The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-05-13
FOR 4 PERMANENT STRIKE 1
INDICATIONS THAT HAZLETON
 CONVENTION WILL FAVOR TT.
In Every Instance Where tho Vote of the Local Delegate is Known Com tinumnce of the Strike is Favored Coal Companies Preparing for Siege Hundreds of Men Laid Off.

Philadelphia, May 12.--Mine workers | throughout the entire anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania to the number
 of 145,00O formally began their struggle to-day for increased wages and shorter
 hours Never in the history of hard
 coal mining has tie-up been so com-
 plete, not one of the 357 collieries in the territory being in operation. There Is every indication for the belief that the
 suspension, which was to cover only
 the first three days of this week, will be made permanent by the miners general convention which will meet at Hazleton on Wednesday.
 Absolute quiet prevailed everywhere to-day. In pursuance of the request of the district executive boards which met jointly at Scranton last week, all the local unions throughout the regions met during the day and evening and elected delegates to the Hazleton convention. It is said that in every instance where the vote of a "local'' became public property the ballot showed a decided majority for a permanent strike unless the operators grant concessions. Pre- dictions are made that if 1t is decided on Wednesday to continue the strike the struggle will be longer and more bitter than was that of 1900 which last ed six weeks.
 The coal companies in various parts of the regions have already made prep arations for a siege. Coal train crews, telegraph opera tors switchmen, car penters, inachinists and other employees, several thousand, not iden tifed with the Mine Workers union, have been laid off until further notice. Some of the companies have also l brought their mules 10 the surface and 1! placed them in pasture.
 President Mitchell spent busy day | at his headquarters. He was in close | communica tion with all the district ! leaders, and expressed himself as well | satisfied with the way the men respond | ed to the call for suspension of work | He will leave for Hazleton tomorrow | afternoon.
 Philadelphia, May 12--The general idea that the coal companies have been storing up coal during the past month and that large supply is now above the surface, is erroneous. The action of some of the companies in giving orr ders for more economical dstribu- ton of coal in the way of sales shows that they fear a shortage at no distant day. The Philadelphia and Reading company, the largest producer in the region, to-day refused to accept orders from It's line and city customers and 1nly promised, to fill tidewater orders if he coal is available.
 Hazleton, Pa. May 12.-That the min ITS expect a permanent declaration at convention Is shown by he hundreds of applications made by hem for work on a new trolley con- operation here, for which up o this time a sufficient number of lands could not be secured. The fear if strike is most pronounced among he foreigners. large numbers of whom ave left for their native land during ', he last two days. P. G. Gallagher. national executive , 'oard member of the United Mine |, Workers from this district, said to- light that from the reports so far re- eived a majority of the delegates from \ he Hazleton district to the convention , yould vote for a continuation of the z trike if no concessions are granted by he operators. |, Mahanoy City, Pa. May 12.-All the V rnited Mine Workers locals in the Ma o anoy district held meetings tonight { nd elected delegates to the Hazleton e onventon with instructions to vote for
 strike in case no concessions are se- D lred from the mining corporations. t
 r
 HOPE FOR REPATRIATION D