New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-31
OPERATORS GATHER ARMY
MILITIA ORDERED TO REPORT AT
ARMORY MONDAY NIGHT-EXTREME
PROTECTION FOR WORKERS
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Wilkesbarre Penn. May 30-The strike lead
Frs awoke to-day to the fact that there would
be a large gap in the solid line which they
hoped 10 form next Monday, when the eight
hour day strike relating TO the engineers pump
men and hremen goes into effect The eSp will
be where the engineers and pumpmen were to
have stood. for few Of them are coming out in
the upper region. and not many in the middle
and lower districts. There is a general request
from the engineers and pumpmen of all this
section 10 have the order rescinded Commit
tees from several bodies of these workmen came
here to-day 10 place requests for the resembling
Of the order in the hands Of President Nichols
hut he did not come to town they will see
him tomorrow. and bring the matter before
the attention Of President Mitchell in the ex-
ecUtve council
small army Of coal and iron policemen is
now in the coal region. and will follow.
Since the strike hogan 1000 commissions have
been issued at Harrisburg, and two hundred
more are to be issued tomorrow. while there
are as regular force about l.400 of these Off
GERS employed by the companies throughout the
region and by the railroads controlling mines.
This makes 300 coal and iron police who will
be available on Monday morning to guard the
property Of the operators. The operators
now hurrying non-union TO the mines
where the present force is certain to stay.
ard many Of these men who do not favor the
strike and leave one region TO get work in an
other. not desiring to do non-union work where
they are known.
A significant move made to-day among
the militia. Although the officers vigorously
deny that they under orders be in readi-
ness to turn out June - if needed, the mem
bers Of Companies A, B. D. and X, of the
9th Regiment, after returning to the armory
from the parade this afternoon were ordered
10 report on Monday evening. and take home
with them Iesgings. belts and other belongings
which always left in the armory. The rank
and file say that this means that they may
have them ready TO put quickly.
That the operators view the outlook for trouble
with some alarm is evident from the semi-offi-
cial statement issued to-day. They say:
We do not fear any trouble in this region
the HaZletOn district If any comes. il will be
in the region about Mahanoy City: but we have
enough men here TO look after our works and
protect the men We employ. In this region the
firemen have been well behaved and have done
their work without question, but in the Mahanoy
City district there is bad feeling among them.
They have refused to bring in any more coal
than would suffice for shift. and acting
IN an ugly, threatening manner In that dis
trict the strikers have made arrangements, we
understand. to barricade in their houses all the
men who have decided to work, and forcibly
keep them from the mines.
As we fear danger in the Mahanoy City dis
trict, we have concentrated our strength there,
and are determined not TO be beaten. 1t may
he necessary to send the wives and families of
the men who work for us away during the
strike, owing 20 the abuse, and perhaps vio
lence, 10 which they may be subjected. We will
not consider the question Of expense in this, but
viii see that good care is taken of them. If vio-
lence occurs as there is every reason TO fear II
will, the operators Will be found amply able TO
protect the men who stay by them and to guard
their properties from all serious harm. The
plans completed, and. while it is not our
policy 10 say what these plans are, We are con-
fident they viii win the strike.
The strikers are making efforts to stop any
one from getting coal from any source. This
morning nine drivers of teams that have been
hauling culm from Edwardsville to the lace
mill of this city were stopped by body Of
strikers and told they would be killed if they
returned for They did not return.
In the Polish and Slav settlements many fami-
lies have on hand from ten to twenty-five tons
OF coal, stored in the yards and cellars and care
fully protected. Most Of il is in large pieces
weighing twenty pounds. When the strike of
1906 occurred few families made money by
gathering all the coal they could and selling it
at good prices. Since then many of the thrifty
people have been saving in expectation OF an
other strike some day. They yet ready
10 sell, although good prices are offered for the
Last night the I ehigh Valley Coal Company
erected around the Brodericks breaker a fence
sixteen feet high. with four lines of barbed wire
on top. The fences at the Pennsylvania No.
and No 10 collieries are nearly finished
The Central Labor Union and a number OF
miners locals passed resolutions to-day de-
nouncing the Rev. Mr.. Lansing who stated that
labor leaders were drunkards and the saloons
the causes Of strikes.
The engineers firemen and pumpmen Of the
Wilkesbarre district met tonight and voted
strike next Monday unless they get an eight
hour day. John Fallon, Henry Collins and D.
J. Reese Of the executive board Of the United
Mine Workers. gave out the 1}4 TO 20.
The men now the night shift will meet to-
morrow morning and vote.