The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-23
IN THE ANTHRACITE REGIONS
Energetic Preparations by the Operator,
TO Meet a Long Strike.

April 22.-John Mitchell has mott.
fed the three anthracite district president,
and the district secretaries OF the United
Mine Workers TO meet him at Wilkesbare
on Wednesday. April rs. for the purpose Of
discussing the question Of a convention OF
delegates representing the union which
will decide the question Of an anthracite
strike. The ostensible purpose OF Mitchel's
conference with the district presidents and
secretaries Is TO consider he reply the an.
thraclte operators have made TO our promo.
sition."
Since the operators made their reply last
Friday the whole anthracite region has been
in gloom. That the operators mean business
this time Is evident from the energy with which
they are making preparations for a long strike,
And the men now idle are fast realizing that
they have little II any chance for ultimate
victory. Mitchell and his three district presi.
dents, John Fahy, T. d. Nichols and william
Dettrey, probably realize the true situation
more keenly than their half informed fol.
lowers. If they can conjure up any scheme
by which they can accede to the operators
demands and save their faces-which means
their Jobs as officers Of the unlon-they will
most assuredly put it in practice. II not they
will call O convention to be held probably in
May at Hazleton, which Is nearly In the centre
Of the whole anthracite region. Between
600 and 800 delegates would be present rep
resenting the union membership OF perhaps
90, 900 men and boys. The older men, miners
who have families and own real estate aud
other property, will try TO stave of trouble.
The younger and more reckless element will
go In FOR q fight to the finish. Hitherto, under
like conditions, the fighting element has
swept everything before it. The chances are
that former experience would be repeated.
The outlook is. at this writing. that a long,
IA A. iii ---.g. H.. -f
Of the fact that It now seems as il the opera
tors were determined to crush union tyranny
once and for all. Nothing less than such
determination can account for reports which
are coming In from all the anthra cite fields.
The Delaware and Hudson, during the past
week, has stationed armed guards about the
Conyn CHAM colliery in North WIKI esbare
and at other collierles In the valley. The
guards arrived Wednesday evening with a
train OF six box cars fitted up as sleeping
and eating rooms. accompanied by cooks.
stores OF provisions and other supplies.
The guards thus far wear civilians dress, are
armed each with a billy and carry cartridge
belt and holster. At Plymouth a number OF
union men. permitted to make necessary re.
pairv. laid dow their tools when asked TO
do some work inside the stockade surround
ing the breaker. At present about fifty armed
guards patrol property connected with breaker
No. 2. Three independent workmen EN-
ployed by the Temple Iron Company at the
Mount Lookout colliery are reported as
severely beaten In an assault by strikers,
Two hundred independent men have arrived
at Lansford in a special train starting from
jersey City. Each man received clothes
and shoes and a trunk OF other wearing ap-
parel. A commissary has been established
within the stookade and Arrangements are
perfected for a long struggle. Miners resid-
ing In houses owned by the company are said
to nave been notified that they must vacate
these dwellings II they persist In refusing to
work. The Carbondale shops have rushed
alterations on more than a hundred box cars.
which are now fitted up as movable barracks
and are being distributed at various ~collierles
between Carbondale n Wilkesbarre. With
the single exception Of the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad all Of the large
coal companies hereabouts are preparing for
a great strike. A serious indication OF affairs
Is that thousands Of young. miners, English
speaking and foreigners alike. are moving
out Of the region hoping to find work else
middle. or Hazleton. field. Operators are
P PSstmsnt su and b;alRf FeRarlbb But t fS@ peopie, es pee
and and night for peace. Tie most responsible
to the strikers the weakness Of their attitude.
They know, down there, from many a bitter
experience what a strike means in paralysis
dalton. riot, .d~ynamiting. But the operators
are moving along steadily, taking all necessary
measures for protecting their property,
Audenreid. Shenandoah. Mahany. in 1851,
1900, 1902. that the State Of P'ennsylvanls
would not, or could motor dared not. In face
Of the labor vote"-maintain law and order,
Consequently operators from one end OF the
coal fields. 70 the, other are going on method
o Ct rapidly Idly .t th%fotrGi ms Nv With Tih 81 grin raod dS'f for
frontier conditions such as obtained in, the
old lawless days Of the Far West, The Lehig6
Va vSl ley SS SI}ePP 4ogh has st d bpeF the fl1ss ana and 9'+ Rsa
hoisted its mules out of the mines, Clerks
at ,Coxton have been laid of or placed on
S nihiti P erS being IhgeS sn ff g q b sRRalf f5s ip dRPi
stockade at Halle shaft. The. Van ,Wlckle
colliery at Coleraine deducted from the last
due for rent, All Of the Van Wickle miners
are now reported as paid up for rent purchases
at the general store and services BY he CON.
is practically on a cash basis for the first
time in many years-perhaDs, as a Whole.
for the first time in its, history; SO QllcKIy,
system been felt that word comes from one
or two towns that butchers have. ALREADY
s rome out ths Of business b ss n sst until btnr coal 9SI,i0 m!n, anop rSi
meat to pay for refriserating ice,
From the lower. or Schuylkill, region, re:
ports come that the Eeading ComT"ny ., IS
self protection in case the expected trouble
arrives. Barracks are being erected ,"heI-
ever needed, ~stockades and similar t9rtit-
cations are being siren gthened. canned gro
ceries, smoked meats, cots. MATTRESSES.
blankets, &c. are being distributed AT c%olltcries.
and all put in readiness to resume Mining
coal regardless of what may be The, ualoqs
edict, and to protect the lives of the liza
pendent workmen who will Obtain en-
ployment during a protracted siege ne
barracks at Burnside are nearing completion.
and those at Mahanoy City will be finished by
carpenters imported into the region from
other localities.
Taken altogether, when Mr.. Mitchell lands
in Wilksbarre on Tuesday night he will ma
himself up against an industr rial and a semi
military proposition that he has never faced
before. If he can duck from under h" may
be able to retain his JOB as president o. Inc
union. Otherwise he will be swept aside DIV
a crowd Of belligerent delegates early mex!
month; he will have the welcome, task OF
heading and being responsible for a hopeless
str uggle. and in the end he viii step Gown
and out.