New-York tribune., 1902-08-02
TROOPS MAY WITHDRAW
MERCHANTS SIGN PETITION
TO HAVE THEM REMOVED.
STRIKERS QUIET AND OPERATORS SAY
THEY WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrFuxE.I

IBY TELEGRAPH TRIFUNE-I
Shenandoah. Jenn-. Aug. 1--No rioting, no
violence and threats is the days result Of
the situation at Shenandoah. The troops have
not fired a shot. have not used a bayonet and
have not clubbed a musket while the hand OF
striker has been raised. Peace reiSns, and
the leaders of the strikers expect it to continue
They are being encouraged in the circulation
Of their petition asking Governor Stone to with
draw the troops by the signatures of all the
merchants in the town. They declare that the
civil authorities can preserve order and tnat
there will be further violence. but opinions
differ to this. The superintendent of a mine
near Shenandoah said: "If the troops are with
drawn hell will break loose throughout this
region" General Goblin. when asked what the
Governor might do in answer the petition.
said. "I think the Governor understands the
situation here. AS for the petition. the people
here would sign one asking for the a5rogation
of the Ten Commandments if the strikers asked
them to-"
Operators questioned to the necessity for
the troops declared that they absolutely
necessary to the preservation of law and or
der; that so long they remain on the scene
there is likelihood OF any trouble, but that
If they go a resumption of the violence which
led to riot may be expected They say that the
coming If the troops has put damper on the
noticeable change in the attitude of the men at
Lansford, Tamaqua and other places
General Goblin spent a busy day. Men OF the
three regiments were required to take short
marches partly to relieve the tedium OF camp
life and partly to create impression of pres
ent force and power in the minds OF the strikers
They were seen by thousands Of these, many
foeking to the town from surrounding places to
see the sights but in instance was there ap-
NT,-1 -fr,or r-CNrrl Lr
was the strike leaders say. after the outbreak
of 1900. when the troops remained on the scene
for forty days and there was violence and
not a shot fired. and it was at Lattirner
after the shooting of 1897. They expect no
trouble.
General Goblin, while reporting everything
quiet said to-day that when he was in the
town in 1900 he was told that there were some
twelve hundred fourteen hundred anarchists
and nihilIsts in the town. which has tWenty-one
thousand people Whether not this is so he is
not certain The soldiers are watching closely
The general informed that these anarchists
and nihilists dominate the other workers. Eigh-
ty-fve per cent OF the population is foreign
chiefly Slavs and Lithuanians
Operators who were to-day asked the posi-
bilities based on the troops being in the region
referred TO this paragraph in The Tr1bunes
editorial this morning. saying. 1t hits the nail
the head:
Several of the strike leaders are quoted as
EXPRESSING the opinion that the presence or
troops in the mining region will enable the oper-
ators to resume work and il is interesting 10
consider whether or not they realize just what
that means It's natural Interpretation would
seem to that the operators Will be able TO hire
all the labor they require so soon as pubic orOer
has been firmly guaranteed, and the apprenen-
sions of men desirOuS of exercising their rlghC
to work for wages satisfactory TO them nave
been relieved. If that should prove 70 be the
strike and its management WOulO De
efectually condemned
Mining officials and others who know the
situation say that work Will be resumed in the
Shenandoah district next week, and several say
that Monday will be the day. The resumption
will be based on the belief that large number
of foreign mine workers are eager to r. TO
work being dissatisfied with the strike fund,
and needing money. The strike leaders deny
this Scranton district operators. however. ex-
pect that several collieres will be under steam
and mining coal before next Wednesday. Presi
dent Crawford of the Peoples Coal Company.
whose Oxford colliery started yesterday, said
he got more of the strikers back TO work,
and he expects more tomorrow. He mined
three hundred tons of coal yesterday, and so did
the Cayuga cOIliery. and each expects to double
shape In the HazletOn region there seems TO
be no intention of starting up work for some
weeks the operators there believing 1T will be
the middle of September before their mines are
working and the Wyoming district officers do
not look for a resumption until three four
weeks pass