New-York tribune., 1906-04-03
CUT STRIKERS CREDIT.
Merchants Who Lost Heartily an
1909 WiU Not Trust 4gain.
fp,. Tslaeranh "a The Tribune |

POtfSVillP. Penn. ApJ1l Z.-lSOCaI lnSlcildilS anu
business people in the lower anthracite coal region
take a pessmistic view Of the coal strike Many of
them are just recovering from the losses sustained in
the strike 1902 when they supported. for months
the families of miners and laborers.
In the majority OF instances the mine workers
failed to pay their back grocery bills when they
resumed work, and the little money they received
relief during the strike only partially went to the
men who kept their families in food.
A wholesale provision house here furnished local
storekeepers in the county merchandise valued at
than $4,000 before being compelled to shut
down for self protection. The smaller merchants
in the mining districts were hardest hit.
leading grocery merchant in MahanOy City,
near here said to-day that in the last strike he
trusted OUT more than $4,000 in groceries alone
He got back less than 81 900. This is example OF
how merchants in other communities suffered The
whole region nearly bankrupt. The saloons
however, got the money that should have gone for
going to be fooled again.
fight a finish this time. They assert that the
operators have conceded all they intend to. and, a
strike declared at this season, with big reserve
of coal, means the finish of the miners union. 1t
apowerfuI in the Coal ed wbe0 0i t aDoE sTc
against the Reading Railroad. but after bitter
struggle lasting almost year they were scattered
10 the four winds. and employees of years standing
had 10 take JOBS as laborers OF find work on West
ern railroads. In less than a year an organization
that controlled politics, thar was feared by en-
Pennsylvania completely wiped out
,a mas 2een the impression right along here that
paw by the miners in the soft coal fields. il is
remembered that in the strike of 1902 the miners
IN the lower fields drawn into the strike
against their wishes. Their pay. particularly Of
those employed by the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company. was fixed by the selling
price OF coal at tidewater But the satisfied miners
of this section had TO abide by the decision the
union in general
President Mitchell in this strike it is said must
De led by the decision OF the various locals but in
must be remembered that the conservative miners
IN these locals be outVoted by irresponsible
preaker boys and ignorant foreign iaborers who
nave equal representation with intelligent miners
mus a vote 10 strike does really reflect the
sentiment or the best Of the workers who never
theiess must abide by the decision OF the local
Inc monthly men around the mines are stil hon
Lls IoI an early agreement. These include mine
!ofehleh and assistants, gas inspectors and fire
DosSss, lhese workmen are crushed between op-
posing FORCES, the operators one side and the
miners on the other. During a strike they must
nre boilers, run pumps. wheel ashes and do the
general work OF outside men, and although really
minor company officals classed as scabs Their
iiNes are ifnpeTllled and their families haFassed
The dlsorderly foreign element that does the
rough labor OF the mines Is feared by law abiding
citizens. Since the last strike they have become
arrogant TO q degree, and q is next to Impossible
their couptryInen protect them from the law and
with their similarity Of appearance aud unpr6-
nOunceable names. hard trace. In rece Mt
Years they have learned their potency as a political
factor and their vote, controlled by their leaders
or padrones Casually salOonkeepers), has heen
couTted by the small fry politicians Of all parties
Altogether the situation IN the hard coal fields s
not promising and is viewed VIII alarm by resi-
dents In the strike