The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-17

"It may be that no move will be
made for month--possibly six weeks,
or IL little longer. but there will be no
such thing as a tie-up for half-a-year."
How will the collieries be manned?"
was asked.
"By means which have been, already,
perfected You must remember we
have confidently expected o. strike for
a year and half. We knew this thing
was coming and we have acted accord
ingly."
Another coal man, who is at the
head of one Of the largest companies.
admitted that, the operators had plans
all arranged for working their collier
les in due time, but would not put
them in execution until it was seen
whether or not the strikers were really
determined on u long struggle. 1--WE
will await developments for WHILE"
he concluded. but you can rest as
sured we will not allow our mines to
remain idle any great length Of time.
1t won't be waiting game as far as
the companies are concerned
WAITED UPON SUPERINTENDENT
Yesterday morning three non-English
speaking mine workers. representing
themselves as a committee of the Po-
lish and Lithunian miners. waited on
General Superintendent Reese A. Phil
lips, Of the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western company and asked him
if he would open up the mines if the
men wanted to go back to work.
Mr.. Phillips inquired of them as to
who they We're and what they repre-
sented and learned that they We're
three men from three different mines
on the West Side and that they were
appointed at meeting the night before
which was attended by 900 Of their
country people.
Superintendent Phillips told them he
would open up collieries as fast as men
came forward to man them, and that
the first come would get the best
places. The committee stated that n
meeting was to be called for today and
that by Monday there would be thous-
ands of men on hand willing to go to
work. Before leaving, the committee
exhibited a letter which it was pro-
posed should be published in the pap
ers. The notice was delivered to the
newspaper offices by the committee. 1t
reads as follows:
Scranton, May Is, 1902.
Editor of the Scranton Tribune:
Dear Sir--Will YOU kindly insert these few lines
in noticeable part of your paper?
The Polish. Slavsh and Lithuanian men do not
wish, nor intend to strike.
Yours respectfully.
Committee OF Laborers.
When asked for their names. the
committee unhesitatingly granted the
request. One was John ReSenitZ. of
the Capouse colliery; William WORSE
ner of the Diamond, and Frank Mes
cheski. of the Central.
Whether or not the committee repre-
sents any very general sentiment is all
conjecture. Polish and Lithuanian mer-
chants, who were interviewed yester-
day, said the feeling among their peo-
pie is that there should not have been
a strike.
DIDN'T WANT STRIKE.
81 have had men come into my store,
today. CRYING over the strike" said one
of them yesterday. "They complain
that the English miner caused the
strike and blamed it on the foreigners.
If a break is made, / expect to see the
foreigners flock back to the mines."
Many of the foreign mine workers
buy their groceries themselves and pay
a boarding boss so much month for
cooking and serving their meals. The
usual charge is SO Il month"; which in
cludes lodging. Some have saved
money; others have big balances on
their store books. These latter will not
be carried on credit and must get work.
One merchant, to whom a Tribune re-
porter spoke yesterday told that one of
his customers. who owed Il big balance,
ordered three hams last Wednesday,
The merchant sent him one.
District Committeeman Robert n.
Courtright, when spoken to last night
regarding the threatened break of the
foreigners, said:
'rhere is nothing to it. That alleged
labor union has been proven a myth.
All 1t consists of is a few hirelings of
the companies scattered here and there.
We have thoroughly investigated it and
can not find that they ever held a
single meeting. The foreign-speakin
mine workers are the most steadfast
members of the union. We won't worry
any about a break from that quarter"
President Nichols was the only one
of the Scranton delegation who was
found willing to say word one way or
the other. on their arrival home from
the convention. Incidentally, they We're
as glum-looking as they We're non-com-
municatiye.
President Nichols statement was in
the nature of an appeal to the general
public He said:
NICHOLS STATEMENT.
believe and know that our demands are rea.
sonatic, and pray that the influence OF good will
work upon the hearts Of the stockholders and
presidents OF the coal corporations, that they may
grant our request. The cieht.hour day has been
granted to men employed in the various trades
IN our region where the work is done out in the
fresh air Of Heaven. 1t surely should be granted
10 boys OF tender age, who work in the poisoned
and asthma producing dust OF the breaker and
coal mines: and to all who work down in the
bowels OF the earth, shut out from Gods sun.
light and dangers seen and unseen
No argument has been advanced, and Ia nv
mind, none can be advanced against our request
TO weigh the coal mined, instead of paying for il
BY The car, which has proven very unfair and ,m.
satisfactory.
The following is given as the division
on the strike question in the three dis
tricts:
Dslrict No. l.,.,,.,.,..,....,.. 92s 80
District No. 7..,................ 40 l2
District No. o..,.,.,.,.......... 93A 10!4
Total OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 4Glh 349st