The Canton times., 1902-05-23
The Great Strike Of the Anthracite
Miners Of Pennsylvania Now
in Full Swing.
THE HAzLETOH CONVENTION ADJouRHs.
The question of Calling Out the En-
gineers, Firemen and Pump run
ners Left to the District OMcers
preparations Making For q
Long Struggle.

Z
Hazleton, Pa, May 17.-The great
coal strike, which was inaugurated
permanently Thursday evening,is now
in full swing, There were no develop
ments previous at the reassembling
of the convention in secret session
shortly before nine o'clock Friday
morning.
A TickIish Question.
From the gossip of the delegates it
was expected that the proposition to
call out the mine engineers, firemen
and pump runners, thus endangering
the safety OF the mines, would meet
with as much opposition as did the
motion to make the strike permanent
Those who advocated the continued
suspension of work here, as a rule, IA
vored of calling out these men. They
argued that the more the mine own
ers were einconvenienced and harassed,
the sooner they would give in and
grant the concessions. The more
conservative mine workers feared
that to call out the protectors of the
mines, would be boomerang that
might prove extremely costly to the
miners. 1t was argued by them that
the United Mine Workers organiza-
tion had all along followed the policy
as assisting the companies in protect-
ing their property.
One Delegates Opinion.
One delegate said: Il am against
calling out the engineer, firemen and
pump runners, because believe the
union should protect property rather
than stand by and see it go to de-
Struction. If the convention decides
to call out the men and the compa-
MES fail to fill their places, nearly ev-
cry mine in the region would fill with
water, which would mean tremendous
loss to the owners. 1t would take
months to pump out this water, and
in many cases the flooding of the
workings would ruin them beyond all
repair. Another danger would be the
accumulation of gases. After the
strike is over and the water had been
pumped out the men would run q
great risk in entering the mines."
They Dodged the Question.
The convention adjourned sine die
as 11:45 o'clock. The convention de-
cided to leave the matter of calling |
out the engineers, fremen and pumpl
runners to the national and district |
officers.
Steps were taken by the convention |
to involve in the strike all the bitum-
inous and anthracite coal miners in
the United States.
Reports from all parts of the region
show that everything is quiet, and
that the men are determined to stand
by the strike order.
Preparing For the Campaign.
Local unions throughout the re-
yious are in session, preparing for the
and adopting plans for re-
lief of members. The coal companies
continue to make preparations for
long strike. The coal and iron po-
lice, who are sworn in by the state
Of Pennsylvania, but who are paid by
the coal companies, are now more
lctive and alert, but their services are
hardly needed at this time, because
the strikers are keeping away from
lhe collieries. The electric railway
company has reduced it's service one
half and laid off a number of their
employees. Because of the stagnation L
IF business traffic is becoming very
light.
Many industrial establishment are
experiencing difficulty in getting coal,
Ind are economizing in this respect.