The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-18
Operators PYedict Ar
 Early Return 1e Normal

Few of the furnace operators were dis- posed to talk for publication yesterday. When asked about mining conditions they pointed to the fact that no furnace had been shut down on account Of the strlhe and that none would be shut down.
 q do not think this strike will be of long duration" said President J, C. Ma ben of the sloss-Sheffieid company. .Whenever strikers or their sympathiz- ers become lawless and resort to force the end is in sight. There will be lit tie delay in filling up the mines with men now idle in Tennessee, Kentucky ana Virginia great many miners outside of Alabama are without work, and they are eager to get employment. They VIII come to this district in large numbers and earn good wages.
 ..When the United Mine Workers strucl. four years ago they had secured contracts with the commercial operators and one of the furnace companies. rms time all the furnace companies and all the large commercial operators are stand ing together for the maintenance or the open shop plan. The commercial oper- ators that have adopted the open shop system are just as determined to ad- here to the stand they have taken as are the iron companies This present trouble is unfortunate but conditions will soon brighten"
 General Manager James Bonnyman of inc Birmingham Iron and Coal company said last night: q did not attempt to send any strike-breakers to our mines to- dav. but I think the situation will im- prove rapidly from now on believe that since the authorities are acting vigorous lv normal conditions will be restored very soon.'
 Frank Nelson, Jr., president of the Elm pire Coal company said that ms men were satisfied until union agitators rom outside the state came to his camp. Our company was paying top wages. We dld not cut the price for cutting coal aIter the panic; and our men had no sort or grievance But the union organizers came and worked the men up to the strike pitch, and as a consequence we shut down last Wednesday"
 John Randolph of Dora was passenger from Memphis on the Frisco yesterday afternoon. He states that although there were no strilSe-breakers on board, 70 or 80 strikers, about half of them negroes, held up the train at Adamsville.
 ''The strikers were lined up along the track when our train arrived" said Mr. Randolph Some of them carried fire- arms and some clubs and rocks They were very turbulent and some of them came through the coaches, making rude remarks and conducting themselves in a manner calculated to terrorize the pas- sengers. I have never seen anything like it in this district before"
 On last Saturday the operators pre- pared and signed a brief statement set ting forth succinctly their position. It was published in The ge-Herald of Sunday, and as 1t is of especial inter- est at this time, 1t is here reproduced as follows:
 In order to correct certain false ru- mors now being circulated, the under signed coal operators desire to an- nounce publicly and positively their ad- herence to "open shop" principles and their determination to maintain these conditions without further delay,
 All those desiring employment will be fully protected.
 Tennessee Coal Iron and Ra..road company, by Frank H. Crockard, vice president Pratt Consolidated Coal com pany, by G. B. Mccormack. president