Wichita eagle., 1888-02-18
NEARING THE END.
The Great Reading Strike in a Fair Way
to be Declared off.

SCRANTON, Pa, Feb. l1.-Owlng to Mr..
Powderly's illness the executive committee
this week came here to confer with him on
the Reading strike situation. Master
Workman Lewis called on Mr.. Powderly
last night, and it is probable from reports
of the interview that have leaked out, that
the miners strike will be at once declared
off
Mr.. Powderly says the report that he
and Mr.. Lewis the national master work
man of the national district, has decided
to declare the Reading strike off is incOr-
rect. Mr.. Lewis, however, before leaving
Scranton, this morning for Philadelphia,
told an acquaintance that he was going to
Schuylkill county right off and would or
der the miners back TO work.
POTTsvILLE, Pa, Feb. T7.-Chairman
Lee sends word here from Philadelphia
that the whole Reading strike is likely to
he declared off and ended in twenty-four
hours. The joint committee in session
here claim there is a big change near at
hand. Secretary Duffy, on coming out of
the committee rooms, said | cannot give
you details, but this strike is now to be
settled in short order.
NEW YORK, Feb. 17-Mr Maxwell at
Mr. Corbin's Office in this city, said this
sage from Philadelphia to the effect that
the strike is ended. This is all we know
about it. Mr.. Corbin has not given us par
ticulars as yet"
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1.-THE following
letters have been exchanged between
Corbin and Lewis:
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. :.
Austin Corbin. Esq, President Philadelphia & Read
ing Company:
Sir-Being DESTROYS to bring the strike
in the mining region of the Reading Coal
and Iron company to a close, in order to
get the working people in and about those
mines to work, and Speaking for those
workmen, propose to order a resumption
of work at once upon your assurance that
j can promise them that after they have
gone to work and the mining operations are
i'll regular progress, the subject of wages
viii be considered in conference between
the company and its employees, or their
representatives, and upon further assur-
ance that no one shall be Disseminated
against by reason of his connection with
the strike. Yours truly, w. L. LEWIS.
OFFICE OF THE PHILADELPHIA AND)
READING RAILROAD COMPANY,
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. II.
Mr.. w. T. Lewis:
favor of this date. Have consulted Mr..
keim, the president of the Coal and Iron
company in relation to its its contents,
and am authorized by him to say
that it is substantially in accord with
our position and such action would be
satisfactory to us. No one will be dis
crminated against because of his connec-
ton with the strike, so that it is not
understood as protecting such men as
have made or attempted to make personal
assaults upon the men remaining at work,
and. provided further, that in any con
ference over wages the miners are not to
expect us to pay higher rate of wages
for mining than those paid by the other coal
producing companies in competition with us,
namely: The Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western, the Delaware and Hudson.
the Lehigh Valley, the Lehigh Coal and
Navigation company and the Lehigh and
Wilkesbarre Coal company, but with the
understanding that we are willing to adopt
a basis that shall give our miners as much
as is paid by either of those companies. 1t
issunderstood that the wages to be paid on
returning 10 work will he on the old 80 30
basis and will remain under that basic I'M
til a change shall be mutually agreed upon
Yours truly, AUSTIN CoRBIN.