Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-13
may
Be REMOVED
Failure to Start Collieries
Will Bring the Order.
Unless the Operators Mine
Coal This Week the Mill
tary Protection Asked for
Will Not Be Continued.

Will Not Be Continued.
This is tho beginning OF week which
1t is generally believed will put to test
the claim OF the operators that they will
be enabled to start up their collieries II
given protection, and the counter-claim
OF the United Mine Workers that the
strikers will not return to work without
concessions.
Resumption Of operations announced
for today has been deferred until a
later date, the operators concluding
that too many OF their men would be
disposed to hold of until after the eY-
pected conference at New York tomor-
row. The plan now is to try and open
up the collieries on Wednesday, as 1t is
said that by that time all miners who
build their hopes on the operators
granting concessions will have been
convinced that the coal barons are posi-
tive in their stand. Men in charge OF
the collieries claim that when once
thoroughly convinced that the operators
cannot be swayed In their determina-
tion those among the unonists who are
wavering will return to work.
Everything is being done by the mill
tary authorities to enable the operators
to prove that they can cut coal with
proper protection. General Schall, COM
mander Of the First brigade, which in
cludes the troops stationed In this re-
| gion, promises ample protection to all In
| this section who are desirous of return
ing.
A failure to open the mines after Wod-
nesday will put the operators In a posi-
tion where they will have to give most
excellent reasons or the officers OF the
National Guard will charge them with
inability to end the strike on the basis
which they have claimed. They will be
compelled to face the argument that,
after being given the full protection OF
the entire division, 1t has been demon.
strated that the men will hold out until
granted concessions, and that it is now
up to the operators to admit that they
are defeated.
Some high in military authority de-
clare that Governor Stone will not al
low himself to be played with, and that
as soon as he finds that the operators
cannot make good" he will not permit
the state to be put indefinitely to the
enormous expense Of keeping the sold
ers In the field.
At the brigade headquarters at Tama-
qua Captain Porter has completed a
mammoth map OF the entire coal re-
gions, and the section covered by the
First brigade has not only every hamlet
and coliery properly placed, but,
through system Of movable pegs, the
movements Of the troops down to indi-
vidual companies are located to the
very hour.
Upon investigation by the officers of
the militia 1t has been ascertained that
the use of firearms at night, which has
recently given the troops much concern,
and which has been attributed to the
strikers, has been done In many cases
by the coal and iron police.
Some OF the foremost labor leaders Of
the country are traversing the regions
instiling new hope into the ranks of the
strikers. Another mission of the visit
ing labor leaders is to learn how the
relief fund is being handled and to learn
from personal observation If there is any
distress among the strikers. After sev-
eral days Investigation In the Schuyl-
kill district those inqniring into the sub
jects arrived at the conclusion that the
relief fund is being handled in most
businesslike and able manner and that
there exists at present no more distress
there than at times when the mines are
being operated.