Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-08
STORM GATHERS
IN COAL STRIKE
Scores Suffer Cracked Heads in
First Riot-Trouble Brew
( ing in Other Centers
FACTIONS DIVIDE UNIONS

ss>c,oi Dispatch TO Evening pubHc LEDGER
Wilkes Barre. Pa. Sept. S.-First
disorders in the anthracite fields broke
but at Cork lane. Pittston. early today
when a squad of state troopers swooped
down on a band Of rioters at the Della E
ware and Hudson depot.
The riot was serious for time, but
The swinging clubs Of the troopers that
landed on the heads of every one who
got in their path put the rioters to
iHisht, many Of them with battered and
bleeding heads,
The riot was result OF n misunder-
standing. Twenty of the strikers Of
The PENNSYLVANIA Coal Co. rcnorted at
the depot to take train for Oliphant,
where they were to work for the Della.
ware and Hudson Railroad. More than
100 strikers put in appearance shortly
before the work train pulled in, and
they charged the smaller band. using
stones. clubs and blaCkjacks as wea-
pons. While the riot was at its height
state troopers. who were patroling the
district. dug spurs into their horses.
Hn0 WIN TlOI tlllDS lily lllE III ull ullCN-
tions. rode ficrcrIv into the rioting mob.
They struck right and left. and the
mob took to its heels. There are at least
n score who nurscd bleeding heads. but
none of them was seriously injured.
Storm Clouds Gather
The storm clouds are gathering in the
fields. At other sections there are signs
Of trouble. This is due to the fact that
local unions are being divided into fac
tions, one side desiring to return to
work and the other anxious to remain
on strike. As one faction votes the
other side takes action 10 undo this
vote. and there are indications that the
Intensity Of this situation will lead to
an open clash.
Insurgents are going the limit to keep
their forces intact. The first sign of
ricket lines came this morning when
Sheriff John MaCLuskie found that the
strikers were patroliing the Hudson
Plains, Miners mill district. The sheriff
sent q squad of deputies To the scene.
Owing to the fact that this is n church
holiday he decided not to Interfere. but
he served motto" on the insurgents that
he will send much larger force to the
scene tomorrow and that trouble will
result If there is any pickCting.
State troopers are patrolling the
greater part of the field. In each an
thracite county the shPriff's force Is
ready for any emergency.
There was sign of further break in
the strike situation in District No. l
today. although the striking forces in
Districts I and q remain unbrokCn.
This was regarded as n most hopeful
sign in face of the fact that today is
generally celebrated by many foreign
speaking persons as church holiday
and in normal times they remain from
work in large numbers.
Independent operations report a
steady gain in the work force. This is
true in the upper district. but does not
apply to the lower fields. The bigger
independent concerns report n working
force that is almost normal.
More Miners Go Out
Miners working in the Harry +.
Fortyfort and Maltby mines last night
took a vote and decided not to report
for work. This action called about -
per cent Of the force that had been re-
porting for work daily.
Insurgents have opened their head
quarters.
They have agents in all parts of the
field and they are taking every possible
step to keep their men in idlpnpss. The
leaders claim the situation pleases them
and that the reported breaks are not
alarming to them.
Union leaders take very hopeful
view of the situation. They expect
stampede to get back to work almost
any day. There are signs that such
stampede will set in District No. ! and
Ii is likely to extend TO Districts 7 and
q. The fact is that the insurgents are
virtually certain of not getting any
where with their strike, inasmuch as
the government cannot recognize and
the operators would not deal with them /
This fact is gradually dawning on the
men and it is the means of sending
many back to their labor.
The pinch of the strike is not being
felt as yet. The strikers know that they
have no funds with which to draw from.
When the Dinch comes every man will
have to look out for himself. inasmuch
AZ the union regards the vacation" as
an outlaw strike and will not permit the
use of dollar of its funds to aid the
miners.
1t is the belief that Washington will (
take a favorable view Of the anthracite
case. 1t is generally expected that the
wage case will be reopcned. Probably
that would have happened had the men
returned TO work at once. At least that
is the view taken by union leaders