The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-28
COAL MINERS AGITATED.
The WilI<esbarre District I'm q State of
Com mOtiOn-Mcetings Called and
Threats Of q General Strike.

The WiIkesbarre District I'm q state of
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Called and
Threats of o General Strike.
WILKEsBARRE, Pa, Jan. %, 1874.
The announcement OF q meeting OF miners at this
juncture in affairs OF the coal trade creates in this
community the deepest interest," il not something
ike excitement. 1t is well understood that the
members of the Miners and LabOrers' Association
are not yet in perfect accord with the coal opera
tors, and the prospects are that break between
them is likely to occur at any moment. Conse-
quentIy, when the worklngmen come together for
consultation the greatest curiosity is exhibited to
know what they do and say. For the past
two weeks the miners have been SO busily
engaged in perlectng their organization under
the international charter Of their ASSOCIATION
that there has been little opportunity for them to
consider what will be the relations between the
operators and workers FOR the ensuing year.
Meetings of the latter have been frequent lately,
some held openly, many more In secret; but the
matter OF arrangement with the mine owners has
been but lightly discussed, the men being appar-
entity determined to place their organization upon
a firm basis before entering upon a consultation
and most likely struggle with their employers.
That the miners are feverish and uneasy is beyond
doubt. and that they are utterly disincHned to re-
sumo work at anything under the basis OF 1873 Is
equally certain. In this dubious condition OF
things strange events are likely to occur and dis
tract the operations going forward.
Yesterday the miners OF the Wilkesbarre district
held meeting in relation to the change OF organi-
zation, and by some Misrepresentation as to the
object delegation from Plymouth was present
under an impression that II was convention OF
delegates from the several districts IN this valley
The Plymouth committee communicated the TACT
that the men in that district were disposed to &C
cept Mr.. Charles Parrsh's proposition to pay the
wages Of last year, and under the same arrange
ment established on the 22d day OF April, 1871.
This announcement created no little excitement
and caused considerable discussion, the unanimous
opinion OF the meeting being that the Plymouth
men should not go to work, and the delegation was
appealed to to act in accord with the Wnkesbarre
district and demand their just wages ana hold
the Wilkesbarre Coal Company to strict account
for the percentage for last years operations as
yet unpaid. The Plymouth delegation returned
lrrtated and generally dissatisfied, and a mass
meeting at that place was held last night at which
upwards OF a thousand miners were present, and
the greatest unity OF sentiment prevailed. It was
resolved to await the action OF q delegate citing
to be held tomorrow, at which 1t will be deter
mined whether strike shall be lnaugurated. All
things considered, the meeting tomorrow will be
the most Important event in this region since the
long suspension Of 1871 Indications favor the con-
olusion that matters are unsettled and threat
ening and strike is more imminent than people
imagine.