The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-26
QUIET in STRIKE REGION
MOVEMENT FOR A BITUMINOUS
STRIKE GENERALLY APPROVED.
Mine Firemen Probably VIII Go Out,
but Few Pump Men Are Expected
to Quit-Engineers Refuse.

WILKESBARRE, Pa, May 25.-ThiS was
the quietest Sunday in the Wyoming re-
gion since the strike began. Two weeks
ago to-day there was more or less ex-
element everywhere, because the strike
order was TO go into effect the following
day, and last Sunday there was much talk
over the coming Of President Mitchell to
Wilkesbarre to make his headquarters, but
to-day found the offices of the coal COM
panies entirely deserted, the clerks having
completed their pay rolls early in the week.
and at the strike headquarters no one was
on duty but Miss T.. c. Morris, President
Mitchells private secretary.
The circular which President Mitchell
sent out yesterday, warning the Polish,
Slavish and Lithuanian miners to remain
away from the bituminous region of Vir-
ginia and West Virginia, where strikes are
now in progress, was read in many of the
churches where The foreign miners attend
services. Some of the clergy made re-
marks urging the strikers who belong to
their congregations to be law-abiding and
be guided by their leaders so long as the
leaders were faithful to the trust reposed
in them. Some of the Polish and Lithuan-
ian clergymen are said to be opposed to
the strike, or were opposed TO IL before Ii
was declared, on the ground that the
people intrusted 10 their spiritual care
were not prepared TO stand long siege of
ideness.
Secretary Mullahy. of the Stationary
Il
poll Of the men employed at the various
collieries has just been completed, and that
over 80 per cent of the men will quit work
on June 2, unless an eight-hour day is
granted them. Another officer of the union
admits that the percentage of engineers
who will quit work will not be as large,
but very nearly so. What percentage of
the pump men will come out is not as yet
known. II the local operators are TO be
believed it will be small. and there will be
no trouble in filling all vacancies that may
occur.
The strikers here are inclined TO look
with favor on the action of the mine work
ers conference at Huntington, w. Va,
in ordering a strike of the miners in Nir-
ginia and West Virginia. They think il
will hasten the crisis in the anthracite re-
gion.
Meetings Of railroad men to discuss the
advisab ility OF refusing TO handle nonuniOn
and bituminous coal during the progress
of the miners strike were held In Wilkes
barre Kingston and Ashley this afternoon.
All three meetings were secret. The
WilkeSbarre meeting was more largely at
tended than the one Friday evening. 1t
was given out that the question dis
cussed in all its bearings, but no action
taken. The meeting at Kingston agreed to
take the matter up at another meeting, TO
Endorsed the miners strike and will render
financial aid. The railroad brotherhoods,
with headquarters in this city, also will
give financial assistance. but ii is said Will
not resort TO a sympathetic strike.
A big union meeting of railroad men will
be held in this city on June ?, when the
question of railroad crews handling nom
union and bituminous coal will be finally
settled. 1t is expected that a number of
grand officers from the various brother
hoods will be present.
The Rev. j. j. Curran, in a statement
issued tonight, says a general strike of
btuminous miners will bring about a crisis
in the anthracite field. and the operators
would have to treat with their employees.