The evening Republican., 1902-06-16
SOFT COAL MEMS AID
President Gilday Says Little
Bituminous Is Going Out.
MINERS AWAIT MITCHELL'S ORDER.
Strikers Will Win Because of Ruin
Which Ia Sure to Follow Aban-
N0nment of Mines-Quiet In
Anthracite Region.

"hlCh Ii sure 10 FOllOw ADaus
Comment of Mines-auiet In
Anthracite Region.
WIIKESBARRE, Pa, June TO-
Patrick Gilday, president Of the central
Pennsylvania bituminous district Of
the United Mine Workers of America,
who came here to consult President
Mitchell on a matter local to his dis
trict, In talk with press correspond
ent gives an insight as to what the soft
GOAL miners in his territory are doing to
help their brother workmen in the an
thracite field.
Mr.. Gilday said there are $4,000 soft
coal miners in this district. and every
one of them is taking deep interest in
the struggle now going on in this re-
gion. On the second day Of the strike
Mr.. Gilday sent out instructions to ev-
cry check weighman and pit commit
teeman at the mines in his district to
prevent the shipment Of soft coal into
anthracite territory, and thus far, he
said, very little coal from his district
has taken the place of anthracite.
"There have been only four attempts
by uniohized mines to send soft coal to
the anthracite markets." he said. Zone
order was intended for Mount Carmel,
Pa; two for Philadelphia and one for
New York. AS soon as our men at the
mines learned the intended destination
Of the coal we requested the mine own
ers not to send it, and they complied
with the request. We are not interfer-
Ing with the normal shipment Of soft
coal"
President Gilday said he had no per.
sonal knowledge that the other bitumi-
nous district presidents were doing the
same as himself, but he felt sure they
were. There ia some soft coal coming
into the anthracite market from central
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, but it
Is mostly of nonunion production.
When asked regarding the feeling in
his territory as to general strike to
help the hard coal miners, Mr. Gilday
said:
"Our men will do whatever President
Mitchell says. They can have our tinan-
cial support, and if Mr. Mitchell sees
fit to ask our men to lay down their
picks they will do it promptly. do not
believe, however, there will be a gener-
al strike Of the soft coal miners, be-
cause the anthracite men are going to
win without it."
Asked as to how the miners expected
to win in view of the fact that they
have practically reached the limit Of
their resources in this region in press
ing the operators and the latter still
stand out firmly, he replied:
by the slow destruction Of mine
property. By that mean that if they
do not give the men the hours and pay
they ask for they will not consent to go
into the mines and preserve the opera
tons. The collieres will fill If the
strike is not soon ended, and the mines
will begin to squeeze or cave in. All
the timbermen are out, and the timber
which holds up the roofs of mines will
soon begin to give way. These squeezes
will cost thousands of dollars to repair
and probably be the cause Of the aban-
donment of many costly operations.
When the investors pockets begin to
feel it, n change in the attitude Of the
operators will come, and the miners
can wait for the change"
President Gilday's mission here was
to get President Mitchelrs consent to
strike against the Sonman Shaft Coal
company near Portage, Pa, and also
the financial support Of the national
organizations He received both. The
strike at that place was inaugurated
on April 1G because the company
would not recognize the union and
sign the wage scale. About $50 men
are involved.
The strike at the Bloomington mines
near Phillipsburg, Pa, has been set
tied, and the men will return to work.
Five hundred men struck there last
Tuesday because four men would not
Join The union. The four men have
quit work.
There are no developments here.
President Mitchell is in frequent tele.
graphic communication with his men
in the west on general organization
work. He has no information to i'm
part on either the strike In this region
or the West Virginia suspension.