Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-03
PUMPS RUNNING At MINES
Machinery in Operation and Mines Safe De-
spite Conflicting Reports.
MINERS AND OPERATORS CLAIM VICTORY
Strikers Declare Ninety Per Cent of
Engineers Obeyed orders TO Quit
Owners Get Others 10
FIJI Vacancies.

WILKEEBARRE. Pa. June a-The strike
Of the engineers. hrez7en and pumpmen
employed in the anthracite coal collieries
for an siEht-hour day al present wages
was inaugurated at o'clock this morn
ing. There are conflicting reports ss TO
= number OF men that are st work The
workers' of1ciAls claim that full
q cent Of the men obeyed the strike
r. but the companies dispute these
figures
The mining superintendents OF the big
coal companies say that reports received
from their own collieries and those Of indi-
vidual operators show that the pumps as
a rule are in operation today. They admit
that a great majority OF the hremen quit
work and that large numbers Of pumpmen
and engineers also refused TO report, bu:
they add that in nearly every operation
enough men we're on hand TO I'LL the
strikers places.
The entire region was reported TO be very
quiet today. which condition greatly re-
lieved the apprehensive feeling that has
prevailed the last few days. 1t is the belief
Of both sides. however, that the struggle
has just begun and theer is nc knowing
when or where an outbreak will occur.
That there Will be some disturbance is not
doubted
A local authority says there are en-
ployed in the 357 coIlieries in the anthra-
cite region 1.O7o engineers, $500 nremen
and 1,S25 pumpmen, and, according TO Gus
tom Of the unions in the coal regions. each
local had q COMMITTEES on duty at day
break. Their duty principally was TO nnc
out the number Of men who reported for
work and wherever possible to get their
names. These committees later in the
day reported to their respective locals and
the work Of persusding those who went to
the mines today TO stay out.
Nearly every mining operation is sur
rounded by either a high board fence or 4
bsrbed wire barrier and il was, there
fore, next TO impossible TO get lime" on
what was being done within the enclosure.
Refuse TO Give ON Figures.
II was a busy day IN the general ofnces
Of the big coal companies in this city. The
entire ONCE forces were on duty at an
early hour, prepared for any emergency.
None Of the companies were willing TO
give out figures. One superintendent said
We DO not care to show our weakness,
neither do we want TO betrRy our
strength"
Ihe same superintendent said:
We have received reports from everyone
OF our coller1eE which are scattered through
me coal belt from Scranton TO Shamokfn-
We have also heard in a general way from
The other companies All that can say is
that all our pumps are working Most of
the hremen IN the reg1on went out, but the
percentage OF pump runners and engineers
who remained away from work was noi
Whenever we were crippled we were able
TO MI the places with other employees or
mi don Thtrv a. a.
factory. but there is no telling what the
strikers win do. We hope. however, thai
those outsiders who came TO our rescue
viii not allow themselves 10 be intimidatec
by the strikers who Will surround ouI
works like picket of soldiers.
Strike headquarters was q dull place to-
day. President Mitchell had nothing TO snJ
regarding todHy's move beyond the fact
that they were satisfactory. He promised
TO give out figures later in the day IL be
gets enough 10 make up statement cover
ing the general situation.
Mitchell Issues Statement
At noon President Mitchell issued the tol.
lowing statement:
Reports received from every important
mining community indicate that where tbs
eight-hour Day has not been conceded fully
50 per cent OF the firemen, pumpmen and
engineers have ceased work. The number
some sections mine foremen have posi-
lively declined to perform the work oi
places forenen have manned the pumps
and clerks have also been required 10 per
form this labor.
A perfect army Of irresponsible men have
| been employed by the coal companies u
act as coal and iron policemen The serv-
ices Of these men are UNNECESSARY and their
| presence unwGrranted. There have beer
no violations today by the mine worker
and am sAnguine there will be no over
| acts on the part OF the strikers.
In reply to q question after issuing his
statement Mr.. Mitchell said he knew Of NJ
mine that is being flooded as a result o.
the action Of the union today.
In explanation Of the FIRST sentence Of hi
statement Mr.. Mitchell said that sevsra
Of the individual operators had conceded
the demands Of the men during the las
ten days. but not one OF the big compHnieI
had done SO.
UnAnimOas Response at Ha1Ieton-
HAZLEToN, Pa, June 2-There has
been an almost unanimous response In thl
\ HREleton district on the part OF the en-.
! gineers. hremen and pump runners to tn,
strike order OF the executive board Of tb,
/ United Mine Workers.
At the ofhees Of some Of the companies
whose operations are IN isolated portions
Of the district the 0ficiAls when called
up by telephone said they aid not know
how many Of their men had quit Tit
mine workers have not yet received an
\ definite figures al their hsAdquRrters. SO
correct estimate Of the number Of msI
in the strike cannot be given until latel
in the day.
All the companies whose men deserted
their posts promptly filled the places O
the strikers with nonUnion men brough
here from PhilAdelphiA. and their Agenti
say the operation OF the pumps viii not b,
! interfered with by reason OF the strike
Everything is quiet in this region thu
far today. There win be q special meet
ing Of the Clerks Protective association TO
night 70 urge the local merchants 70 one.
their sympathy and support 70 the strik
erE- The merchants viii also meet II 4
stated that resolutions Will be adopts,
eondsmning AL business men who furnisl
supplies 10 ths special ofncers and non
union men. hunoreds OF whom are sta
toned Al nearly tvery eoIliery.
IN order TO avert trouble the c0mpauis
win keep their special ofAeers At the mine
until the strike is over. The aituAtiol
iE 50 acute that the presenee Of these me-
N the city. especially Al night. is liable :
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