Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-05
PLANSP0R COALSTRIKE
ALL HOPE FOR PEACE AT THE
MINES HAS VANISHED.

Operators, miners and state authorities
are preparing for the greatest strike In the
history OF the country when the United
Mine Workers lay down their tools April l.
While the miners are preparing for the
struggle by gathering together a 100000
strike fund and the operators are pushing
their mines to their utmost to get stock
ahead, the state authorities OF Pennsyiva-
mia are rushing the equipment Of the new
state eonstabulary, which was organized in
anticipation of this strike. There are four
troops of this organization. and their arms
and uniforms are now being sent out from
the state arsenal at Harrisburg. The au-
thorities look for serious trouble and are
preparing to meet it with such force as
may be necessary.
The meeting of the mine workers sched-
uled for today was called Immediately upon
receipt of the news that President Doian
had disobeyed the instructions given him
to stand for an increase and had voted
with the operators in the conference In ia
vor OF the present wage scale.
Pittsburg coal operators counted on the
support of John Mitchell to aid them
against the anthracite coal operators In
forcing them into shutdown. John Mitch
ell, 1t is believed, has been carried away
by the radical element, headed by Tom L.
Lewis Of Ohio and D. Ryan OF Illinois. and
these men will be the real leaders In the
strike.
The anthracite operators have stored mil
lions of tons of coal In eastern Pennsylva-
MIA. This coal viii be taken out so that
the strike can be carried on for year II
necessary. 1t is said that it is the inten-
ton of the operators of the east to main
tain prices eauitably during the strike pc
Rod so as to keep the public satisfied, as It
is the intention to break up the miners
union rather than make any money out or
the fight.
The bituminous coal operators started
last fall to store some coal. They were
suddenly confronted with a demand for
coal and advanced prices. which consumed
the surplus thus stored away. By the first
of April it Is doubtful If there VIII be two
weeks supply of the coal stored.
Demands Of Scale Committee.
A dispatch from Wikesbarre says: While
the scale committee OF the anthracite mine
workers will not meet here until Tuesday
1t is evident that one Of the most important
demands to be made upon the anthracite
operators on February IL, is for an equali-
cation of the wages of the same classes of
workers al different mines.
Officials of the union are now busy COM
piling figures in the various districts show
ing the discrepancies which have been the
cause OF much irritation to the mine work
ers. 1t has been ascertained that outside
workers at the Hazleton collieries doing the
same work as similar employees In this and
the Schuylkill region are paid much less.
kind Of work in adjoining chambers and
gangways complain that their wages differ,
and a number of the men say that they do
not receive as much advance over their
wages before the 1902 strike as the ~ per
cent increase granted should give them.
The meeting OF the scale committee, which
comprises the members of the three dis
trict boards and which will take place IN
this city on Tuesday. will be preceded by a
meeting of each district board at the dis
trict headquarters tomorrow. 1t Is expected
that three or four days will be taken to
formulate the demands
Storing Coal at Chicago.
A dispatch from Chicago says: All the
surplus coal in the Chicago market was
gobbled up yesterday at an increase Of from
80 to 60 cents per ton over the prices which
prevailed on Friday.
The scare of an impending coal strike re-
garded by the coal dealers as certain to
come. created general alarm among the in
dustries of the city.
There was simultaneous demand on the
coal men for heavy supplies Saturday
night there was not single surplus car of
run of mine coal left. The market was
cleaned up in a day. The industries paid
the increase without mtlrmur.
Domestic coal apparently was not af-
fected. The price remained at $1.75 ton,
but there is little supply in the market.
further increase and a greater shortage
of stocks are anticipated during the pres
ent week.
The dealers are unprepared for a strike.
They admit that IL the strike should con-
would be disastrous to all manufacturing
Industries