Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-10-24
Cannot Order Strike, but viii Fight the
Operators in Another Way.
MINERS RESUME WORK IN MOST CASES
Some, However, Refuse to Sign Agreement
and Return Home.
PRODUCTION SLOW FOR FEW WEEKS YET
Rusty Machinery, Soft Workers and
Collected water Combine 20 Pre-
vent Rapid Output of
Coal All at once.

CHICAGO, Oct. 2s.-President Morton Of
the International Association Of Stationary
Engineers and Firemen stated today that
all members of the association all over the
country would be ordered to refuse to
handle any anthracite coal until every mem
Der affected By the anthracite strike is re-
instated on the basis on which the miners
returned TO work.
The brotherhood has a membership OF
$4,000 and has local unions in ia towns
and cities, including Chicago, New York,
Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati. Cleve-
land. Baltimore. St. Louis, Kansas City,
Denver and San Francisco. President
Morton declared his organization was in
q position TO shut out hard coal in all
cities where II had local unions and said
such action would be taken IL necessary
for the protection Of members who had
lost their positions on account OF the an
thracite coal strike.
This is President Morton's view Of the
situation:
According TO all reports from the eastern
mines our men are getting the worst of It.
and while the miners are being reinstated
they are left out in the cold
Our organization does not propose allow
ing Its members to be victimized, and as
we cannot call a strike at the mines, nom
the jobs, we will attempt 10 secure the re-
tnstatement Of our members by shutting
out anthracite coal wherever we can.
While negotiations looking toward a set
tlement were on. we did not wish 20 inter
fere In any way, although We feared our
men would get the worst Of the bargain.
We believe the action of the hremen and
engineers in quitting work, helped the
miners to win the fight
Although II is true a majority OF the
firemen are members OF the miners union.
they have retained their membership In
TrF1i0 md hnNTn al ~ lraa f1r
assistance. We propose TO give II 10 them
and ! am going to call a meeting OF the
executive board when action will be taken
looking 70 that end.
I win advocate that our members be or
dered 10 refuse TO handle anthracite coal
and as TO my mind this is the only method
that will bring the operators to time, / be-
lieve the board viii adopt my suggestion.
President Morton said when the Shame
kin convention Of the miners was held
previous to the strike. President Tom Bar
.rett and Secretary J. p. MRllahy of ths
state district % PENNSYLVANIA, were pres
ent In the interest of the nremen and asked
what protection they would receive pro-
vided they went on strike in sympathy with
the miners.
According to President Morton they were
advised TO get into the miners union, bui
were assured the miners would stand BY
them. He Is now Of the opinion that tbs
miners have not lived up to their promises
strictly.
Many Mines start Again.
wILKEsBARRE, Pa, Oct. zs.-Reporti
from the entire anthracite region show tha
about 81 per cent of the mines are in opera
tion friday. The eollieries in the Lacka
wanna region are in better shape for work
sng than those in any other part Of tn
region.
The eOllieries in the Wyoming region
with a small output. are in good shape, be
ing free from gas and water. but the Iarg
mines are still hampered by water Tn
same condition OF Affairs exist in the lie
high region.
In the sehuylkill region the large mine
are reported to be in better condition 70
work than was expected.
All the mines in operation will be shor
In their normal output today, but by 10
morrow it is expected almost the full out
put will be reached. After such a Ion
spell Of idleness the miners and laborer
are soft" and not capable Of doing as har
days work as when they were seasoned
Reports are coming in from all over IN
mining region that many engineers. nre
men, pumpmen, carpenters and eompan
hands have failed to get their places bacl
The old employees are faring better wit
the individual companies than with IN
large ones.
A delegation OF carpenters made up ,
employees from many eollieries in III
Wyoming region called at Presider
Mitoheiis headquarters at noon and lai
their grievances before him. They sal
miners and laborers had 60 trouble
getting to work, but other employees, hold
ing good paying positions before they wei
on strike. generally found their place
filled with other men and the mine super
intendents said there would be no ehAnS
for the present Mr.. Mitchell advised h
callers TO be patient and await develoy
msnts Of the next few days
SEINE Mines in Had Condition.
The mining Of coal with union mine,
was resumed in the Wyoming valley tn
morning. There was much activity I
all Of the collieries. but owing TO the col
dition OF many Of the mines the full quo
of men could not be employed.
The me bosses reported that mar
places were in a dangerous condition al
the superintendents refused 10 allow Il
miners TO enter those places. At lea
IS per cent OF the mines in this depar
ment will not be able to resume work &
several weeks, as the lower lifts are st
Hooded.
EAalANA Iihc OF the A~cLlEu
Wilkesbarre Coal company. which emplo
500 men. will NOT be able 70 start up Z
two months. There was no friction betwe
the union and nonunion men when they 7
ported for work this morning. II is T
ported that In a few isolated cases mine
who took a prominent part in the stri
were not given work.
The nonunion engineers and pump ~
ners are holding on 10 their positions a
refuse to give them up 10 make room I
union men. number OF old engines
pumpmen and hremen again applied I
their old positions this morning. but ws
told that there we're no vacancies AZ pre-
ent.
old employees who have failed TO get III,
places back are reporting the fact 10 PIT,
ident Mitchell az strike headquArters 7
Delaware. LAeknwAnnA a Western oomps
viii have 10 cars Of coal ready 10 mc