot with the three hundred. II is now not
improbable and the operators expect il, that all
In the Scranton districts will remain at work
after the June order into effect The operators
in this city have passed the statement along 10 all
parts OF the district and the impression has grown
rapidly that IL is evidence that the union Is
weakening under the force OF public opinion and
the fear that violence will and is willing to
withdraw the order. if possible
That the operators are decided to keep their
mines clear whatever the conditions, is mani
Tested in the following sem-offical statement that
they issued this evening:
We have men and We will man the pumps There
men TO take the places of The strikers We have
them row. Not one viii be without protection.
We are fully prepared for every emergency. and
The mines viii be kept free from flooding II II
takes thousand men AT every colliery- Don't
make any mistake about il. We are going TO mo
ou: II manage oar own properties or IL
irresponsible people viii take the job off hands:
keep Ihem running. and settIe, once and for all,
Nne'eT we gn run our PaoPers s As we qesI me
direct interest IN il, but are simply men who come
from other points and first coerce our men into
leaving rs and then try to prevent others taking
their places
To-day agents Of the operators were sent into the
country districts TO get farmers who have
affiliations with any union become coal and iron
police. and the time work the fires
or the pumps. The operators now perfecting
arrangements whereby they assured that they
viii be able. in the event Of need. to get ali these
mon they want Strike leaders. discussing this say
that few non-unon viii he obtained. and that
those brought here will stay long.
This afternoon the peace rrmors from New-York
caused quite little excitement here, and it was
said that work would be resumed on June l. Re
Esuding this tho operators said:
n there is TO be peace We would have heard from
our main offices il is nothing more than a rumor-
half Of ! Per cent. They determined to break
the union: II they are to manage their properties
anG remain in business the union must be broken
Tho operators have prepared for this fight They
know that IL end in the defeat of the strikers
II Is rumorcd that work win be resumed on June l.
Ne doubt even If the strikers were willing to re-
work tomorrow. If there would be any
work before July I. Why should we he i'm hurry
20 resume2 The market viii he just as good then
IS IL is now.
Tonight President Fahey OF tho Ninth District
arrived here. discredted the peace rumors
and said that unless the operators made a conces-
sion no overtures for peace would he made by the
miners. He will be Joined tomorrow by District
Presidents Duffy and Nichols, and the three will
hold a conference with President Mitchell soon
as he shall arrive from the West. He is expected
tomorrow night.
Preparations are being made 10 decorate to-
morrow the graves OF the victims of the Lattimer
shooting There are twenty-one of these. and
ulost Of them buried in the little cemetery at
f.attimer
Eleven non-uniou men arrived at the Cranberry
ooiery. Hazleton. last night. to take the places
until they hoised the companyS prop
Frty. When the strikers learned OF the arrival OF
the recruits they decided hereafter to watch ali
trains. and II any non-union men are found on
them TO Try to persuade them not TO take the
places Of the strikers.
The only coal produced i'm the anthracite region
Is being mined by one man. John ID. Williams,
retired miner Of NantiCOke, who has the mine IN
his back yard IL is an outcropDing which deyel-
oped into vein. Two feet by twelve, and from
which he has been taking coal for years.
II given to him by the SuSquehanna Coal
Company. and he has mined il seventy-five feet
without either powder or dynamite. picking II out
with wedge and bar. He has allowed
one else to mine il. and now. in the goodness of
his heart, Is giving coal TO those of his friends
Who need II. he produces couple OF tons week.