The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1902-05-16
VOTE 70 CONT|EiGilt: f.; 5iiiiss::, e
Suspension in.Anthracite Mines
Made Permanent.
MEN LISTEN TO NO RESTRAINT
viii Fight Mine owners to the Bitter
End-Greatest Labor Struggle In
History Is Freely Predieted-Hun-
dred and Forty-five Thousand Idle.


History Is Freely Predicted-Hun.
dred and Forty-five Thousand Idle.
Hazleton, Pa, May 16.-The anthra-
cite miners In convention late yester-
day afternoon decided to continue the
strike Of the $4,000 men against the
mine owners and to fight 1t out to the
bitter end. The matter Of calling out
the engineers, firemen and pump run
ners will be decided by the delegates
today. The vote to continue the sus-
pension was as follows: Total vote
cast, S1f; for strike, 461A; against
strike, 349s4; majority for strike,
lily.
The step taken by the miners, after
practically considering the matter for
two months, has wiped out the uncer-
tainty of the situation and it Is freely
predicted that the most serious labor
struggle in the history of the country,
If not in the world, is about to begin.
That Is the view taken by nearly
every miner. While the leaders are
cautious and will not forecast their
actions, it Is not unlikely that the
miners fight will be carried into the
bituminous coal regions and into other
fields of industry. Mine workers for
is months have been looking forward
to the strike that is upon them. They
have saved their money and are con-
sidered to be in better shape today
for fight than they were in the great
strike of 1900. That struggle ended
in the mine owners giving the men a
10 per cent increase after six weeks
suspension. The operators are on
record as being unalterably opposed
to granting the men any concessions
and they have personally informed
the mine workers leaders of that fact.
The workmen fear the present fight
may mean the destruction of their or.
ganization, because they believe the
mine owners are bent more on wreck
ing their union than they are in op-
posing the demands for higher wages
and shorter work days.
President Mitchell's advice to the
miners was for peace, and he gave 1t
to them in the plainest and most
forceful language. He was ably as
sisted by President Fahey and Secre
tary Hartlein of the lower district
and Secretary Dempster of the upper
territory. President Nichols of the
First district was the great champion
of the strike advocates. Mr.. Mitchell
who was the last to speak, was list
ened to with the greatest attention
1t is also said that telegram was
read from the American Federation
of Labor against permanent suspen
sion. But the delegates would not
listen, and amid considerable sup
pressed excitement the vote was
taken. For time it looked as though
the peace advocates would win, but
when delegation after delegation from
the lower district, the last to be called
answered yes" it was seen that the
men who favored a fight had won. The
result was received by the convention
with applause, which, however, was
not very enthusiastic or prolonged
The men appreciated the seriousness
of their decision, which no doubt
dampened their ardor The PROPOSE
tion to call out the engineers, firemer
and pump runners was separated IRON
the main question early in the discus
sion. There was an almost equal di
vision in this matter and the debate
became so involved that it was de
cided to consider that phase of the
question separately. The men, having
thrown down the gauntlet to their EN-
ployers, have taken renewed courage
and it would not be surprising If the
convention today decided to call out
the other employees referred to. The
miners insist that nearly all the en-
gineers firemen and pump runners be
long to their organization and say
they can get them all to quit if they
want to. In the event that this Is
brought about, 1t would do incalcula
BILE damage to the mines, through
flooding, unless the companies car
succeed in filling the mems places.