The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-02
Engineers, Firemen and Pump
men Obey Strike Order.
Places We're Promptly Filled
by Nom Union WOrkmen.
10 STARYE THEM OUT.
Merchants Plan to Withhold
Supplies From New Men.
Some Companies Are Granting
Demands of Strikers.

U0mduuS III OBF1kGFSs
Wilkesbarre, Pa. June 2-The strike
of the engineers, -hremen and pump men
employed in the anthracite coal collier
les for an 8-hour day at present wages,
was inaugurated at 7 O'Clock this morn
ing. There are conflicting reports as to
the number of n en- that quit work. The
mine workers officials claim that fully
go per cent OF the men obeyea the strike
order, but the companies dispute these
figures.
The mining superintendent of the big
coal companies say that reports received
from their own collieries and those of
individual operators show that the
pumps as a rule are in operation today.
They admit that a great majority of
the hremen quit work and that large
number Of pumpnen and engineers also
refused to report. but they add that in
nearly every operation enough men
were on hand to fill the strikers places.
The entire region was reported to be
very quiet today which condition great
ly relieved the oppressive feeling that
has prevailed for the last few days. It
is the belief of both sides, however that
the struggle has just begun and there is
no telling when or where an outbreak
will occur. That there viii be some dis
turbance is not doubted.
"A local authority says there are en-
ployed in the 357 collieries in the an
thracite region 1910 engineers, 3, 200 fire.
II C1i anu 4yt1D Pul1DiICti
According to the custom of the unions
in the coal regions, each local" had
committee on duty at daybreak. Their
duty principally was to find out the
number of men who reported for work
and wherever possible obtain their
names. These committees later in the
day reported to their respective locals
and the work Of persuading those who
went to the mines today to stay out
viii begin tonight.
Nearly every mining operation is sur
rounded by either a high board fence or
a barbed wire barriers and it was, there
fore, next to impossible to get a line
on what was being done within the en-
closure.
It was a busy day in the general
offices Of the big coal companies in this
city. The entire office forces were on
duty at an early hour prepared for any
emergency None of the companies was
willing to give out figures
one superintendent said: I'VE have
received reports from every belt from
Scranton to ShamOkin All that I can
say is that our pumps are working.
Most of the frene en- in the region went
out but the percentage of pump-run-
neTs and engineers who remained away
from work was not large. Wherever we
were crippled we were able to fill the
places with other employees or nom
union men. Our condition is satisfac-
tory. but there is no telling what the
strikers viii do"
Strike headquarters was dun place
today President Mitchell had nothing
to say regarding today's move beyond
the fact that he had only meager re-
ports from the regions and that they
We're satisfactory. He promised to
give out figures later
MITCHELL MAKES A STATEMENT.
Al noon President Mitchell issued the
following statement:
Reports received from every inn
portant mining community indicate that
where the eight-hour day has not been
conceded fully so Der cent of the fire.
men, pumpmen and engineers have
ceased work The number will be ma
teriaIly increased tomorrow. In some
sections mine fCremen have positively
declined to perform the work of engi-
ncerS, hrenen and pumpnen. In some
places hremen have manned the pumps
and clerks have also been required to
perform this labor.
"A perfect army of irresponsible men
have been employed by the coal com
panies to act as ccal and iron policemen.
The services OF these men are unneces-
sary and their presence unWarranted.
There have been no violations of law
today by the mine workers and am
sanguine there win be no overt acts on
the part Of the strikers"
IN reply to a question after issuing
his statement, Mr.. Mitchell said he knew
of no mines being flooded as a result of
the action of the union today.
In explaining the first sentence of his
statement Mr.. Mitchell said that several
OF the lnQlN1Quat operators mad COnCeQ-
ed the demands Of the men during the
past 20 days, but that not one of the
big companies had done so.
NEARLY ALL WENT OUT.
Hazelton, Pa, June 2.-There has been
an almost unanimous response in the
Hazelton district on the part of the en-
gineers, frenen ana pump runners to
the strike order of the executive board
of the United Mine Workers. At the
offices Of some Of the companies. whose
the district, the officials when called up
by telephone said they did not know
how many of their men had quit. All
the companies whose men deserted their
posts promptly filed the places of the
strikers with non union men brought
here from Philadelphia and their agents
say the operation of the pumps will not
be interfered with by reason Of the
strike.
Everything is quiet in the region thus
far today. There will be a special
meeting of the Clerks Protective as
sociation tonight to urge the local mer-
chants. to offer their sympathy and sup
port to the strikers. The merchants will
also meet. It is stated that resolutions
will be adopted condemning all business
men who furnish supplies to the special
officers and non-union men. hundreds of
wohn are stationed at nearly every
colliery.
In order to avert trouble the coal
companies win keep their special Off
GERS at the mines until the strike is
over The situation is so acute that
the presence of these men in the city,
especially at night, is liable to be the
cause of an outbreak
Colliery clerks who refused today to
take charge Of fire or pumps were dis
charged.
DEMANDS GRANTED IN SOME
CASES
shamokin. Pa. June 2.-Miners made
no demonstration at any of the 19 col
iieries within a radius OF II miles Of