Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-14
STORY OF THE STRIKE
Began in May and Has Been
Fought Bitterly.
COST OF THE FIGHT
ESTIMATED AT ovH ONE HUN
DRED MILLIONS.
Loss in Miners Wages Put at Over
Twsnty-Eight Millions - Great
sunering-Many Tragedies.


mands which resulted In the strike that has
dwarfed all other coal strikes and has been
more far reaching than even the great DebS
railroad strike in the latter part of last
April They were disconnected demands at
first. and the United Mine Workers did not
then look to strike with any great enthu-
siasm.
There had been murmurings among the
EMPLOYEES at certain mines for more than
wear In some places the discomfort which
had brought on the strike that began in
September, 1900. and lasted for month had
never died out. Last April the disaffected
miners formulated demands for an eight
hour work day, sixty cents ton for coal
mined and recognition of the union:
There followed a series Of preliminary
conferences and attempts to avert the bat
tie No one believed that 1t would be so
bitter or its effects as widespread they
have proved to be. The arbitration COM
mittee Of the National Civic Federation at
tempted to stop the conflict and made sew
eral futile OvertureS.
Hanna's Vain Efforts for Peace.
Senator Hanna and other members of the
committee brought about a conference,
which failed The officials of the union met
In Scranton on May to consider the situa-
ton. Mr.. Morgan, then in Europe, was ap-
pealed to by Senator Hanna to intervene,
but declined President Mitchell stated his
position to the operators, but they refused
to make the concessions asked.
On May 8 the managers of the coal roads
issued statement in WHICH they formally
declined to accede to the. miners demands.
and the next day q temporary strike was
ordered. May II. 1850 men failed to re-
turn to work. Every miner, helper and
breaker boy obeyed the order and not a
pound of coal was miled that day. Very
little coal has come up from the drifts and
levels since that date. 49,. ,.
Senator Hanna tried to- bring about
sixty-day armistice. which would allow
by that time both sides were eager for the
test of battle. INCs
Shamokin Convention Held.
On May IA the Shamokin convention was
held. It was the meeting Of the miners in
the disaffected section. Mitchell, even then.
is said to have been opposed to a general
strike. but the men in the districts over
ruled him. The next day-May 15-the vote
was taken 1t was decided to order a
strike Out of about eight hundred votes
there was majority of only 112 in favor
of the strike, but, once ordered. the whole
body, with Mitchell at the head, began to
fight with all their power
For time the calling out of the bitumi-
nous miners was considered, but this was
never accomplished. The strikes in the soft
coal fields have arisen from separate causes
Mitchell removed his headquarters to
Wilkesbarre and has directed the strike
from there ever since. The miners stores
| stopped Seli1nS on credit.
Mine owners and coal road presidents met
In New York on May 20 and decided to
fight to the finish" The executive COM
mittee of the union met the next day It
was decided to keep the mines clear Of wa
ter until June 2, and plans for the Indian
apolis convention to consider general
strike were made.
Flooding the Mines.
The pumping question. which has since
led to Of the
against the miners, then became a vital
issue. Stopping of the pumps meant many
thousands OF dollars lost to the operators.
More special police were called in and talk
of impending violence became common.
On June the pump men were called out
as had been threatened, and so per cent
responded to the call. Water began to fill
the mines, and sporadic assaults became
more common. On June it was estimated
that 5000 special police were in the affected
district.
On June a boy was shot by the police
ana the hrst case of arson was reported.
More mines became flooded, and the first
real effect of the strike became apparent
After practically only four weeks of the
SO. 500, 900.
President Roosevelt consulted with Sena-
tor Hanna and Carroll D. Wright, commits
sloner OF labor. Mr.. Wright was instructed
to investigate, and did So He was refused
access to the operators hooks hut eaIned
Information from which he has advised the
fresioent IN succeeding conferences.
Levies for Strike Funds.
The Indianapolis convention Of the United
Mine workers was held on June 49, 1t de-
clded not to call a general strike, but as
sessments were levied on the men at work
ana calls for funds to support the anthra-
cite workers We're issued to organized labor
everywhere.
A statement Of facts was issued by the
qpesa5ors at Att, this time. and June %
nearly all Of their assertions He offered
10 submit the matter to arbitration, and
declared his men would abide by the re-
sal,. me operators replied with refusal.
declaring they could have no guarantee
that the agreement would be carried out
union. To- ~ 'S
Through July the strike dragged on. Men
were beaten to death occasionally and shot
ana wounded in attacks upbn the guards.
operators began to predict the resumption
"a W.T." -, -, ana II was resumed at washeries
Sarpon county was the first to call for
milltary aid On July 80 there was a seri-
Gus r3ot at shenandoah Joseph Beddall.
brigade Of troops, was dispatched 10 the
scene: Citizens of the district appealed to
rresiaeht mitchell to STOP, violence, and he
ing 1t. Te II
Mr. Morgan returned iron, Europe and
mere was persistent rumor that he would
end the strike. but after Investigating the
SITUATION he declined to hntenfere. He held
several conferences with operators, but
nothing came of them. On August % the
operators declared that fourteen mines were
being operated. -.
reserve coal was almost consumed by
september l, and the pinch Of the famine
nad become acute. More troops were or
dered into the Wyoming and Panther Creek
valleys and General Goblin Issued his shoot
to kill order.
Political Interference Begins.
On September Senator Platt predicted
that the strike would end within two
weeks and what the operators have termed
political interference" began Governor
Stone Of Pennsylvania came to New York
and conferred with Senator Plat and other
republican leaders. The operators again
refused to give In. and declared that IL In
limitation was prevented they would re-
open the mines.
Coal had climbed to $15 and $1s a ton
and was almost unobtainabie at that,
month ago. As high as $50 was paid. Cow
ernor Odell. Senator Plat. Senator Quay
and Senator Penrose tried actively to bring
about peace, and many conferences verA