Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-09
Il AM SATISFIED"
Is Pres. MitchelIPs Comment
on Miners Strike,
Expected That Soft Coal Field ri, up
Will Be Complete, Today.
The Few Union Engineers at Work Will
Go Out This Week.

"Ilkesbarre, Pa, June S.-Striks
headquarters of the anthracite coal
miners were very dun, today. and pre-
serted a deserted appearance. There
were no milne workers about the place
excepting President Mitchell and his
secretary, all others who are detailed
mere from various parts OF the coal
held having gone to their homes TO
spend Sunday.
Although the president is leading a
great struggle for a shorter work day
he is not limiting himself to anv nre.
scribed hours of labor. He works late
every night. Most of his time was
gwen up, today. to receiving reports
by wire by his men in the field,
he said he had nothing of any i'm
portance to make public, his informa-
ton being of satisfactory nature
Among the reports in were several to
the fleet that additional engineers had
stopped work, last night, and that sew
eral hre bosses who had taken the
places of strikers had also quit.
At meeting of engineers at Pittston.
last night, 80 engineers who had not
obeyed the strike order decided not to
go to work, tomorrow. The few union
men who are still at work, Mr.. Mitchell
says. will be out during this week.
Most of the general superintendent
of the big coal companies were seen.
today, but as rule they had nothing
to say on anything bearing on the
strike. One superintendent admitted,
today. that good many companies are
scratching pretty hard for good COM
petent men to run their engines and
pumps. Any number of volunteers have
come forward. but the men desired are
not so plentiful.
The coal companies have been favored
by long spell of dry weather. There
has not been enough rain to do any
damage in the way Of flooding the
mines. The strikers are wishing for a
heavy fall of rain. They are of the be-
lief that the most of the mines are fill
ing because the companies are short
handed and that the pumps cannot
keep up with the water that is drain
ing into the workings. A heavy rain,
they say. will send a correspondingly
heavy volume of water into the mines
which would overwhelm many pumps.
Mr.. Mitchell was in telephone COM
munication with Sec. Wilson at Indian
apolis, today, over the situation in the
West Virginia soft coal field, where a
strike was inaugurated. yesterday. Mr..
Mitchell said there was nothing to be
given to the public at this time because
he had not yet received full particulars
of the situation in that region. Mr..
Wilson, he said, did not know any more
than himself.
The national president also talked
over the long distance telephone with
other persons in the soft coal regions
in different parts of the West. The
conversation related to general business
and had no bearing on either the West
Virginia or Pennsylvania strike.
Tomorrow begins the fifth week of
the suspension of anthracite coal min
ing and a settlement of the dispute
seems to be no nearer than it was when
the strike began-May IL.
The house to house canvass of
miners committees in an endeavor to
bring out those who have refused to
strike and also those who have taken
the places of the strikers. is still be-
ing vigorously prosecuted. Many OF
the men who are still working COM
plain that their houses are stoned al
most nightly.
These assaults are made usually be-
tween 8 p. NJ. and midnight. The
method is to gather a small body of
men and boys and at a given signal
send a storm of stones against the
dwellings, breaking windows and
frightening the inmates.
The police department of this city.
today ordered the romOyal 0f all eff
figies that have sprung up since the
strike began. A large number have
been removed, but the police man
aged to find IS of them in the city, to-
day. Twenty of them were seen In the
region above Wilkesbarre- as far az
Pittston.