New-York tribune., 1902-07-05
GOAL OPERATORS ACTIVE.
RELIEF IN THE ANTHRACITE REGION
THAT THEY ARE PREPARING TO
REOPEN SOME MINES.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BrxE.I


Wikesbarre, Penn, July with the return
of President Mitchell, the striking miners Of
fcials VIII take active measures for Offsettins
the effort which the operators about 10
make to break the strike. Hitherto the strikers
have been the aggressors. having tied up the
region and prevented the production of coal
According to present plans, the operators will
now assume the aggressive. and endeavor 10
break the strike before the assembling of the
national convention of btuminous coal miners
on July IL The miners marshalling their
forces to see that the lines are kept solid to
prevent any wavering and to stop any desertOns.
President Mitchell is confident of success, and
the other leaders share his confidence. They
say that the operators are trying to gain re
cruits in various ways-by threatening that
when work is resumed the force will be
dueed one-third. by asserting that the mines are
in shape to start work on Il days notice. by
declaring that there numerous breaks in the
strikers ranks and they turning men away
who apply for work, but will give all present
applicants first choice when work is resumed
by issuing notices offering TO start work as soon
as majority of the employees vote for ii. and
by giving 10 per cent increase to the workers
now employed.
II is now understood to be the plan of the
Lackawanna, the Susquehanna, the Pardees,
Coke Bros & Co, the Delaware and Hudson and
+ the Lehigh Valley Coal Company to concen-
trate within the next week or two all the men
they can at of their Colleries, and there
make a show of working. Empty coal cars are
being moved from some of the yards in which
they have been standing since the strike began.
and shifted TO sidings several of the mines.
The companies, with bosses, clerks. imported
men and miners who have applied for work.
coouId make a showing and mine and ship coal,
although the strike leaders say this is not likely.
Rumors that attempts to be made are con-
stantly growing. and indications at many OF the
collieres point to the accuracy of the report
but the operators will not admit that they are
making the necessary arrangements. What
other plan the operators may have in view Is
not apparent.
The next week will see the strikers leaders
making tours of the region. getting in touch
with the conditions in each district. and pro-
noting the election of delegates to the national
convention. Many of these have been chosen
already. and IL is expected that all will have
been elected before the end OF next week. The
mine workers of Plymouth have expressed their
sentiment by posting on their bulletin boards
this announcement:
The mine workers and the allied trades stand
in the same relation TO each other as the rail-
roads and mines. We on a forced march
for living wage. and we propose TO fight 1t
out on this line if it takes all summer
The bullet which killed Louis Vinassi has not
yet been found and apparently never will be.
Coroner Saltry to-day said that there
further light upon the mystery. but that Dis
trict Attorney Lewis was making investga-
ton. Vinassrs companion declares ne heard
burst Of shots such as the company describes,
nor did he other strikers in the field. The
company officials, however. are positive that
five shots were fired. and that only was sent
in return.
James F. Mullahy, secretary of the stationary
,-TVt. Doc leF-
rett has led the movement calling out the
engineers. fremen and pumpmen in the anthra-
cite region, to-day announced his candidacy
for the Legislature from the lid district OF this
county. He will go the labor ticket, If one
is formed: II not. he will run independently
and ask the votes of the laboring men, He is /
believed 10 be the frst Of several candidates for
the Legislature whom the. miners will put, in
the field this year.
Operators and strikers were pleasantly sur
prised by the quietnesS of the day. owing 10
the promiscu0us Fourth of July. shooting it
was feared by both sides that the boys and
other irresponsible persons would take the OPP
portunity send bullets at the coneries ana
TO aim rockets at the breakers. but nothing or
the sort occurred. While there was much shoot
ing during the night. and more revolvers were
displayed than had ever been seen before on the
Fourth. violence was attempted. In this city
the police cOnfSCated all the dangerous look
ing reVolvers and gave checks for them. All
of the washeries were shut down, and there was
no incentive for attack upon them, while all the
men whom the companies could spare had a
holiday, and spent the day quietly at their
homes. In consequence, there were few 10 re-
port for work this morning and the strikers
pickets had no crowds 20 encounter, while the
coal guards were idle.
Hazelton. Penn. July At was reported here
tonight, from what is regarded as an author
itative source. that July II, the opening day OF
the National Miners Convention at Indian
apolis has been selected by the operators as the
time for resuming operations at one or more
colleries near Wilkesharre with experienced nom
union men collected from the various mines In
Iuzerne County. The news cannot be con-