Evening journal., 1902-05-29
COAL STRIKE
LIKELY TO GROW
Vital Question Is Whether
Pumpmen Will Strike
FENCING IN THE COLLIERIES
President Nichols Says PumpmeP,
Engineers and Firemen Will Go
Out ON June 2

Scranton. Pa, May 29-The vital
1uuestion now is whether the fremen.
pumpmen and engineers will obey the
Mine Woykers order to strike on June
or not. There is a wide difference Of
opinion on this subject, but at this time
the indications are that the majority
of these men, in this district at least,
viii not strike.
Three hundred pump runners, fire.
men and engineers in the employ Of
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern, the New York, Ontario and West
ern and the Peoples Coal Companies
met yesterday to decide whether or not
to join the mine workers in their strike
on Monday After a two hours session
they drafted a resolution which will be
| presented to the Mine Workers Off
cials asking that the order to strike be
withdrawn. This is the first big stand
made by the firemen, pump runners
and engineers against the strike order.
They have shown their opposition to
the order now, but deem it advisable
/ to ask for the withdrawal of the order
before taking definite action of them
selves.
This is the surprise that a Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western official pre-
dicted. and this is the body of men
which the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western and other companies have
agreed to protect if they continue to
work.
The Hillside Coal and Iron Company
men employed at the Keystone, Erie
and Glenwood collicsies have held a
meeting and have decided not TO go
out These men have joined in the
action taken by the same class of men
employed al several Delaware and Hud-
son and Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western collieries in this district and
they say that they will be reinforced
by the men employed by Independent
operators.
In the face Of the action taken by
the steam men. President Nichols sad:
"All these mon viii strike There is
some doubt over the engineers. but
most of these will go out on Monday.
4 and those who remain will quit also il
they are Obliged to do fremen's duty.
Before the second week in June there
will not be an engineer on duty unless
the operators capitulate."
Fences are being erected about the
Harwood colliery of Pardee d Com
pany and the Jeddo Ebervale. High
land and Oakdale mines of G. b. Mar
lSlo & Company A strange fortifica-
ton. built in the old Indian style, of
trees cut down near the colliery, now
guards the non-uniOn workmen of the
Butler washery. near Pittston. The
barricadc is 10 feet high and entirely
surrounds the works. except a small
entrance. which is guarded by a single
deputy.
The Delaware Lackawanna and
4 Western company issued IN order that
the non-union men employed at the
Woodward and Avondale cOllieries and
the burning slope of the Jersey mine
must in the future feed themselves.
The company which has paid them
more money than the union employees
asked and has housed and fed them
has now found the expense too great
Wilkesbarre, Pa. May 29.-The Off.
GERS of the United Mine Workers as
semblies of this city held a meeting
+ here yesterday and reports were re
/, ceived from committees appointed "a
interview the engineers. hremen and
pumpmen employed at the various col
lieries in this city and vicinity These
reports. so it was stated after the
meeting. went on to show that very
few of the firemen and pumpmen were
/ found who were unwilling to join the
, striking miners next Monday unless
they were granted an eight-hour day
There were some engineers who said
they would not quit work, but it is
claimed they are comparatively few
in number The big coal companies
continue to swear in special officers
It is said a number were secured al
4 Bloomsburg and Sunbury yesterday
, They will arrive here Sunday, and OF
Monday morning will be assigned tC
the various cOllieries.