The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-01
ANTHRACITE men QUIT WORK.
OPERA TORS, HOWEVER, PREPiRE
no KEEP MINES OPEN.
As a Rule. No Attempt VIII he Made TO Im-
port Men and Break the strike Until
aDennite Decision Is Reachcd-A Good
stock OF Coal Reported TO He on Han

" INV
stock OF Coal Reported to He on Hand.
March 81 AFTER the quitting
hours at the mines in and about this city
this afternoon many of the men went home,
taking with them the tools Of greatest
value. At some mines the workmen per-
ssted in looking upon the shutdown as a
suspension and allowed the tools to remain
y, their chambers. They we're the excep-
ton, however,
In no instance did the mine officials OF
this region inform their men that they must
take ont their tools if they quit work. A
conciliatory spirit is being shown by the
mine officials. Col. II. A.. Phillips OF the
Lackawanna Company said this afternoon
that the mines of his company will remain
omen Monday, and the men can work If they
want to, but the company will make no
snecial effort to operate the oollieries,
The Delaware and Hudson Company this
evening posted notices at all its collieries
that they will continue for the time to
observe the award of the Strike Commits
sion. The Erie Company did the same.
The notice Of the Delaware and Hudson
Company attracted some attention because
NJ its clever wording. 1t reads;
This company was a party to the appoint.
nent by Theodore Roosevelt, President OF
the United States. OF the Anthracite 'oai
strike Commission in 1902 and agreed. and
has cheerfully complied with. its awards.
which both the President and the commission
Intended should establish permanent rela-
lions between the operators and their en-
~ployees.
As the term OF three years is about to expire.
during which the award was compulsory.
the Delaware and Hudson Company notlnes
lis employees that the rates Of wages. hours
~ work and conditions of employment fixed
nv the commission will be continued until
further notice.
The feature OF the day here was the
conference Of leading coal officials in the
Office OF the Delaware and Hudson Com
pany. Those present we're K. E. LOOMS,
vice-president of the L~ackawanna; Col.
Reese A. Phillips, general superintendent
Of the Lackaw anna's coal department
c. c. Rose, general superintendent OF the
Delaware and Hudson coal department;
Capt. W. A. May, general superintendent
of the Erie coal department; j. l.. CAKE,
independent coal operator Of West Pittston
and representative o7 the independent
operators on the committee of seven named
10 negotiate with the miners leaders;
John r.. Briden, general superintendent
Of the Scranton Coal Company; A. F.. LEW
of the Temple Iron Company, and Frank
Hemeleight, general superintendent OF the
Temple Iron C~ompany's coal department
An interesting feature Of the conference
was the presence in Supt. Roses Office OF
Edward Wins, superintendent OF the Iheil
Detective Agency OF Chicago, Later, he
and Mr.. Rose and James II. Torrey, attor-
ney for the Delaware and Hudson Com
pAny, had a conference.
The conference of the coal superinten-
dents was animated. Some of those present
were in favor OF at once importing men
into this valley and Of attempting to operate
the mines. Others we're strongly opposed
10 this, on the ground that it would only
bring about serious trouble. 1t was learned
that the L~ackawanna officials were opposed
to doing anything that would tend to stir
I'm the miners: that it would be better to
90 slow on the matter of rushing imports
INTO the region, for as soon as this was
done serious trouble would result.
Whether any definite action was taken
ia not positively known, but it is likely that
each company will Use its own discretion in
this matter. The conference lasted for two
hours and the whole situation was dis
cussed at length. After the conference
Mr.. Loomis was seen, but he did not desire
to discuss what had taken place. Asked
about the attitude of the Lackawanna, he
said that the company wanted to be abso-
lutelv fair and Just in the matter and IL a
sufficient number of the employees wanted
to work the mines would be open and every
protection afforded the men who wanted
to work.
He requested the reporter to deny in as
strong terms as possible the story emanat-
ing from New York to the effect that the
Lacks wanna company had hired a lot of
imports and strike breakers to operate the
mines. This, he said, was absolutely false.
We have hired no men and bought no cots
or provisions, " he said. "0ur W men are
oil we want and we have not employed and
do not intend to employ outsiders. We
have consulted with no detective agencies
or employment bureaus with reference to
hiring men,
1t was learned late this afternoon that
the big companies will try to start up their
mines on Tuesday, but that the individual
operators will postpone such action until
the latter part Of the week, with the ex-
ception of the Peoples Colliery, which is
the only non-union mine in the region.
W;GKEsBARRE, March 3l.-1he anthra-
cit" mine workers in this region left the
mines this afternoon, carrying their tools
with them and declaring that they will
obey the order for a suspension Of work
which is effective on Monday morning.
About one-third left the mines last night,
some because their supplies were exhausted
and they did not desire to replenish them;
others because they we're tempted to re-
main idle to-day by the excitement Of the
situation. The remaining two-thirds quit
work to-day.
No excitement marked. their departure
from the collieries. They went home as
il quitting at the end Of an ordinary days
work, except that they carried bags con-
tanning their tools and supplies. The coal
companies, with the exception OF the
IA%ckawanua, have not posted notices
saying there would be work on Monday.
The officials explain that the rules OF their
companies are that unless notice is posted
declaring there would be no work it ia
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