The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
ANTHRACITE MEN QUIT WORK.
Continued from First Page.

be provided with it and get their regular
days wages. BY this means the companies
will encourage those men who want to work,
even though their numbers are SO few
that it will be impossible for them TO operate
collieries, While not v%enturing to say
how many may report for work on Monday
the coal company officials say they antici-
pate that all the roads leading to the col
lieries will be carefully picketed on Monday
morning by the union men n that those
who try to go to work viii be induced
are now merely awaiting developments.
No men are being brought into the region
to take the places Of the men who quit
work. OF this possibility a leading official
Of the Iehigh Valley Coal Company de-
clared to-day:
We nave enough coal to supply our
regular demand for six months to come,
about a million and a half tons. Our GUS
toners are now well stocked and in their
cellars and yards are enough to last them
some time. We are not going to rush men
into this region to take the places Of the
workers who quit. Not that we canno
get these men-there is no trouble to do
that-but because they are Il cause of
trouble when here.
Of men at each colliery to keep 1t from
filling with water we will rely upon the
mining community in the vicinity OF each
mine to help III to keep our colliery ready
to work. If they do not do that, if they
strive to prevent US doing so, II will be
their own loss. The collieries will fill with
water and when the men are ready to re-
sumo work they will have TO wait until
the collieries are cleared. II they can
stand that we can"
The operators generally will be content
TO play the game OF sit dow and wait until
a definite decision rega riding a strike Is
reached. No concerted effort 10 mine coal
will be made. In the meantime, however,
7 A. - la AGO.. ain ~ ftn an
Goa can be ohea ply prepared with unskiIled
labor will be run, and as there are many
more washeries than there were in 1902 this
production will be considerable, A number
Of the companies have arranged for guards
to protect their property and such men as
want to work.
Union officials say to-day that every man
except those directed to remain at work has
quit the mines and that not a colliery or a
washery or n portion of the strippings
that the same condition will continue in case
there is a strike, and they say that the men
will be able to remain out indefinitely.
That the men have been saving money
and putting it away is evident by the report
that the bank deposits now in this city are
80 per cent. greater than they were in 1902.
before the strike of that year. The union
local treasures are in excellent condition
and few Of the men will find it necessary to
ask for union aid for a long time. .
iNC OlIioli WI hNlo VI VINE ~ . ~
because greater attention has not been
shown them in the matter of arranging for
the celebration Of this city's centennial on
May 10, ii and IL, have decided not to pa
IA de or 70 pa rticlpate in any other way in
the events. The building trades council ,
comprising all the building trades workers.
declined to-day. The brewery workers and
the lace workers have already, taken official
action, and tomorrow night the mllsicia MS
union will decide whether there shall he
union music in the pa
The union men are sore because none of
their number was offered a cha irnarship on
any of the t%enty-one committees. The
chairmen comprise seven members of the
city council, seven of the board Of trade and
seven OF the historical society. The union
men are also insulted because, owing to "A
dispute etween the civic and the industrial
committees as to which should invite their
participation, the invitations were not
issued until a short time go. They are also
suspicious that non-union decorations are
used, that some of the printing has been
done by non-union firms, that the stlckers
and the mucilag &c on the back are OF nom
union manufa cture.
LANsPoRD, March sl.-W,ith long faces
and muttered imprecations the miners re-
moved their tools from the mines this even
ing and prepared for strike. The men are
in a bad mood. They don't want to strike
and they don't want the union to insist upon
its demands for an eight hour day and an
increase in wages. They are satisfied with
present conditions, and II a strike is ordered
it is predicted that upon the slightest pre-
text the greater number Of the men will re-
turn to work.
The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany, which controls one-tenth of the entire
production in this region, will allow all men
to work on Monday morning who wish to do
30, and will give them all the protection at
its command. A canvass among the EN-
! ployees Of the company reveals the fact that
rs per cent. of them are in favor of accept
ing President Baer's proposition to renew
the present agreement.
MAHASoY CITY, March 31.-The men EN-
ployed by the Philadelphia and Reading
Company will obey President Mitchell's
suspension order almost to a man. How
ever, all Of the men are hopeful that a strike
will be averted. They believe that when
the crucial test comes Mitchell will not in
sist upon an advance in wages, but will be
satisfied with minor concessions which the
men believe the operators will grant. If,
however, the union insists upon an advance
in wages and an eight hour day, it is con-
tended that many Of the men will return to
work and that the collieries will be able to
mine and ship sufficient coal to meet the
ordinary summer demand.
Many Of the miners are insisting that the
question strike or no strike" be submitted
to a referendum vote Of the members Of the
union.