The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-30

President j. l.. Crawford, of the
Peoples Coal company, yesterday gave
out an interesting letter regarding his
company's experiences during the
strike and it's intentions to resume
operations. He says:
Scranton, Pa. July .S, 1902
/ notice by the press reports, If Mr..
Nichols is quoted correctly, that he says
that l was bluting when l issued the
notice to Our former employees that the
Oxford colliery intended to start up in
the near future. l cnpha tically deny the
charge, but acknowledge that | may be
mistaken. l suppose MIR. Nichols has
based his argument on what he has been
able to prevent me from doing III the
past three months, and 1 also acknowl-
edge that he has put me to great expense
and inconvenience by the tactics that
he has used. L will also make a plain
acknowledgment of some of the inccn-
veniences he has put me to. l will also
acknowledge that he has caused me to
change the details of many of my plans
In order to counteract his great infiu-
ence. l will also acknowledge everything
that has been done inside of our fence
In the past three months and also con-
fess what 1 expect to do.
MY experience in the past has taught
me to be frank in my dealings with all
men. and IL l made a mistake through
error of Judgment or neglect of duty. my
easiest way out of 1t was to acknowledge
1t. l will also acknowledge that my trou-
bles began right after the executive board
meeting in Scranton when the temporary
suspension was declared. AS there was q
small squeeze in one portion of the mines
at that time. l had men timbering and
tagging 1t up. which Mr. Theophilus Phil
lips tried to stop before the Hazleton
convention had convened.
NO GRIEVANCES.
We have it from the lips of Mr. Phil
lips that when they were at the Sha-
mokin convention that he took the floor
and said that he was proud to represent
a local that had no grievances. And 1 am
not aware of conditions changing be-
tween the Shamokin convention and the
Hazeton convention, notwithstanding his
actions In trying to stop the tmbermen
l also acknowledge that Mr.. Nichols
and his associates have continued to an
noy our steam men. When I went
around to see who was going to con-
tinue to work, when the engineers and
firemen were called out was invariably
told by all the men that they were salts
and the wages despite the fact that the
union officials had notified them If they
were to continue to work and save my
property from destruction that when the.
strike was over they would not he al
lowed to work around the coliery. I also
acknowledge I was sure that the Of
flcials of~the union would have nothing
to say when the time came. The men
We're willing to sign a contract, the gist
ha fo rly
under the present conditions of work
and at their present occupation and
wages or at any other work that might
be designated by the superintendent. On
my part / agreed to employ them for
definite length of time. and at any time
l could not employ them l agreed to pay
them their wages for the length of time
they were ready for employment.
l also acknowledge that Mr.. Nichols
has succeeded in forcing three of my
men to break their contract. First was
a fireman who was the only support Of a
widowed mother. Mr.. Nichols. or those
he sent to her, told her that the son
would be killed If he continued to work
and also tried to scare the son by meet
Ing him on the roads and making threats.
The mother went into Mysteries and this
annoyance was continued until the son
thought best to quit work. Next was a
young man who was annoyed continually
at his boarding place and consequently
had to leave work. because he could not
find another place. The third was an
extra man, around the place, who was
forced to break his contract on account
of fear of bodily harm. In fact. all of
our men have been stopped on the road
or have been forced to walk blocks
around to keep out of danger.
ARRIVED LATER.
l acknowledge that the first lot of for
eigners that came here after we started
the rock work were expected on an even
Ing train and l had men to conduct them
from the depot to the mines, and through
failure to make connections at Wilkes
Barre they did not arrive on that train, |
and we supposed they were not coming.
But the men arrived on a later train,
and as only one had ever been to our
mines before, they came up the railroad |
switch When they passed the crossing
at Scranton street your sympathizers fol-
lowed them coming with their bundles,
and after thew had