Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-20
BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS.
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS AMONG
 THE MINE WORKERS.

Various Meetings at Which the Order of
 Chairman Davis Is Applauded and De-
 nounced-Not all of the Men Return to
 Work.
 PoTTsv1LIE, Pa., Feb 20-The perplexity and dlssension among the leaders may undo all the good that appeared probable from the frmness with which National Master Work man Lewis took hold of the situation and de- clared the strike off. One set have been con- tending all day with the miners to get them to abstain from returning to work, while the others are straining every. nerve to get them back This conflicting and contentious atti- tude of the leaders results from purely selfish motives on one side and the exercise of the purest motives on the other. Should all the miners go to work the occupation of crowd who have been travelling all over the country collecting money to aid the strikers will be gone. Hney now number over 300. They get s a da and expenses, with the proviso that they must first collect it. As everywhere they have been meeting with a very cordial reception, and they are seeing the country at better pay than many of them ever before dreamed earning, they are actually in tears at the prospect. Since Sat urday morning they have been hastening home to avert the calamity about to befall them. They are the men who were conspicu- ous at the meetings held throughout the country yesterday to decide on the course of action.
 Such members of the joint committee as could get here yesterday held a meeting. Maggs, Thompson, Duffy and several others were here This is the party favorable to re- sumption They left ill the afternoon to at tend such meetings as they could reach to urge acceptance of the terms agreed on by President Corbin and National Master Work man Lewis last week.
 SHAMoK1N, Pa., Feb. 2O.-A mass meeting of striking Reading miners was held in the opera house yesterday, at which 2,OO0 men were present. Master Workman Lewis did not appear. A resolution to go to work to- day, as per agreement, met with such strong opposition that it was withdrawn to save de feat. Isaac Rem, one of the committee which effected the agreement with President Corbin, then ordered the men to resume work.
 SHENANDOAH, Pa., Feb. 2O.-The miners of this section met ill Robbins Opera house yesterday to act on the order of resumption of work. The room was unable to accommo. date them, although almost 2,000 persons gained admission Two votes were taken, the first being almost unanimously against going to work. After addresses by James Brennan of the joint committee, James Maskell and others, who stated that the strike was lost a: fought so far; that many families were starv ing, with no hope of speedy relief, and that the offer was fair and reasonable, second vote was taken and resumption was agreed t. with only one dissenting voice. It is under stood that the Lehigh Valley company ha. agreed to the same terms as the Reading company, and that work will also be resumed at their Packer collieries here this week.
 MOUNT CARMEL, Pa., Feb. 20.-Mass meet ings have been held throughout this district yesterday, and the Lewis Corbin agreemen, has been severely denounced. Chairman Davis arrived here from Pottsville last nigh and is now conferring with prominent labor leaders here. Unless this conference results in a change of sentiment among the striker fully 1,5O0 miners will refuse to return tt work.