The Saint Paul globe., 1902-06-03
Majority of Engineers, Fire
men and Pumpmen Will
Quit Work
PUMPS ARE KEPT GOING
Operators Say That Estimate OF
Auxiliary Who Walked Ont Is
Overestimat mated-Everything
Is Quiet at Coal Fields.

WILKESBARRE, Pa, June 2.-The or
der of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, calling out on strige all engineers,
firemen and pumpmen employed at col
lieries where the eight-hour workday
with present wages was not granted,
went into effect today, and, as has been
Predicted, a majority of the men obeyed
the order. Neither side can claim a vic
tory at this time because the struggle on
this phase of the anthracite coal miners
strike has just opened. There was only
a partial showing Of strength today.
The real test of whether or not the
mine pumps shall be manned will begin
tomorrow. Although a majority of the
men quit work. the companies. generally
speaking. succeeded in keeping their
pumps in operation. The operators feel
that at present they have the advantage,
but they are not so sanguine of the fu-
| ture. The exact number of men VINO
| quit today cannot be obtained.
Mitchell Issues Statement.
Each side refuses to make public its
| figures, but gave out information that
roughly estimates the number of men al
! fected. These estimates are far apart.
National President Mitchell, Of tho
| Miners union, gave out statement, Iii
which he says;
Reports received from every important
mining community indicate that where
the eight-hour day has not been conceded
fully so per cent of the firemen, pumpmen
and engineers have ceased work. The
number will be materially increased to-
morrow. In some sections mine foremen
have positively declined to perform the
work Of engineers, firemel and pumpmen.
In some places foremen have manned the
pumps, and clerks have been required to
perform this labor.
"A perfect army of irresponsible men
has been employed by the coal compa-
nies to act as coal and iron policemen.
The services of these men are unneces-
sary, and their presence unwarranted.
There have been no violations to date by
the mine workers and / am sanguine
there will be no overt acts on the part
of the strikers"
Operators Tell Different story.
On the other hand, a mining official of
one of the largest coal companies, who
received accurate information from the
entire coal belt, made this statement:
president MitchelPs estimate is too
high. We have received figures from all
our colIieries and the general superin-
tendents of all the other coal companies,
but they are not to be given out, as it
would not be policy to reveal our weak
spots or to betray our stronSTolds as far
as they relate to the collieries individu-
ally.
Il can, however, say that about 65 per
cent of all the Lehigh Valleys men, who
are scattered from near Scranton down
to Shamokin, went out. The Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western, the Delaware &
Hudson and the Erie companies, whose
!. operations are mostly located north Of
here, Jared little better. The Susque-
hanna Coal company's collieries which
are controlled by the Pennsylvania rail
nod Il y =, %nd Of nIy1
south of here, were crippled less than
any big company in the region. The
Reading company, with forty colIieries in
the lower region, was the worst sufferer,
more than 70 per cent of its men refusing
to go to work. The individual companies
all lost more than 80 per cent of their
men
Notwithstanding the big desertion OF
men, every colliery in the entire region
that made the effort was able to get up
steam and maintain it. We are satisfied,
under the circumstances, with the situa-
ton as it exists at present, and we do
not care to boast of our future ability
to keep the mines from flooding The
companies have nearly all the men they
want for present needs. We look for
intimidation of our men by the strikers,
but We will go right along and protect
our employees and property as best we
can"
Considering the vast number Of men
idle, the coal field was very quiet
throughout the day. Reports came in
from several sections. telling Of disturb
ances, but these were Of q minor nature
only. Early this morning and this even.
ing some workmen were stoned as they
We're on their way from the mines to their
homes. The small army of coal and iron
policement which is in the field is not
much in evidence The companies have
instructed these men to avoid trouble.
and that they must not make themselves
conspicuous.
CanvRssing the Workers.
Committees of the local unions were
busy tonight canvassing the men who re-
mained a work today. Hundreds of
them, however, cannot be reached, aq
they are quartered within the confines of
the collieries. The companies do not care
TO risk the safety of the men by letting
them go to their boarding houses or their
homes There was quite a furry here
today when it was learned that a party
of negroes had arrived over the Jersey
Central railroad. The strikers at first
thought they were to take the places of
union men, which somewhat incensed the
men. 1t was learned later that they were
only engaged to cook for the non-union
workmen temporarily living at the col
lieries.
The several brotherhoods of railroad
employees in this locality held a meeting
today, at which the general strike situa-
ton was discussed. No action of any kind
was taken. The railroaders are in hearty 1
sympathy with the striking miners, and
it is not unlikely that they will give the
men financial or other material support
Denied by GOmpers.
President Mitchell tonight received a
telegram from President Gompers. of the
American Federation of Labor denvino
the truth of the dispatch sent from To-
ledo, Ohio, last night, in which Mr..
Gompers is reported to have construed |
the attitude of the Federation as in favor
Of the engineers and fremen's organiza
tons, having complete control Of such
crafts in whatever line, including MINES