New-York tribune., 1902-05-27
FIREMEN WILL STRIKE.
ENGINEERS AND PUMP!NEN
ALSO TO QUIT.
But IF CONFERENCE BE ARRANGED
THE FIRE FIGHTERS WILL NOT
BE ORDERED OUT on JUNE .
tBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


statement was issued tonight by State secre-
tary ] F. Mullahy. of the Stationary Firemen
OF Pennsylvania:
One hundred per cent of the frcmen both of
my orga nlzation and of the Union Mine Workers
VIII strike on June > and 90 per cent of the
engineers and pumpmen. The companies are
quoting incorrect figures of their poll in order
10 impress the workers. but the fact is that not
10 per cent of the present force will remain at
work after June =, and they will be DISCHARGED
II they do not work at the fires. A mass meet
ing will be held here on Friday night to con-
vince these men that it is better to ioin one of
the unions than TO remain out, lose their posi-
tiOns and get no support from the unions. The
fremen at Mo int Carmel. Shamokin Girard-
Vile Pittston. Scranton, Mayfield and Wilkes
barre, 1000 stronE are unanimous for n strike.
and are assured Of the unanimous co-opera ton
Of the fremen and pumpmen.
General Manager Rose, of the Delaware and
Hudson has ordered Superintendent Vandng
Of the Boston colliery. reinstate the engineers
and pumpmen whom he discharged last Friday
because the company needs the men to keep the
mine clear of water. The Delaware Lacka-
wanna and Western company has ordered the
Ton-union workers at the Woodward colliery.
whom they have housed and fed for the last
three months, to find boarding places. as keep
ing them at the mine is too expensive.
MITCHELL MAY MEET HANNA
That the committee Of miners which met the
operators in New-York City is taking a deep in
terest in the present attempts to arrange
other meeting with the Civic Federation is evil
dent to-day by the mysterious departure for
New-York of Local President T. D. Nichols,
who. IN the absence of President Mitchell. is in
charge OF the strikers He took great pains to
conceal his destination but it learned that
he took early train for New-York. and what
he did there may he surmised.
President Mitchell has all along been eager
TO arrange a meeting with the Civic Federation.
and he has hoped that after a couple of weeks
OF the strike and time to realize the determina-
tion of the union had elapsed the operators
would be ready TO grant few concessions His
one chance now before the last declaration OF
strike, by ordering out the engineers, pump
men and fire men. lies in a meeting this week
and the opening of negotiations for a settle
ment, pending which he will suspend the order
for the strike on next Monday. 1t is under
stood that when he fixed the date for calling
out the men now at work il was with the un-
derstanding with Senator Hanna that before
then a meeting could be arranged otherwise
they would have been ordered out to-day. His
departure for the West arranged at the
same time that the date for the June strike
was announced. and this. together with the
fact that Senator Hanna is now in the West
makes If apparent that the course Of the pres
ent proceedings has been understood for some
time and that Mitchell has always been able
TO see several moves ahead. 1t is now believed
here that he and Senator Hanna have met or
are TO meet in the West to perfect such ar
rangements as their plans require, and it Is
said that Mitchell will probably go to New
York before he again comes to this city Ihere
is much hopefulness among the leaders who
are here that the present negotiations will end
in peace and they look for settlement OF the
difficulties not ony here, but in the sJft coal
region also If another meeting can be ar
ranged.
The poll OF most Of the companies and the
reports Of those that made pou on hand
tonight, and show that, while it is not certain
Just how many will strike, the outlook now Is
that 50 per cent Of the engineers, 30 per cent
OF the pumpmen and 10 per cent of the fremen
are expected to remain at work
In this region these are the figures given by
the large companies. The Storrs Colliery Of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western. the
largest in the region, sent resolution to the
company from the iremen, engineers and pump
men, declaring that all would stand by the
company and remain at work, while the three
classes Of workers in the Lehigh and Wilkes
barre mines in this city notified the United
Mine Workers tonight that they would all strike
The Pennsylvania, the Delaware and Hudson
the Hillside Coal and Iron, the Lehgh Valley.
the susquehanna. the Temple Coal and Iron
and smaller companies, all report tonight that
the great majority of their engineers, about half
the pumpmen and a few of the hremen will
remain at work, and they are unanimous in say
ing that, however many go on strike, they VIII
be able to keep all their collieries free from
water
WORKING IN BERNICE.
The situation at Bernce is more serious than
has yet been supposed although the strike lead
ers have said little about it. One Of the
mines there the Bernice drift Of the State Line
and sullivan Railroad Company. is operating
with 400 non-union men, while the Lykens drift,
which is owned by w. B. Gunton, is run by 100
union men. This odd condition was brought
about in this way: In February 1901 the
went on strike at both places because the op-
orators would not pay the 10 per cent increase
granted in the other parts Of the region in the
fall Of 1900 The strike at the Bernice drift
has been on ever since and the company has
gradually filed the places of all the strikers,
and is now operating with full complement of
men. chiefly Italians, Poles and Slavs who are
living in the houses from which the strikers
were evicted. Gunton gave to these men the
10 per cent increase and they became union
men When the present strike declared
two weeks go to-day they refused to obey the
general order and have since been at work.
IT is this condition that is thorn in the side Of
the strikers here. The Lykens drift men are
satisfied with the conditions. and not in
sympathy with the strike Several strikers from
this district have gone there and got work.
Fice-President Adam Ruscavage was rushed
there on Saturday with money. but this morn
ing ne unable 10 get single man 20 quit
work. Each mine is operated with a full force.
but there Is fear Of trouble. Mr.. Gunton said:
There is no telling what the day will bring
forth. What we mine here Is but drop In