New-York tribune., 1912-04-03
MINERS MAY INSIST
UNION Be RECOGNIZED
Workers Said to Favor Continue.
tIon of Suspension Until the
Demand Is Granted.
RAILROADS LAYING OFF MEN
Estimated That $4,000 Will Be
Idle by April 10-Several In
stances of Violence In
Anthracite Field.

fHlidueipnla, Aprl Z-Sentlment among
the workers In the anthracite region seems
to be crystallizing in favor Of prolonging
the lay-oH until the operators grant recog-
milton to the union. At meeting held to-
day in Naticoke, near Wilkes-Barre, a
thousand miners mostly Poles, declared
that they would not accept a 10 per cent
increase unless 1t was accompanied by
union recognition. When one Of the speak
ers announced that President Baer had
said that the miners were not strong
enough to strike score OF workers
jumped to their feet exclaiming: well,
we'll show him"
Both operators and miners, however. seem
content to await the result of the confer
ence to be held in this city April 10, and
none Of the large companies made any at
tempt to work the breakers to-day.
The Kathryn colliery, owned by Cleve-
land capitalists situated about ten miles
west Of Shamokln, at the extreme end or
the hard coal field. operated Its breaker
yesterday, but the slate picker boys re-
fused to work to-day, and the bosses and
outside hands were obliged TO do that
work.
SoVcTaI OutpFcdkS OF NioIcHCos
While peace prevailed generally through
out the coal fields. there were several In
stances OF violence reported during the day
At McAdoo. near the Hazleton region, a
fire boss employed in one OF the collieries
near that place, probably was fatally in
,ured In a fight. the direct outcome OF the
suspension Another mine worker abused
him for going to work. and In the struggle
that followed the fire boss's skull was
fractured. His assailant was committed to
Jail without bail TO await the result Of his
injuries.
At Cumbola. In the schuylkil region,
dynamite was exploded at the home OF a
former mine boss. now dead, whose son is
clerk in a Reading colliery. young
foreigner accused Of doing the dynamiting
was arrested. II IS believed the dynamite
was exploded TO intimldate the clerk. His
home was not injured.
At Shenandoah miner who had been
employed sighting a mine fire was held up
by two foreigners. hut he was saved from
harm by the timely arrival OF policemen,
who arrested the foreigners.
Another. and a most serious element. en-
tered into the anthracite mine suspension
to-day when the railroads interested In the
mines and those tapping the section began
dismissng men by the wholesale reducing
the number of their employees both In the
shops and the transportation departments.
laying OF numerous fremen and reducing
engineers 10 take the places Of the fremen.
Railroads Lay OF Men.
II is estimated that by April 10. on which
date the next conference between the oper-
ators and miners representatives. is sched-
uled 10 take place in this city. the railroad
will have temporarily dispensed with the
services OF 5000 mon. Some estimates place
the number Of railroaders who will be
without work at 5000 but this figure is
looked upon as unreasonable
The representatives OF the miners are
said to look upon this wholesale lay-on
as an object lesson given them by the coal
roads for the purpose Of bringing TO their
notice the suffering that would be caused
by prolonged strike At this time. They
also assert that the coal roads believe that
the railroad unions will take hand In
the matter. and will cndeavor to bring
the matter and will endeavor TO bring pres
sure TO bear upon the miners to meet the
operators at least half way and prevent
hardships that are sure to come 10 the rail-
readers i'm the event OF a strikeJ
Reports from the anthracite district state
that the engine men of the Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad have
been taken of their runs and nave been
placed I'm the yards at Scranton in minor
positions Engineers. firemen. brakemen
and trainmen have been laid of, hut with
notice to report daily until the final out
come of the mining trouble.
officials Of the Erie. ontario & Western
and Delaware & Hudson railroads admit
that big cuts have been made In their
working forces and that further dismissals
are contemplated.
Superintendent Shea OF the Wyoming
division Of the Lchigh Valley Railroad to-
marrow Will confer with the officials Of the
railroad unions and will place the situa-
tion sauarely before them. Mi Shea plans
70 work all the crews on about one-third