Evening journal., 1902-06-14
MANY FiRR BOSSRS
NOW QUIT WORK
Miners Work Hard 10 CT
Them Out
Operators Say SIrikrrS Threaten TO
BOyeOtt TradeSm n Who Supply
Families OF AOn-uniOn Men

Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 1.-THE work
of the strikers in attempting TO bring
out all the men who are still in the
employ OF the coal companies goes
steadily on. Their campaigns against
the engineers, firemen and pumpmen IS
nearly over. most Of these men being
out. and the union is now paying more
attention to the fire bosses. clerks and
others who have taken the places OF
those who quit. Pressure is being
brought to bear on them In every pos
sible way. Quite a number of the fire
bosses throughout the region have al
ready stopped work because they had
been asked TO take the strikers places,
and at meeting held here yesterday
afternoon about dozen more consent
ed to join the strikers. The labor lead
ers hope TO have more out by Monday.
The company officials are aware OF the
attack on the fire bosses. and they are
making every effort to hold them
The miners union is now planning
to expel from the organization all en-
gineers, firemen and pumpmen who
have not yet obeyed the strike order.
They have been given until tonight to
ioin the strikers, and If they do not
quit they will be expelled and their
names published throughout the region
as unfair" workmen.
The officials Of coal companies in
this region are complaining of what
they call secret intimidation" of the
families of workmen who have re-
mained loyal to their employers. In
an interview the superintendent of one
OF the largest coal companies In the en-
tire hard coal belt said. = am ready
to believe that the leaders OF the strik-
ers are sincerely attempting to prevent
open violence, but there is now q form
of annoyance that is more effective
than OF the open intimidation OF our
employees. II is the secret intimida-
tion of wives and children OF men who
are willing TO work to support them.
Information that is absolutely trust
worthy has reached us that the local
unions in various mining settlements
are passing resolutions calling upon
certain tradesmen in the community
not to supply food to the families Of
those men who are still at work. If
they do not carry out these resolutions
the storekeepers are threatened with
boycott which will ruin them forever
IN the partlfHlar community in which
they may now be living. Most Of the
husbands and male support OF these
families dare not go near collieries for
fear of bodily harm, and are living in
quarters provided by us. Consequently
the women and children cannot pro
tect themselves. Every day we get ap
peals from these families, and in every
instance the company takes it upon
itself to see that they shall not here
after be cut of from their daily sup
ply OF the necessities OF life.'
The miners leaders as a rule will
not talk on the matter of boycotting
but the rank and file Of the strikers
openly admit that they try to boycott
all men whom they look upon as being
unfair" workers.
During a terrific thunder storm il
this region last night the mule barr
of the Delaware and Hudson Com
panys Boston cohiery at Larksvill
was strScx by lightning and set on fire
The f&nes spread rapidly and 30
strikers formed bucket brigade an
prevented the fire fron spreading Z
the big coal breaker. which is in clos
proximity to the burning barn.