The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-20
FEAR ANOTHER COAL STRIKE.
FOREBODINGS or TROUBLE IN
THE ANTHRACITE REGION.

EOREBODINGS Or THOCHLE Nv
THE ANTHRACITE REGION.
Clash May Como Next Summer Or May
He Delayed TIL l0OS-Business Men
and Miners Getting Ready--DiscOnten
In the Union-work OF DemaE0gues.
HAzLEroN, Pa, Sept. l9.-Will the big
strike come next year. or will 1t be deferred
until 1905, when the three years agreement
under the coal strike commissions award
expires? Pessimists believe 1t will not be
delayed longer than next summer: opti-
mists do not look for 1t before year from
next summer.
That it is bound to come, both the hope
full and the Respondent agree. Both are
In full accord in believing that the big bat
ties OF 1900 and 1902 really settled nothing;
that the issue between the United Mine
Workers and the anthracite coal operators
Is az sharply drawn as ever; that the pres
ent peace at the mines is only an armed
truce, and that both sides are taking ad-
vantage Of it to equip themselves for a
struggle. compared with which the two
contests which followed the advent Of Mr..
field will be as nothing.
"The coal companies are storing coal.
say the union leaders; -our men are storing
money in the banks. II the coal companies
get coal enough ahead to supply the market
for six months we must have money enough
ahead to keep us for year.
III the coal companies get coal enough
stored to last year. we must have money
| enough in bank to support US for two years. '
Whatever the coal companies may be
doing In the way of charging and filling
their storage bunkers, there is no doubt
! about what the miners are doing in the
matter Of adding to their bank accounts.
They are making more money and saving
more money than they have done for years.
A gentleman connected with q bank
here said few days ago that never In his
experience had he known so much money
to be deposited by miners. Every pay day
the banks find it necessary to work hours
overtime on account Of the heavy deposits.
| What Is true Of Hazleton is true Of all
large towns throughout the anthracite
country. As is always the case, 1t is the
foreigners, as all the non-English speak
ing miners are called-the Poles, the Hun
garians, the Italians, the Iithuanians-
who are saving the most money.
| Herded together in boarding clubs OF
, from half dozen to fifteen or more. they
| live in old shacks Of houses with woman
to do the cooking for them. They are
extravagant if the board and lodging under
; these circumst ances cost each man IS
month Probably the average expense
! is from So to 81 a month.
| years steady work means comfortable
! bank accounts, and comfortable bank &C
! counts among the men mean just so much
! fighting strength for the union.
II am going to talk to you and to talk
J to you freely" said business man long
/ resident in the coal country to The Sun
reporter, "but 1t Is on the one condition
| that you not only do not use my name but
! also in no manner give clue to my identity.
] For me or for any other business man up
| here to tell the truth about the conditions
in the coal region would simply mean ruin.
We dare not say our souls are our own.
| The terrorism of the boycott Is over every
body who is in business here.
"Do believe there is going to be strike7
| Well. nv best answer to that question
would be to invite you to look at my coal
bunkers am laying in coal enough
for use in my business plant and for do
nestle use to last me year. I mean to
have a years supply ahead right along.
And that ia not all am laying in also
a big stock OF raw material that use In
my product. I am doing this quietly and
storing the stuff away where can lay my
hands on 1t.
1T is my belief and the belief Of all other
men who are In close touch with the situa-
F, ton here that we are not only going to
have a big coal strike. but strike that will
tie up everything I do not know wha,
manufacturers elsewhere are doing, but
we up here In the coal country are getting
ready for such a siege as We never have hac
before.
-We do not propose to be caught mapping
again. There is big manufacturing con.
Germ O short distance from where we sit
They, too, have enlarged their coal bunk.
ers and are getting ready to carry years
stock of coal ahead. 1t is so with every.
body who is able to stand the immediate
outlay that the purchase Of a large stocl
of coal means.
"We are simply living here on volcano
1t is liable to break loose at any moment
Whether the crack will be delayed beyonc
next summer I very much doubt.
"The arrogance and INSTRUMENTATION
that are rampant among the miners mus
bring on the climax at no distant day. 1t il
very questionable whether the United Min,
Workers can control the men much longer
They are not wholly controlling them now
Il suppose the United Mine Worker
would be glad to see the three years com
pact kept. They know very we'll that
they on theA part break the compact ant
a strike ensues public sentiment will &c
dead against the miners.
But there is turbulent incendiar,
element among the miners, or rather bac
of them, and very conspicuously in the rear
When on one occasion last summer tn
militia were lined up against mob Q
strikers in Panther Creek Valley, ma
said to the officer in command
-If you are compelled to shoot don
fire into the men in front OF you. Fir
over their heads into the ginmill keeper
and political demagogues back In the rea
who have egged them on.
THAT just about covers the situation
believe that 80 per cent of the foreig
element among the miners are contente
and do not want another strike. But the