The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-03
MINERS SCORE POINT
MAJORITY OF CARETAE<ERS
LEAVE THE MINES.
BUT OPERATORS NOT WORRIED
WILL HAVE NO DIFFICULTY IN
MANNING MINES.

President Mitchell Says so Per Cent.
of Engineers, Firemen and Pump
men Ceased WOrI&-OperatOrs Point
to Fact That Mine Pumps Are Stin
Running and Say They VIII Be
Able to supply All the Men Needed.
The Real Contest on This Line In
pected to Begin To-day.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 2.-The order
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, calling out on strike all engineers,
firemen and pumpmen employed at col
lieries where the eight-hour work day
at present wages was not granted,
went into effect to-day, and, as had
been predicted, a majority of the men
obeyed the order. Neither side can
claim a victory at this time. because
the struggle on this phase of the an
thracite coal miners strike has just
opened. There was only partial
showing of strength to-day. The real
test of whether or not the mine pumps
shall be manned will begin tomorrow.
Although a majority of the men quit
WOTk, Ine companies SGH6Idlly Sptoh
ing, succeeded in keeping their pumps
in operation. The operators feel at
present that they have an advantage,
but they are not so sanguine of the tu-
ture The exact number of men who
quit to-day cannot be obtained. Each
side refuses to make public its figures,
but gave information that roughly es-
Inmates the number of men affected.
These estimates are far apart.
National President Mitchell of the
miners union gave out statement in
which he says:
Reports received from every impor-
tant mining community indicate that
where the eight-hour day has not been
conceded fully so per cent. of the fire
men, pumpmen and engineers have
ceased work The number will be ma
terially increased to- morrow. In some
sections mine foremen have positively
declined to perform the work of en-
gineers, fremen and pumpmen. In
some places foremen have manned the
pumps and clerks have also been re-
| quired to perform this labor.
"A perfect army of irresponsible men
! have been employed by the coal COM
| panies to act as coal and iron police
men. The services of these men are
unnecessary and their presence un-
warranted. There have been no vio-
lations to-day by the mine workers,
and 1 am sanguine there will be no
overt acts on the part of the strikers. 3"
The Operators Side of IL.
On the other hand a mining official
of one of the largest coal companies
who received accurate information from
the entire coal belt, made this state
ment:
President Mitchells estimate is too
high. We have received figures from
all our collieries and the general sup
erintendents of all the other coal COM
panes, but they are not to be given
out as it would not be policy to reveal
our weak spots or to betray our
strongholds as far as they relate to
the collieries individually. l can, how
ever, say that about 65 per cent. of all
the Lehigh Valleys men, who were
scattered from near Scranton down to
Shamokin, went out. The Reading
Company, with forty colleries in the
lower region, was the worst sufferer,
more than 20 per cent of its men refus-
ing to go to work. The individual
companies all lost more than so per
/ cent. of their men.
Notwithstanding the big desertion
of men, every colliery in the entire
region that made the effort was able
to get up steam and maintain it. We
are satisfied under the circumstances
with the situation as it exists at pres
emit and we do not care to boast of
cur future ability to keep the mines
from flooding. The companies have
nearly all the men they want for pres
ent needs. We look for intimidation
of our men by the strikers, but we will
go right along and protect our em-
ployes and property as best we cam
No Serious Trouble Yet.
Considering the vast number of men
who are idle. the coal fields were very
quiet throughout the day. Reports
came in from several sections telling
of disturbances, but these were of a
minor nature only. Early this morn
ing and this evening some w7rkmen
were stoned, principally by boys. as
they were on their way from the mines
to their homes. A small army of coal
and iron policemen, (which is in the
field, are not much in evidence. The
companies have instructed these men
that in order to avoid trouble they
must not make themselves conspicu