Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1902 — MINERS RESORT TO THE BOYCOTT [ARTICLE]

MINERS RESORT TO THE BOYCOTT

Dealers Decline to Wait on Customers Who Are Not Union Men. OPERATORS ARE SATISFIED Issue a Statement In Which They Say the Pumps Are Manned and the Mines Are Being Kept Clear of Water. % The boycott is now the weapon the striking mine workers are using with much effect.. The edict seems to have gone forth that there shall be no violence, but that the boycott lines shall be rigidly drawn, not only around those who work in defiance of the strike but about all their relations. It is now next to impossible for these unfortunates to make any purchases. The wise men refuse to serve them. Wilkesbarre and its surrounding country seems to be the storm center of this form of warfare. The tradesmen apparently are overawed and lend themselves to the work of trying to starve out those who persist in working. In some instances this form of tyranny is having harsh results. A man employed by the Delaware and Hudson company refused to obey the strike order and continues at work. His brother, a cripple, is a school teacher and has been informed by the school committee that he must give up his school unless his brother quits work. Two other brothers and a sister have been discharged from places where they were employed. A committee waited on the school board of Plains and demanded the discharge of Miss McCae, who has an uncle who is working as an engineer in pumping out one of the mines. All Belong to Jnions. Everybody who works here, Including clerks, is a member of some kind of a union. This makes the boycott weapon a powerful one and it will be used from now on for all it is worth. Mr. Mitchell said he had received some reports from the strike in the Virginias, but not enough on which to make a statement. The following statement of the situation was authorized by the operators: “At the end of the first four weeks of the strike our position is very satisfactory. While we have no miners or other coal producers at work we have enough engineers, firemen, and pump runners to keep our mines from being damaged and are not only confident of keeping them, but are adding to the force as we need them. The position of the companies is perfectly secure, not a single one has granted any of the demands made by mine workers or steam makers, and not one intends to do so.” There is no doubt that Mr. Mitchell is making a strong effort to induce the strikers to keep the peace, for he fully grasps the fact that a single serious disturbance would bring out the state troops.