Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-05-16
Given to 10000 Men
of the Anthracite
Regions.
DECIDE TO FIGHT
Possibility That Pumps
May Also Be
Stopped.

Hazleton, Pa. May 1G.-The miners
convention adjourned sine die at 11:45
a. m. The delegates voted leaving
the question of calling out the en-
gineers. fremen and pump runners
to the district officers.
Steps have been taken to involve in
the strike all the bituminous and an
thracite coal miners in the United
States. The convention has petition-
ed the national officer to issue a call
for national convention of all the
miners for the purpose of considering
the situation in the anthracite field.
President Mitchell said if the general
strike did take place it would involve
449 900 men.
Reports from all parts of the region
today show everything quiet and the
men determined to stand by the
strike order. Local unions are in
session preparing for the campaign
and adopting plans for the relief of
members.
The coal companies continue to
make preparations for long strike.
Today the mules are being removed
from the mines and placed in pasture.
The coal and iron police are now
more active and alert but their SER
vices are hardly needed at this time.
because the strikers are keeping
away from the collerieS.
Because of the stagnation of busi-
1s.,I.t
Many industrial establishments are
experiencing difficulty in getting coal.
Railway men are feeling the force of
the strike and conferences of griev-
ance boards and the Lackawanna sys-
tenn are in session today.
HaZletOn. Pa, May 16.-The an
thracite mine workers in convention
late yesterday afternoon decided TO
continue the strike of the 145.0O0 men
against the mine owners. and to fight
it out to the bitter end. The matter
of calling out the engineers. fremen
and pump runners will be decided by
the delegates today. The vote to con-
tinue the suspension was as follows:
Total vote cast, 81; for strike. 1914;
against strike. 3492: majority for
strike. 11115. President Mitchell. how
ever. in compliance with the rules of
the United Mine Workers. announced
to the public that the action of the
convention was unanimous.
Wipes Out the Uncertainty.
Yesterdays step taken by the miners,
after practically considering the mat
ter for two months, has wiped ont the
uncertainty of the situation. and it is
freely predicted that the most serious
labor struggle in the history of the
cOuntry-if not the worlds about To
begin. That is the view taken by
nearly every miner. While the leaders
are cautious and will not forecast
their actions. il is not unlikely that
the miners fight will be carried into
the bituminOuS coal regions and into
other fields of industry Mine workers
for eighteen months have been look
ing forward to the strike that is now
upon them. They have saved their
money and are considered to be in
better shape today for a fight than
they were in the great strike of 1900.
What the Miners Apprehend.
That struggle ended in the mine
owners giving the men n 10 per cent.
advance after six weeks suspension.
The operators are on record as being
unalterably opposed to granting the
men any concession. and they have
personally informed the mine workers
leaders of that fact. The workmen
fear that the present fight may mean
the destruction of their organization.
because they believe that the mine
| owners are bent more on wreckfng
their union than they are in opposing
the demands for higher wages and
shorter work days.
Importance of the Pumps.
The proposition to call out the engi-
| neers. firemen and pump runners was
separated from the main question
early in the discussion. which began
shortly after the convention met yes
terday. The miners insist that nearly
all the engineers, firemen and pump
runners belong to their organization,
fand that they can get them all to quit.
In the event that this is brought about
| it would do incalculable damage to
the mines through flooding. unless the
companies can succeed in filing the
mems places.