The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-03
MAJORITY 0BEYED
TIL STRIKE | | |. ORDER &.
Mitchell Says 80 per Cent. of
Firemen and Pumpmen Go Out.
NO VIOLENCE HAS OCCURRED
- ------------s
a Mining Official Says Mitcheps Esti-
mate is Too Large, but Admits That
Great Many Went out-Trouble
is Not improbable.
a Mining Official Says Mitchelps Esti-
(Bv Associated Press)

wILKESBARRE, PA, June 2.-The
order of the United Mine Workers OF
America, calling out on strike all engi-
neers, firemen and pumpmen employed
a. colleries where the eIght-hour work.
,aay at present wages was not granted,
went into effect to-day, and. as has
teen predicted, majority of the men
obeyed the order Neither side can claim
a victory at this time, because the strug-
gle on this phase of the anthracite
miners strike has just opened. There
was only a partial showing Of strength
to-day. The real test of whether or not
the mine pumps shall be manned will
Ii gin tomorrow. Although a majority
Of the men quit work, the companies,
generally speaking, succeeded in keep
ing their pumps in operation. The ope-
ratcrs feel at present that they have an
advantage, but they are not SO sanguine
of the future. The exact number tpf
men who quit to-day cannot be obtained.
Each side refuses to make public its
figures, but gave out information that
roughly estimates tle number of men
affected. These estimates are far apart
MITCHELDS ESTIMATE.
National President Mitchell, Of the
Miners Union. gave out a statement
in which he says:
reports received from every important
mining Community indicate that where
| cieht-hour day has not been conceded
| fully eighty per cent of the fremen,
pumpmen and engineers have ceased
| work. Tie number will be materially in
creased tomorrow. In some sections
mine f6remen have positively declined to
perform The work of engineers, firemen
and pumpmen. In some places foremen
| have manned the pumps and clerks have
also heed required to perform this labor
"a perfect army of irresponsible men
have been employed by the coal compa:
MES to act as coal and iron policemen
| The services of these men are unnec;
essary and their presence unwarranted
There have been no viola tons OF law TO-
| day by the mine workers., and am san
guine there will be no overt acts on the
part of the strikers"
| On the other hand, a mining official OF
one of the largest coal companies. who
| received accurate informa ton from the
entire coal belt. made this statement:
president Mitchell's estimate Is toe
high. We have received figures from al
| our collieries, and the general superln
tendents of all the other coal companies
but they are not to be given out can
however, say that about sixty-hVe pei
cent. of all the Lehigh Valleys men wen
out. The Reading Company was INK
worst sufferer, more than seventy pei
ccnt of its men refusing to go TO WORK
The Individual companies az tet more
than fifty per cent. of their men
EXPECT INTINIIDATION-
1 "Nro+withstanding the big desertlon
men every colliery in the entire regiol
that made the effort was able to get ~
steam and maintain it. The compan ie
have nearly all the men they want TO
present needs. We look for intimldatl '',
of our men by the strikers. but we WI
% right along and protect our empioye
and property as best we can.
Considering the vast numper u nas.
who are idle, the coal 1lelo was
a,,:o+ throughout the day. Reports came
49,. f,o,, several sections telling OF dis
t,,,hances hut these were of minor ma
tnra The small army of coal and 1rol
policemen which is in the field are no
much in evidence.