The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-01
.RLGHI OF MINERS
TO MASS FORCES
Operators Say That Object
is intimidation.
PERSUASION METHODS USED
Strikers Plead Constitutional Privilege
of Free SPeech-General Cobin's Or
der Condemned-Attack Non-Union
WOrkmen at Landsford and Pittston-

SCRANTON, Pa, Sept Said a
prominent coal operator today: If the
miners officials are so anxious for order
and quiet among the strikers why don't
they make an example of those who lead
in the disturbances that occur almost
daily. If they would assist in bringing
these riagleaders in violence to Justice
or expel them from the union would it
not demonstrate that they are in earn
est in preaching peace ?"
The query, or rather suggestion. was
made in the course of a conversation
regarding the methods the miners use
in persuading or restraining workmen
whom the operators have prevailed on
to return to work. The latest instance
was at the Torrance coIliery at Wilkes
barre. On last Friday morning about a
thousand members of the union grouped
themselves at the approaches of the
mine and halted the men going TO work
and turned many back
Violence Due TO Marching.
The operator quoted above said that
if it we're not for the gathering Of the
miners and their intimidation of work
men the mines could now get
enough men to run them. IN his opin-
ion the violence that has occurred at
various places was primarily due TO the
marching or massing OF the members Of
the Miners Union.
II persuasion is the object" he said,
"a few talk more effectively than large
number Surely every miner in the re
gion has weighed the question IN his
own mind and has not acted without due
deIibaration"
He used the word talk and empha-
sized It because he did not believe that
the miners massed about a colliery pre-
pairing TO resume operations for the
purpose Of just talking" He left no
doubt in his interview that the opera
tors looked upon the subject Of march
ing and massing as one Of the most i'm
portant obstacles that stand IN the way
OF their breaking the strike and forcing
the men back to work
Miners View of the Matter.
Officials OF the miners union have all
along teneeiously held It to be one OF
their privileges 70 persuade by the
power Of numbers. It has been enc Of
their cardinal methods during strikes
to marshal hundreds of strikers to the
point where an effort apparently sue
cessfuliy was being made to cause a
break in their ranks. The history Of the
strikes viii show that disturbances
more OF less serious have frequently
grown out Of this massing of forces.
An official Of District No l said that
this tactical move Of the strikers found
constitutional Justification in the right
Of free speech, which was g right to as
sembie to protest. Mass meetings 10
arouse the people to the support Of some
particular cause; to persuade by the
moral effect Of numbers; 10 increase
enthusiasm by contact, he said, had been
done for ages, and he thought would
continue TO be done.
Admit Cases If Violence.
The miners officials admit there have
been cases of violence. but urge in ex-
tenuation that it is an impossibiIIty that
every man in any large organized body
be held closely in check. They cite as
examples violations of established laws
and disobedienCe Of orders in the army
and navy They say they urge the men
TO be peaceable, and TO refrain from dis
order and violence, because they declare
that the disturber and the breaker Of
the peace is the greatest obstacle to the
success Of their cause. They assert that
the operators, realizing that fact. are
not as jealous in the preservation of or
der or the prevention Of disorder Isl
they would lead the public to believe
This is what President Mitchell indi-
rectly referred to in his Interview. when
he said that in most Of the disturbances
thus far IN the present strike the Coal
and Iron police had been the aggressoTs- /
Judging from the evidence produced
at the hearings in several riot cases that
have been brought TO trial lately both
parties in the contest have been sinned
against as much as SHINING
E5ra - 7Vo;Io- SSn-