The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-05-27
Much Conjecture as to Effect
 of Miners Strike
10 BE COMPLETE SHUT DOWN
Engineers and Firemen in peculiar Predicament and Hesitating Which Way to Move When Order
 Becomes Effective.

Wilkesbarre, Pa, May 26.-It is still matter of coniecture whether the mines in the anthracite region will be com pletely shut down next Monday when the order issued by the executive board or the United Mine Workers, governing the hours of labor and wages to be paid en- gineers, firemen and pump runners, goes into effect The operators claim they will have all the help necessary to keep the pumps and engines in running order.
 The United Mine Workers and the of :icers of the Stationary Firemen's Asso- citation claim that unless the coal com panles grant the demands the great bulk of the engineers, firemen and pump men will quit work
 The operators are bringing all the influ- ence they can to hold the men now at work, while the striking miners are also doing missionary work Many of the en- gneers do not like the predicament they are placed in.
 In Predicament.
 If they quit work they will displease the company officials and may never be reinstated, while if they remain at their posts and the miners should win their strike, they would probably find that things would not be so pleasant for them at collieries in the future. In order to reach those who are wavering, call was issued tonight for mass meeting of all engineers, pumpmen and flremen in the Wyoming region in this city next Fri day evening.
 The firemen will strike almost to man and the operators will be compelled to secure green hands to take their places. State Secretary Mulcahy in a statement issued tonight, says the entire Brother hood of Stationary Bremen will quit work next Monday. He also claims go per cent of the engineers and pumpmen will strike The engineers, tiremen and pumpmen who were discharged at the Boston colliery of the Delaware and Hud- son company because they refused to do the work which was formerly done by the strikers, were reinstated today
 mysterious fire occurred at the old empire breaker this morning. The strik- ing miners say the fire was of incendiary origin and that some enemy of the strik- CTS was guilty of applying the match.
 Conference in Chicago.
 Chicago, May 26.-A conference that promises to change the aspect of the an- thracite strike situation held in this city today between several mem bers of the National Civic Federation and union interests. President John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America, met Frank P. Sergeant and Franklin Me- Veagh of the Federation. and Samuel Keefe of the Long Shoremen's Union and plans for further arbitrative endeavors on the part of the federation were dis cussed.
 The meeting was executive but it is understood that the plan agreed upon contemplates calling another conference of the mine operators and the whole com mittee of the National Civic Federation at New York with a view of arbitrating the strike question. It is said the plan will be sent to Senator Hanna for ap- proval.
 No Sympathetic Strike.
 New York, May 26-Local representa- tives of the leading soft coal roads In Virginia and West Virginia say they have no advices respecting a possible strike by some 125,0OO miners in that sec tion Chairman Fink of the Norfolk and Western road said today:
 Our miners are mostly negroes. They are not organized as far as 1 know They receive fair wages and seem to be satis- neu' uo not peieVe they are Hheiy to join in any sympathetic movement
 Teamsters' Strike.
 Chicago, May 26.-As results of the teamsters' strike at the stockyards bus mess in Packingtown may be paralyzed and the wholesale butchers and down. town restaurants may be seriously crippled.
 Unless concessions are made or an agreement reached tomorrow the Union Stockyards and Transit Company is likely to find itself in the tolls of the strike The strikers will demand that the com pany refuse to transport to the uptown districts meats heretofore hauled by the teamsters. If refused a general strike of railroad men will be ordered. This will call out all engineers, fremen, brake men and other union labor operatives of the company.