Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-02
BIG GOALS TR|KE ON
Fully Ninety Per Cent Of Men
0beyed the Order.
OUTBREAK Is FEARED
HOWEVER, ANTHRACITE REGION
WAS QUIET TODAY.
Pickets Were Active and Succeeded in
Winning Over Some Non
Union Men.

lieries for an eight-hI ur day at present
wages was inaugurated at o'clock this
morning. There conflicting reports as
TO the number of men that quit work. The
mine workers officials claim that fully so
per cent of the men obeycd the strike
der, but the companies dispute these fig
ureS.
The mining superint endents of the big
coal companies say that reports received
from their own colieries and those of in
dlVldual operators show that the pumps as
a rule are in operation today. They admit
that a great majority Of the firemen quit
work and that large numbers of pumpmen
and engineers also refused to report, but
they add that in nearly every operation
enough men were on hand to fill the strik-
ers' places.
Outbreak Looked For
The entire region was reported to be very
quiet today, which condition greatly re-
lieVed the apprehensive feeling that has
prevailed for the last few days. 1t is the
belief of both sides, however, that the
struggle has just begun, and there is no
teillns when or where an outbreak will
occur. That there will be some disturb
anCe is not doubted.
A local authority saws there are empIoy-
ed IN the :'J1 colierieS in the anthracite re-
gion loo engineers, 1920 firemen and l, ,425
pumpmen.
According to the custom of the unions in
the coal regions each local had a COM
mlttee on duty at daybreak. Their DUTY
Principally was to find out the number sof
men who reported for work, and wherever
possible to get their names. These commit
tees later in the day reported to their re-
spectlVe locals and the work of persuad-
ing those who went to the mines TODAY to
stay out will begin tonight. A steady cam
ha To,
out and to keep others from taking their
places. The strikers have strict orders from
their leaders to do nothing that will make
them liable to arrest for violation of the
law.
Unable to Make Full Report.
In many cases the committees We're un-.
able to make a full report today because
large numbers of non-union men and other
company employees who We're to take the
places of strikers We're quartered at the
colieries all night. Nearly every mining
operation is surrounded by either a high
board fence or a barbed wire barrier and
it was therefore, next to impossible to get
line on what was being done within the
incloSure.
The pickets did their best work among
the men who started for the collieres from
their homes or from boarding houses Ey-
cry man who came along unaccompanfed
by coal and iron policemen or other guards
was talked to, and in many instances won
over. Some of the workmen became
frightened when they saw the committee
men and returned home fearing bodily
harm.
It was busy dav in the general offices
of the big coal companies in this CITY. The
entire office forces were on duty at an
early hour. prepared for any emergency.
In each office set of clerks was detailed
to receive reports from the collieries and
each report was Immediately turned over
to SuperintendentS for action. None of the
companies was willing to give out figures.
one superintendent expressed the senti-
an enent OF All When. IN refusing to give out
figures, he said: 1--WE do not care to show
our weakness: neither do we want to he
tray our strength"
A Superintendent Talks.
The same superintendent said: "we have
received reports from every one Of our COL
lieries, which are scattered through the
coal belt from Scranton to Shamokin. We
have also heard in a general way from the
Other companies. All that I can say is that
all our pumps are working Most of the
1lremen In the region went out but the
percentage OF pump runners and engineers
who remained sway from work uyas not
large.
wherever we were crippled we were
able to I'LL the places with other EMPLOYEES
or non-union men. Our condition is salts
factory, but there is no telling what the
strikers will do. We hope, however. thar
the men who have remained loyal and
those outsiders who came to our rescue
viii not allow themselves to be intfmidated
by the strikers who will surround onr
works like picket Of soldiers"
Strike headquarters was a dull place TO-
day: President Mitchell did not seem to
bt, DE IN tne least perturbed. and went over
his morning mail as though this was very
ordinary day instead of critical one.
Mitchell Makes a Statement.
WILKEsBARRE. Pa. June AT noon
President Mitchell issued the following
statement:
Reports received from every important
mining community indicate that, where
the efght-hour day has not been conceded.
fully SO per cent Of the fremen. pumnmen
ana engineers have ceased work. The num-
per will be materially increased tomorrow.
IN some sections mine foremen have posi-
lively declined to perform the work of ON
gineers. hremen and pumpmen. In some
places foremen have manned the pumps.
and clerks have also been required to per
form this labor.
"a perfect army of irresponsible mon
have been employed by the coal companies
to act as coal and iron policemen. The
services of these men are unnecessary and
their presence unwarranted. There have
been no violations today by the mine work
ers, and I am sanguine there will be no
overt acts on the part of the strikers"
In reply to question, after issuing HIS
statement, Mf MltchelI said he knew of
no mine that is being flooded as a result
of the action of the union today In ex-
planning the first sentence Of his statement
Mr. Mitchell said that several Of the in
dividual operators had conceded the de-
mands of the men during the past ten DAYS.
but that not one Of the big companies had
done SO.
Special Officers at Haz1eton Mines.
HAzLETON, Pa, June 2-There has been
an almost unanimous response in the Aaxie-
ton district On the part of the engineers,
firemen and pump runners to the strike
order Of the executive boards of the United
Mine Workers. At the offices Of some OF
the companies whose operations are in
isolated portions OF the district, the oi11ciais.
when called up by telephone. said they did
not know how many of their men had quit.
The mine workers have not yet received;
any definite figures at their headquarters,
so correct estimate Of the number on
strike cannot be given until later In the
day. All the companic !. hose men de5:
49, hi.