Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-19
LOOK FOR PLAN FROM EASLEY
Miners and People Believe Civic Federation
Will Try to End Strike.
AUTHORITIES ON BOTH SIDES SILENT
strike is Generally Referr, d TO in Pull
pits and Clergy ren eel Fore
bearance and Fr, nlity
of miners.

| HAZLETON Pa. May 1s.-The visit Of
| Ralph NJ. Easley secretary of the National
| Civic federation, to strike headquarters and
| his conference with President Mitchell Of
the United Mine Workers late last night
was the only incident Of any Importance
that claimed the attention today of the
labor leaders and others around the Valley
| hotel.
As neither Mr.. Easley nor Mr.. Mitchell
would say anything regarding their meet
ing, there was much speculation as to the
object Of the visit of the secretary Of the
| Civic federation. Mr. Easley laughed at
| the stir which his arrival caused and said
! there was no Importance attached to his
| visit. He said he came here merely to look
over the ground and keep himself informed
OF the general situation. He denied that
he brought any plan for the settlement OF
the strike or message from Senator Hanna
| or any other member of the Civic fedora
ton.
Mr.. Easley said he carried no message
back with him from Mr.. Mitchell. He
would not discuss his visit to the Ohio
senator at Washington on Friday. His talk
| with the miners national leader last night
lasted two hours. He again saw Mr. Mitch
ell for few minutes this morning and left
for New York at 10 a. m.
| Plan Under Cover.
Despite the denlals Of the labor leaders,
the members, Of the Civic federation and
the coal operators, all Of whom have thus
far rigidly adhered to the policy OF abso-
lutely refusing to anticipate any move in
connection with the strike, 1t Is believed
here that the federation is quietly prepar-
ing to receive any proposition that might be
offered by either side.
This belief Is strengthened by the fact
that only twenty-four hours had elapsed
from the time the conference was held
at Washington between Senator Hanna,
President Gompers of the American Fedora
tion OF Labor, who is also a member OF
the Civic federation, and Mr.. Easley, and
the latter's arrival here. Absolute quiet
reigned at headquarters and throughout the
Lehigh valley.
Although it was Sunday there was little
rest for Mr.. Mitchell and his two sec
retaries. Excepting Mr.. Easley, he had no
visitors, and he gave his uninterrupted at
tention to q large batch Of mail pertain
ing to the strike in the anthracite field
and to miners business in bituminous To-
calities.
CIergymen Refer to Strike.
Clergymen of nearly all denomination In
their sermons today touched more or less
on the strike. The trend OF the utter
ances were for forbearance and frugality.
The great struggle was generally deplored
and the hope was held out that, though
the strike may cause much suffering for
time, 1t may in the end result In great
good for both capital and labor.
There was an impressive scene at each
Of the masses at st. Gabriels Roman Cath
| oil nhurrh in fhig This ia the
church Of the late Rev. e. S. Philips, the
miners champion In the strike of 1900, was
the rector.
Following out President Mitchell's request
that all mine workers abstain from visit
ing saloons, the Rev. James " Hussie
asked all the members of the parish to take
an oath abstaining from the use Of intoxl-
eating liquors during the period Of the
strike. Few, IL any, refused. At the prin-
cipal service at 10:30 a. m every person
in the church, which was crowded, stood ur
and took the oath. At vespers the oath was
administered to those who were not present
at the morning services.
ExhOrts Union Among Miners.
; Father Hussie delivered a strong sermon
to the mine workers. He told them that
} now they have struck they must stand to-
} gether for the cause.
The strike now enters upon its second
| week. The week just ended was the first
1t is said. in the history of the hard coal
trade, that no coal was mined in any part
Of the region. No disturbances Of any
character have been reported anywhere.
} President Mitchell will establish head
quarters at the Hotel Hart at Wilkesbarre
tomorrow evening, where he will remain
until the strike is ended In about week
President Mitchell will pay a brief visit tc
his home in Spring Valley, ILL.,, and will
stop at national headquarters at Indianap-
oils on his return to the anthracite region
President Mitchell said today that he
could not yet say when the special national
convention to be called for the purpose oi
: considering the adyisability Of involving the
I bitumnous miners in the anthracite strike
will be had. He has not yet received tho
I consent of the two districts TO make up tn,
4 FIVE necessary under the rules to call
special convention.
AL the local trades unions in this region
D met today and decided to stand by th'
I miners in their struggle.