The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-06
ROOSEVELT
WILL HELP.
Ready to Receive a Board of
Trade Committee.
And Talk Over Means of Ending
Coal Strike.
ARE IN AN UGLY MOOD.
Strikers at Wilkesbarre Are
Considerably Stirred Up
By the Shooting of a Boy by
By the Shooting of a Boy by
Policemen.
HELD IN CONTEMPT.
Coal BarOns' PatroImen Are
Despised by Miners.
Trouble Can Be Started on Slight
Pr0yocati0n.

New York, June 6-The board of trade
and transportation today received a
telegram from President Roosevelt, ap-
prising them that he would be glad TO
receive the committee appointed by the
board to ask the president to appoint
a comm lssion to investigate and take
steps looking towards the settlement
of the anthracite coal miners strike.
The telegram, which was signed by
George r. Cortelyou, secretary to the
president, pointed out that the law en-
poWering the president to act in in
stances similar to the anthracite min
erS' strike was repealed in 1898, but ad-
ded that the president would be glad to
see the committee If it was decided to
visit him.
After considering the fact that the
law had been repealed the committee
decided not to visit the president.
A SHOOTING AFFRAY.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June "a shooting
affray at the Stanton colliery at South
Wilkesbarre last night in which a 13-
year-old boy was seriously wounded by
coal and iron policemen, has stirred ZIP
this community more than any other
happening since the strike began. Al
though the region IS quiet today, there
is an ugly feeling among the thousands
of idle Ilen- The strikers have the Ut
most contempt for the deputies ans coal
and iron police, and trouble can be
started at the least provocation. The
condition of the boy remains critical.
The police were fortunate in getting
the four men who were accused OF doing
the shooting, safely away from the coI-
lieTy. A crowd Of several thousand per
sons remained in the vicinity for hours
after the shooting not aware that the
men had been quietly taken from the
place. There was also thronS at the
police station at midnight waiting for
the prisoners, but the men were hustled
into the station so quickly that the
crowd could not get them This morn
ing another coal and iron policeman
was arrested for f1ourishing a revolver
in threatening manner.
Sheriff Jacobs of this county had
particularly busy time last night. He
was called upon by several companies
to protect their property Men were
sent to some localities where trouble
was looked for, prepared to read the
riot act, but this was not done
The coal operators hereabouts deplore
last nights occurrence but they feel
that the coal and iron police cannot be
held responsible for what may take
place There have been many attempts
made at arSOnv Hundreds of yards of
fencing surrounding cOllieries have
been burned by boys and young men.
The coal companies officials hold the
mine workers responsible for all the
disturbances.
They argue if the strikers fwish to
keep the peace they should preVen1 their
sons from starting tr0lbIe.
The hearing of the accused policemen
have been postponed until this arter-
noon. A small crowd surrounded tie
police station all morning. Extra men
have been placed on duty there, SO tina
the police many nip any attempt on the
part of mob to get at The prisoners.
There was no change today as far as
the strike of the engineers. fremen and
pumpmen is concerned Pres5 .ent
Mitchell bad nothing to give out.
The sheriff called on President Nit
chell today to enlist his aid in prevent
ing any further overt acts upon the part
of the idle men and boys. Mr.. Mitchell