Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-16
FIGHT TO FINISH NOW
The Great Coal Strike to Be
Continued.
ACTOF THE CONVENTION
OWNERS MAKING READY FOR A
LONG SIEGE.
Mules Being Brought Up Out of Mines
and Turned Out to
Pasture.
ACTOF THE CONVENTION

the strike of the I45, 1000 men against
the mine owners and to fight 1t out
to the bitter end.
HAZLETON. Pa. May 16-The great
coal strike which was inaugurated perma-
nently last evening is now in full swing
There We're no developments previous 10
the reassembling of the convention in Sc
cret session shortly after o'clock this
morning
From the gossip of the delegates it is ex-
pected that the proposition to call out the
mine engineers, firemen and pump runners,
thus endangering the safety of the mines,
will meet with as much opposition did
the motion to make the strike permanent.
Those who advocated the continued sus-
pension of work are, a rule. in favor of
calling out these men. They argue that
the more the mine owners inconven-
fenced and harassed the sooner they will
| weaken and grant the men some slight
concessions The more conservative mine
workers fear that to call out the protectors
OF the mines would be boomerang that
might prove extremely costly TO the min
ers- 1t is argued by them that the United
Mine Workers organization has all along
followed the policy of assisting the COM
panies in protecting their properties
Views of a Conservative.
one delegate said this morning:
II am against calling out the engineers
hremen and pump runners, because / be-
heve the union should protect property
rather than stand by and see it go to de-
struction. If the convention decides to call
out the men and the companies fail to fill
their places nearly every mine in the region
would I'LL with water. which would mean
tremendous loss to the owners. 1t would
take months 10 pump out this water and
in many cases the flooding of the workings
would ruin them beyond all repair. Anoth-
er danger would be the accumulation of
gases After the strike is over and the
water had been pumped out the men would
run great risk III entering the mines.''
II the convention decides to call out the
engineers hremen and pump runners, it is
not certain that the order would be obeyed
by all OF this class of mine workers. The
union officials say that most of them be-
long to the union, but this is denied by the
firenlen, who insist that their organization
which is separate one from the United
Mine Workers, is quite strong numerically
The firernen's union has somewhat compii-
Gated the situation by proposing to the
mine workers that they will go out volun-
tarily if the latter will back them up in the
demands that they may make upon the
operators The miners officials have re-
fused to commit themselves on this propo-
sition, and it will likely be fought out on
the floor of the convention.
Mitchell Denies Reports.
President Mitchell stated most emphaticalIy
s
Senator Hanna was read in the convention
before the vote was taken on the strike
question is absolutely untrue. Mr.. Mitchell
also brands as false the statement that he
had been visited by a representative of
Senator Hanna. with the proposition that
the miners accept a . per cent increase in
wages.
There was not the usual big crowd around
the convention hall today, neither was the
attendance of delegates SO great g number
them m hpir
last night Reports from all parts OF the
region show that everything is quiet and
that the men are determined to stand by the
strike order.
Local unions throughout the regions are
IN session preparing for the campaign and
adopting plans for relief of members. The
coal companies continue to make prepara-
t1ons for long strike. The coal and iron
police. who are sworn In by the state of
Pennsy lvania. but who are paid by the coal
companies, are now more active and alert
but their services are hardly needed at this
time. because the strikers are keeping away
from the cOlieries.
The Lehigh Valley Coal Company TODAY
removed the mules from Its mines in this
FlclhiIy and placed them in pastures The
electric railway company has reduced jts
service one-haif and laid off a number of
thelr employees. Because of the stagnatIon
OF business traffic is becoming very light
Many industrial establishments are expert
encing dlhcuIty IN getting coal and are
economizlng in this respect
AuJOuTnS Sine Die.
The convention adjourned sine die at
11:i3 o'clock The convention decided to
leave the matter of calling out the engt-
neers, firemen and pump runners to the ma
tional and district officers
Steps were taken by the convention 10
involve In the strike ali the bituminous and
anthracite coal miners in the United States
According 10 the rules of the union 1t re-
quires five districts to call q national con-
EenrlOn three 1nif IiafrI WITH
Immediately get into correspondence with
the bituuinous districts. with the hope of
gaining the consent of two of them for the
Issuance or call for a special national
convention, at which the question OF In
volving all the bituminous miners in the
United States In the present struggle Will
De discussed The officials hope that If this
special convention is called which is not
unlikely, they WIZ be able TO bring out the
non-union bituminous miners In Virginia
West Virginia and central PENNSYLVANIA
other plans OF campaign were discussed by
the delegates. but on these the members OF
the convention would not talk.
Mr.. Mitchelrs Statement
After the adjournment President Mitchell
issued the following statement:
AT this mornings session the convention
pettioned the national officers TO issue a
call for national convention of all miners
employed in the United States for the pur-
pose of considering he situation In the an
thracite field. II the desire of the anthra-
cite miners is carried into effect a national
suspension of coal mining will be iuaug-
urated All questions OF detail as to the
direction OF the strike in the anthracite
field were referred to the district and ma
Uonai officers Definite plans will be out
lined within the next few days. For the
present the engineers. firemen and pump
runners viii continue at work All mine
workers Were advised to remain at their
homes abstain from frequenting saloons
and under all circumstances observe the
law"
At present the United Mine Workers are
at variance with the bituminous mine op-
orators in Pennsylvania, Virginia Ken