Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-11
MINERS EXPECT TO STRIKE
Anthracite Workers Regard Conditions
Favorable to Complete Tisup,
MITCHELL SAID TO Be AGAINST IT
Men Are Thought to he in Comfort
Condition and Able TO
Endure Period of
IdIeness.

SCRANTON, Pa, May 10.-The order OF
the executive committee OF the miners
congress, made last night through Presi-
dent Mitchell and the district officers, to
suspend work at all anthracite mines on
Monday and continue until the Hazleton
convention, which is called for next
Wednesday. is regarded as an actual strike
condition, which simply smoothes the WY
for the delegates to act.
That the order to suspend work Monday
will be obeyed by the mine workers is already
an assured fact, for so eager are the mine
workers to follow the conditions that this
morning found a number OF the mines so
handicapped by workmen remaining away
that the force on hand was too small for
profitable work and they closed down for
the. day.
This is the ~semi-monthly pay day at all
the Delaware, L~ackawanna & Western
mines in the Lackawanna valley. The Del
aware & Hudson paid off on Thursday and
others of the big companies will disburse
many thousands OF dollars to their en-
ployes within the next half week. so that,
with what the mine workers have been lay
ing aside in preparation for the struggle
with the operators during the agitation this
winter, feeling that a strike was imminent.
they are not so poorly provided for as has
been reported.
Mitchell Opposed to Strike.
There is a strong sentiment among the
miners in this district that President
Mitchell II opposed to the strike and that
no matter how the operators may view IL,
the Nine Workers union can afford to re-
fuse to engage In the conflict which the
men say the operators are inviting.
On the Saturday preceding the Monday
on which the 1900 strike took effect the
mine bosses worked among their personal
friends in the ranks Of the miners to urge
them to disobey the strike order. Today
the bosses are strictly holding aloof from
their men. There is absolutely no effort
on the part Of the operators so far as Is
apparent here to discourage a strike. This.
coupled with the fact that the rank and
file are firmly convinced that National
President Mitchell Is against a strike, will
have a strong influence toward an anti
strike vote at Mondays meeting.
President Mitchell and committeeman OF
the three districts held a meeting this aft
ernoon, but nothing was made public as to
their deliberations. The committeeman
left for their homes this afternoon. Pres.-
dent Mitchell is still here attending to his
correspondence. He will leave for Hazleton
Tuesday afternoon.
The railroads have laid off nearly all
their coal crews and will make arrange
ments to run the washers to supply coal
for locomotives.
Excitement Among Miners.
PITTSToN, Pa, May 1O.-Thousands Of
miners thronged the streets of this city
all night awaiting further news concern
ing the temporary strike order issued last
night at Scranton by the executive COM
mittees OF the three anthracite departments.
1t is stated emphatically by union leaders
that the entire Ii. 900 mine workers Of this
section would support the organization.
At the collieries today the superintendent
are busy directing the removal of mules.
Very little coal is being mined, the work
being confined principally to clearing the
chambers and preparing for the struggle
which now appears certain.
1t is authoritatively stated here today
that the delegates to the Hazleton con-
vention from this district will go instructed
to vote for a continuance Of the suspen-
sion. This was decided late last night at
secret meetings Of the union locals.