The evening times., 1902-06-03
SURROUNDS
THE DAYTON REPORT
STRIKERS ON MARCH
AT MINERS MILLS


sponsibIe persons. garbed in the blue
and brass Of coal and iron police. stalk
ing about the mines with guns in arm.
while the strikers. without have no
thought Of damaging the property OF
their employers The power vested in
these coal and iron policemen is not
generally known. They are as much
the private standing army or the opera
tors as were the slaves o. feudal barons-
a ridiculous State law. which has been
taken advantage Of by anthracite opera
tors. has made it possible for them at
such a time as this 90 arm q mob OF dis
reputable men who Will incite moro
trouble than they viii prevent.
IN the strike two years ago these
men actually visited the homes of stTik-
ers and compelled the poor ignorant
fellows by a show OF authority and brass
buttons 10 report 20 work At eouerics
against their will. The State fosters
this system that might well shame the
most tyT2nnicaI Russian laws.
Power of Policemen.
"A coal and iron policeman has the
power OF 4 Philadelphia policeman. and
/ he is responsible TO the operator WEo
pays him
ii ever there was law on the books
! o. Tree country that should be wiped
out, It Is the statute that created the
/ coal and iron police.
4 have looked into this matter the
+ past week and have had advice on il.
/ [ propose to take active measures"
President Mitchell refused TO say how
! he woud proceed. but he animated that
/ he would bring the matter before Gov
ernor stone and the Legislature.
About 1900 armed coal and iron police
( are patrolIing the yards today At the
/ Offices or the Lekigh aud Wilkesbarr.
/ Coal Company, the Susquehsnna Goa.
! Company. and the Lehigh Valley Goa.
/ Company claims are made today that
! many men who struck yesterday report
ed for work this morning. Several Sc
! cret meetings of railroad meE are being
held and the strike situation discussed.
Resolutions OF sympathy are being
. adopted, out no definite action upon a
railroad strike is expected at this time.
Safe Behind Big Fences.
The working force OF the operators
was increased during the night by many
non-union men. those who had been
kept outside the region waiting for the
/ cali 20 come here as quickly as needed.
/ IN order 10 prevent disturbance these
men were taken tc the coIlieries during
/ the night and are now safely behind the
big fences,
/ These big fences puzzle the strikers
One leader was asked If he knew how
many non-uniOn men had been brought
/ 10 the region
q cannot tell he said; we have had
cur Eiekets out, but We cannot see be
/ hind the fences and we cannot 90 close
( TO them because CT the guards"
These big fences not only protect the
/ nOn-uni0n men. but the strikers are not
readily melted 10 violence by men they
. cannot see No outbreaks we're report
ed at the strike headquarters tn5s mora
ing and people VINO had expected them
/ 20 begin with the frs; day OF The strik
, we're disappointed. There were sinai
. crowds gathered about the aDproaches
+ TO some Of the mines. but while these
. hcoted and yelled at the workers tleTC
/ was no violence attempted.
] President Mitchell this morning said
( Ee expected before the day is over o
( number OF the men now at work would
/. Join the strikers and that the ending of
+ the week would find most Of the men
. now at work in the ranks OF the strikers.
New Moves by Operators.
New moves were made today both by
the operators and by the United Mine
. Workers in the strike situation. The
+ operators have served notices on prac-
/ ticaIIy every public officer in the snthra-
. cite belt who would be in any way in
voIved should there be tTclble. that in
event Of violence the mine owing inter
ests viii expect them 20 DO their fun
duty and protect mine properties. By
doing this the operators make the stale
/ responsible fer any loss which may re-
suit 10 them from attack by strikers. i
! the sherlfs. justices Of the peace and
I others DO not do all IN their power 10
/ prevent damage
+ Public officers are often reluctant 20
I interfere with the strikers because u
is usually through the votes of union men
that thev hold their offices
In the railroad strike u 1871 the State
/ OF Pennsylvania reimbursed the com
panie5 10 the extent of $500. .GG8 because
certain men did not do all n their power
/ TO protect property BY this move the
/ operators do much toward iusurinp
I themselves against any loss from vio-
/ lence Many Of the officers on whom no
( tees have been served are greatly put
/ cut because IL viii almost certainly re-
] suit in loss OF votes 10 them II there is
. trouble.
The move made BY the mine workers
I is one that was hiGted al IN President
( NuchelIs statement Of yesterday. Al
over tho anthracite district meetings
are being held By the strikers TO devise
. ways and means to get any union men
ROW at work OUT Every effort IS be-
ing made TO bring out the engineers.
( f-eneu. and pumpmCn who stuck by The
/ companies. In some cases. II WAS said
at strike headquarters this morning
/ committees would be appointed al these
meetings 10 wait upon the recal lcitrant
members and eNhort them to obey Mr.
NucheII's orders. In other instances it
. is expected that more aggressive and
. less formal methods VIII be adopted
I Already il various vicinities the more
: aggressive tactics have been adopted
Men aho Ignored the strike order are
/ being hooted and are compelled 10 bear
all the odium OF non-uniouism- Their
I t-7-s q