The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-03
Majority of Pump Runners Obey Order and Quit
 Work
REAL TEST WILL COME
 AS TIME IS CALLED TODAY
In Statement Issued to the Public President Mitchell Says 80 Per Cent of Engineers, Bremen
 and Pumpmen VIII Cult.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 2.--The order of the United Mine Workers of America. calling out on strike all engineers. flre- men and pun pmen employed at collieries where the eight-hour work day with present wages was not granted went into effect today and, as has been predicted, 8 majority of the mon obeyed the order. The real test, however, of whether the mine pumps shall be manned, will begin tomorrow. Although a majority of the men quit work, the companies. generally speaking, succeeded in keeping their pumps in operation. The operators feel that at present they have the advant- age, but they are not sanguine of the future. The exact number of men who quit today cannot be obtained.
 National President Mitchell. of the miners union. gave out statement in which he says:
 MltcheIl's Statement.
 Reports received from every import ant mining community indicate that where the eight-hour day has not been conceded fully 80 per cent of. the flre- men, pumpmen and engineers have ceas- ed work. The number will be materiaily increased tomorrow. In some sections mine foremen have positively declined to perform the work of engineers. hremen and pumpmen. In some places foremen | have manned the pumps and clerks have | also been required to perform this labor. 1 "A perfect army of Irresponsible men have been employed by the coal compan- les to act as coal and iron policemen. The l services of these men are unnecessary and their presence unwarranted. There have oeen no violations today by the mine workers, and am sanguine there will be no overt acts the part of the strikers"
 On the other hand, mining official of one of the largest coal companies who received accurate information from the entire coal belt made this statement:
 Estimate Toe High.
 President Mitchells estimate is too high The individual companies. however. all lost more than 50 per cent of their men.
 Notwithstanding the big assertion of men. every colliery in the entire region that made an effort was able to get up steam and maintain 1t. We are satisfied. under the circumstances, with the situa- ton as It exists at present. and we do not care to boast of future ability to keep the mines from flooding The com panies have nearly all the men they want for present needs"
 The coal field was very quiet throughout the day. Reports came in from several sections telling of disturbances, but these were of minor nature only.
 Committees of the local unions are busy tonight canvassing the men who remained at work today. Hundreds Of them. how ever. cannot be reached as they are quartered within the confines of the col- lieries.
 The several brotherhoods of railroad employees in this locality held a meeting here today. but no action of any kind was taken The railroaders are in hearty sympathy with the striking miners and 1t Is not unlikely that they will give the men financial or other material sup port.
 Order Only Partially obeyed. Scranton, Pa. June 2.-The strike or der directed to the engineers, hremen and pump runners was only partially obey ed in the Lackawanna region. District i President T. B. Nichols of the United 1 Mine Workers claims that in the Lack awanna and Wyoming region. s5 per l cent of the firemen, engineers and pump runners, quit work. The companies oper- | ating in the Lackawanns region claim | that not more than 50 per cent of their l firemen and less than 20 per cent of the engineers and pump runners obeyed the strike order.
 One-haif Go Out.
 Tamaqua, Pa, June 2.-About one-half of the engineers. firemen and pumpmen in the Panther Creek Valley reported for duty today. The places of the men who obeyed the strike order are rapidly be- ing filled.
 Six Hundred on . Strike.
 Hazleton, Pa, June 2.-All the en. gineers, flremen and pump runners, num- bering about 600. except fifteen or twenty. struck today.