New-York tribune., 1902-05-13
SHUTDOWN THREATENED
OPERATORS SAY THIS WILL
FOLLOW STRIKE.
PRESIDENT TRUESDALE SAYS MINES
MAY BE CLOSED INDEFINITELY
MINERS ACTION a SURPRISE.

Anthracite coal operators in this city said last
night that if at the delegates convention, in
Hazetou, Penn. tomorrow, a general strike OF
the 147 600 anthracite miners was declared IT
would be Immediately followed by a shut down
in ali the mines. One of the best known oper-
ators, who was firm in the belief last week that
there would be strike. admitted yesterday
that he had changed his mind since the result
Of the miners convention in Scranton. Penn,
gas announced.
". Il. TruesdaIe, president Of the Delaware.
Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company
said that the shut down would be general and
might last indefinitely. Much would depend on
the nature Of the strike and the time it lasted.
In reference TO a statement from the mining
regions that the coal and iron police had prom
ised at meeting OF local union of miners
that while they would protect the property of
the mine owners they would not protect the non
union men. If any were employed Mr.. Trues-
dale said:
These police are engaged by the companies
and sworn in under the laws Of the State of
Pennsylvania to do what is required Of them to
do including the protection Of the workers. On
account of the shut down, in the strike is
declared, there will be few non-union men to
protect
Mr. Truesdale further said that there could be
10 change in the position of the operators.
Their stand was taken TO make no concessions
and TO reject arbitration, and they would main
tain il.
Stocks Of coal were so widely distributed. said
Mr.. Truesdale that it would be some time be
fore the effects OF a strike would be felt by con-
sUmers. he declared that the Lackawanna road
had PAID 10 its employees in the mines about
S1.500OOO more in wages in the last year than
3n the year before, and that he understood they
were pretty well satisfied with general condi-
tiCns at present.
John ". Gates yesterday morning, just after
a conference at the office Of J. p. Morgan &
Co. said that he still Of the opinion that the
odds were 100 to ! against a general strike. He
said he based his opinion on his confidence in
The wisdom of the leaders and the conservative
element amongst the miners.
II is believed that while many Of the miners
would like order strike in retaliation for
being turned down by the operators at every
point others look simply to the question Of
expediency. and viii not vote for a strike unless
there is reasonable chance that it can be woi[
man who took an interest in the attempts TO
settle the trouble before the negotiations were
called of said:
There Is little doubt that if the strike is de-
cisred Wednesday IT viii be long one and the
rnoralization Of The union. At the convention win
oe some # the oldumers. VINO realize exactly what
strike FOR the purpose Of retaliation I'm
less such strike is won in the first week II means
a long period Of suffering for the families OF the
miners even if il is won in the erd. II is pretty
certain that the chances Of winning will be dis
cussed al great length before strike is voted
Secretary Ralph NJ Easey of the Civic
Federation said yesterday that the federation
mad done all that it could to prevent strike.
he could not make any prophecies but could
only hope that even after the strike de-
eiared a settlement might be reached.
II is believed that Senator Hanna. chairman
OF the Civic Federation, though he is not san
guine As to the chances Of peace. is keeping his
eye on the situation. The services Of the arbi-
,rstion comrnifee can be called upon after the
strike is in Eessress as well as before the strike
is actually os.
Those Of the representatives Of the coal carry
ing companies Who willing TO talk yester-
day admitted that the action of the miners at
their convention n Scranton was in the nature
OF surprise, and said that their belief that
there would be TO strike had been based on the
idee that the convention would result in back
down
dispatch from Scranton Penn last night
quoted an operator who had Just returned there
ron this city as saying that the coal presidents
would meet here to-day. This operator declared
nat irrespective Of any strike the mines would
Se closed unless the miners submitted 10 a re-
ConfinHed fifth pnge
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