The sun., 1903-04-21
ANOTHER ANTHRACITE CRISIS.
$4,000 MINERS LOCKED OUT-THE
LEADERS IN SESSION.

neading Company Demands Nine Heuss'
Werk On saturday-Cleses Mines -
Enferce It--Mitcieli and Other Load
ers, In Conference at wfkes-Barre.
wnxEs-BARRR, April 90 - President
Mitchsll Of the mine workers and the mem-
bers Of the executive boards OF three an
thracite districts met here tonight to dis
cuss the grievances Of the mine workers
which have arisen since the strike COM
missions report was fled. The chief OF
these In the complaint from mine workers
that they have to work nine hours on Satur-
day. The engineers. pumpmen and fire.
men say the Encouragement Of shifts does
not suit them.
The fact that there was 20 work o-day for
sdme 10000 miners in the Schuylkill region
who refused to obey the commissions order
70 work nine hours and quit last saturday
after working only. eight was startling news
Secretary Hartlein Of the district said to-
night that work will be resumed speedily
and the difiiculty ad iusted amicably. Prcsi-
dent Mitchell would make no statement
regarding the matter, saying that he would
say nothing until he Is fully informed. .
the mine workers on Saturday by ssytng
that they hive slwf ys been accustomed
10 working only eight hours on Saturday.
and they believe the reference Of the COM
mission. saying that where no change y
recommended the conditions OF 1900 VIII
worked only eight hours on Saturda ys.
The opera tors, however, % that the com-
mission meant nine hours for every day
President Nichols of the Luxerne and
hck, WI ma district reported 200 men un.
slxa trit l<<ls IL
dent pc,try Of the II zleton district, 2o,.
snd President Fshey OF the Schuylkill dis
trict, 2J, F. ch specified the chief COM
pls int OF the men in his district the fact
that some are compelled to work more
tthan Line hours: Their opinion has
smrn strikes, the latest being on saturday,
when the boys a, the Red Ash quit work.
Tonight members Of the board said
nothing as to the conclusions Of the con-
ference and no official announcement may
be made Tomorrow. 1t is the belief that
workers will be urged to remain at work.
despite the grievances, while the board OF
Cancellation inquiries into the grievances
and settles them. The joint meeting will
probably recommend three men to repre-
sent the mine workers on this committee,
by the advice Of President Mitchell.
Mitchell was greeted enthusiastically by
a large number Of miners when he arrived
this afternoon, all the board members being
then in town. During the remainder Of the
afternoon he welcomed visitors. He weighs
many pounds more than he did when the
strike commission sessions were on. and
looks much better.
TAMAQUA. Pa, April 20-The Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany to-day locked out it's employees at
twenty-five collieries as O result of their
refusal 10 obey the company's order TO
work nine hours on last Saturday. About
25 600 men and boys are affected. In a
st atement made to-day John Veith, assist
ant superintendent Of the company, said
that the company had shut its collieries
down pending a settlement yof what IL known
az the Saturday short day shift Mr..
Vcith says that his company ins lists that
all its employees live up to the provisions
Of the fndings Of the strike commission;
that mine hours shall constitute working
day.
All the individual operations in the SOUTH
ern part Of the region are working to-day.
II is feared that the lockout will result In
q general strike In Schuylkill. Carbon and
Northumberland counties.
SHAMoKIN, Pa, April 20.-The local dis
trict Of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company worked to-day al the
4, 500 employees Of seven operations re-
porting for duty Last Saturday, the day
1aborers worked the full nine hours, the
employees following the advice Of the
United Mine Workers leaders to work until
the conciliation committee In appointed.
Some of the men said this evening that II
the Schuylkill company men remain locked
out longer than Saturday. that the men
here would go on strike.