Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-16
TERRIBLE STRIKE On
Anthracite Miners Will Strike
Means Long Hard Struggle
$4,000 Men.
President Mitchell Opposed the
Strike-Mines May Be
Damaged.
Grocers Vote to Discontinue All
Credits-Miners Worried
Business Unsettled.

N''N,S
cite mines workers, in convention late
yesterday afternoon, by a vote of 1914
to 3i9A, decided to continue the strike
of the $4,000 men against the mine
owners and TO fight it out to the bitter
end. The matter of calling out the en-
gineers, firemen and pump runners will
be decided by the delegates tomorrow.
The step taken by the miners after
practically considering the matter for
| tainty of the situation, and it is freely
predicted that the most serious labor
struggle in the history of the country,
| If not in the world, is about to begin.
That is the view taken by nearly every
miner. While the leaders are cautious
and will not forecast their actions, 1t
| is not unlikely that the miners fight
will be carried into the bituminous coal
regions and into other fields of in
dustry.
| Mine workers for eighteen months
have been looking forward to this strike
and are considered to be in better shape
today for fight than they We're in the
great strike of 1900. That struggle end
ed in the mine owners giving the men
10 per cent advance after six weeks
suspension. The operators are on rec
ord as being unalterably opposed to
granting the men any concessions, and
they have personally informed the mine
workers. leaders to that effect.
The workmen fear that the present
fight may mean the destruction of their
organization, because they believe that
the mine owners are bent more on
wrecking their union than they are in
opposing the demands for higher wages
and shorter work days.
President MitchelFs advice to the
miners was peace, and he gave it to
them in the plainest and most forceful
of language. He was ably assisted by
of the lower district and Secretary
Demsep of the upper territory.
President Nichols of the First district
was the great champion of the strike
advocates. Mr.. Mitchell, who was the
last to speak. was listened to with the
greatest attention.
1t is said that a telegram was read
from the American Federation of Labor
against permanent suspension. But
the delegates would not listen and,
amid considerable suppressed eXcite-
ment the vote was taken. For time II
looked as tho the peace advocates would
win, but when delegation after delega-
ton from the lower district, the list
to be called, answered yes 1t was seen
that the men who favored fight had
won.
The proposition to call out the engi-
neers, firemen and pump runners was
separated from the main question early
in the discussion, but it would not be
surprising If the convention tomorrow
decided TO call them out. This would
result in incalcuable damage to the
mines thru flooding unless the compa-
MES can succeed in filing the mems
places. a-
While the people of the coal fields are
glad that the suspense and uncertainty
occasioned by the long delays in reach
ing conclusion of the strike are over,
the news of the conventions action has
caused considerable depression. Bust
ness has been paralyzed to a certain ex-
tent and it will probably come TO almost
Standstill.
Anxiety Among Miners.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, May 16.-Idle min
ers and laborers thronged the streets of
this city and adjoining towns all day
anXiously awaiting news from the
HaZelton convention. When the word
finally came last evening that the rep
resentatives of the underground work.
ers had voted to continue the strike the
men dispersed to their homes, many of
them wearing look of anxiety, if not
actual distress. They knew that the
last hope was gone and that probably
a long period of idleness was before
them. In United Mine Workers circles
the action of the convention is upheld.
There is much depression in business
circles.
Mahoney City. Pa. May IS. - The
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company last evening issued orders to
have all the mules hoisted from all the
companys colleries at once. The pump
men and other employees are ready to
quit work.
Scranton, Pa, May 16.-When the
news came of the strike vote great de-
preston settled over this community
Everybody believes it will be long
struggle and that before it is ended
there will be no small amount of vio-
lence. In anticipation of efforts on the
part of the strikers to prevent the
washeries from working, the companies
are swearing in as deputy sheriffs all
their bosses and office men. The Retail
Grocers' Association has called a meet
ing for next Monday to pass upon the
matter of disseminating credit. The
wholesalers have informally declared
they will reduce credits from thirty to
seven days. The retailers claim they
WILL, in consequence, be compelled to
shut down on credits entirely.