The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-08
Roosevelt Asks if Miners VIII Resume Work Awaiting
 an Adjustment
LEADERS OPPOSE SUCH PLAN
Are Not Willing to Go to Work With. out the Operators Grant Con- cessions-Effect of MiIi-
 tia ProbIematical.

wi1kesbarre, Pa, October 1.-The two principal features of the anthracite strike which claimed public attention In the coal fields today were: Will the miners yield to the desire of the President of the Unit ed States for them to return to work and investigate afterwards and will the mine operators be able to carry out their prom ise to produce enough coal to relieve the situation if given tho protection of the full military power of the state. After a most careful inquiry among district of- ficers and the rank and file of mine work CTS it was found that sentiment Is strong ly against accepting the Presidents pro- position in it's present form. As to the other feature of the situation as 1t ex ists tonight opinion Is divided.
 The Presidents message to 1dr. Mitchell became known here this afternoon and 1t was earnestly discussed by the striking miners and citizens generally. It is pos itively known to those who are close to the officers of the union that President Mitchell and his district presidents have all along been opposed to the men return ing to work without some concessions, but whether they are still so inclined with the President appealing to them cannot be officially stated. It is reason ably certain, however, that they still are opposed to such action.
 An officer of the union, now in this city, said to the correspondent of the Associ- ated Press today
 Praise for Roosevelt.
 ''The anthracite mine workers of Penn sylvania appreciate the efforts being made by President Roosevelt to end the strike 1 in the interest of the entire country, and they have only words of praise for him. 1 However, they feel that after sacrificing l everything for the last five mouths they l consider it unfair for any. one to ask them to return to work without a single con- cession, especially when the miners see victory almost at hand. The meetings of the locals throughout the entire coal re- zion tomorrow, when action will be taken in accordance with President Mitchells address, will bear me out"
 This is the tenor of the remarks of most of the mine workers In this region. In connection with this 25oO striking mine workers of the Prospect, Oakdale and Midvale colleries of the Lehigh Valley Coal company met in this city today and unanimously decided to remain on strike until they get some concessions.
 The calling out of the entire military force of the state did not cause a sensa- ton in the Wyoming Valley. Wilkesbarre city and surrounding were about as quiet today as the previous day since the sus- pension was inaugurated.
 Interest in Militia.
 Tremendous interest is manifested in the effect the presence of the entire divi- sion of the National guard will have on the strike. There is a wide difference of crinion as to the probable effect. The 1 officials welcome the soldiers and say the prospects are bright for the resumption of mining under the protection of the military. The strikers received the news | in a matter of fact way and in line with the comment of their national and dis trict officers, say the presence of the sol- diers will have no effect on the strike. There is one noticeable thing and that is that the strikers show frmer stand than they did before Governor Stone act ed last night. National Board Member John Fallon. who was the highest in ac- thority at strike headquarters today, said the men will remain as they are-firm to the end.
 Up to the Operators.
 The general comment is that 1t is now up to the operators to mine coal now that they have the entire state military pro- lection, which they have been asking for. is not shared by all officials of the com panies. It is claimed the state has yet to show what it proposes to do.
 An official of one of the largest coal companies in the territory is authority for the statement that an early resump- ton depends altogether where the au- thorities place troops If Governor Stones order that "all men who desire to work and their families shall have ample mill itary protection'' Is literally carried out i by Major General Miller instead of mobilizing the troops at certain points, l then the companies will be able to make 1 good progress in opening up the mines. If the troops are kept in all communi- ties where violence and intimidation is practiced," he said, there will be no trouble. The difficulty now is that man goes to work one day under the protec- ton of the soldiers and the next day after the neighborhood has been quieted down the troops are sent away and the willing workman is again at the mercy of the lawiess clement
 Hundreds of mine workers came in from surrounding towns to see the sol diers arrive but went home without see ing any troops except those now in camp. Several hundred of the national guards men now in the field are strikers and they propose to. turn portion of their nay from the state over to the relief fund of their fellow workers