New-York tribune., 1902-10-17
, TO PROTECT NON UNION MEN.
OPERATORS SAY THEY WILL STAND BY
THOSE WHO STOOD BY THEM.
INV TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.

UiIkssbarre. Penn. Oct. ls.-The operators who
were seen by The Tribune representative TODAY
said that they realized the protection of the non
union men now at work would be ditficult but
thav meant 10 protect them. and had assured the
men who have stood by them during the strike
that there should be interference and no IN
timidation and that they should retain the places
they have now, and not give place to union men,
One operator said;
We will not discriminate between union and nom
unjon men The strikers will come back to us as
individuals and places will he given to them ae-
tSa i,i6ges Of that. whether there places for
ali OF them al first is doubtful, as some must walt
while r6non 6ne sS mem Who nave selected the best
chambers and are now WORKING mem M Mii III re rs',s fb
remainder l suppose some of the rabid strikers
the sensible fellows, many of wnon opposed the
strike. will quietly go TO work and await the ac-
findings and expect them TO do so, In The mean
time cannot ALLOW any inteTference with tne
work irrespective Of union quarrels while at work,
Because a non-union worker is employed in the
same gang. If the Inion men don't work IT viii
be necessary to get others. The non-union men
According to the present plans there Will oe no
immediate withdrawal of the troops; They will
continue TO protect the workers as they are now
doing MaGT General Gene to MeT m W32 s IN N this th g sg
as long as there Is any lawieSSneSS- They are not
Gns as ihsre is any danger Of violence and law
lessness which the civil authorities canot control
will he withdrawn"
General Miller would not say whether he thought
II likely that the soldiers would be ordered home
about week after the strike. when 1t became evi-
dent that there would be further outbreaks
That is opinion Of the civil authorities and they
expeCt the troops to be home by November l.
There was increase to-day in the number Of
workers at the mines. number of the men return
ing in order TO set good places and make sure Of
the positions. They know that the convention will
call the strike of and direct ts men To return TO
work some day next week and they are willing TO
take the chance Of being declared non-union men in
order 10 get good places. This IS already causing
some bitterness among the strikers and Is ex-
pected 70 result in trouble when the main body re-
turns 10 the mines.
Men who left the region during the strike and got
other jcbs are hGrTyirE back To-day hundreds Of
them reached here. and eagerly awaiting the
call to work. BY the time work Is resumed II Is
expected that some thousands Of those who went
away will have returned and that there will be no
lack of 10 man the mines. The operators
Dlans provide for mining with smaller force the
same quantity OF coal formerly produced by
the 1900 miners. This viii give the workers steady
time six days week and allow them 20 make
better wages, but IL will not be operative for
timc-ncs until the supply OveTtakes the demand
and that is not expected TO be before next spring
Meanwhile the fact that all the mines cannot be
oppied will prevent some OF the men getting
work Immediately. and they will have TO wait with
what patience they can.