The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-12
PREPARING FOR COMPROMISE
Belief that Plans for Ending the Read
ing Strike Are Being Formulated,
And that President Corbin Will Meet the
Miners Representatives To-Day or To- Nor
row-Coal and Railroad Men Join Hands.

| PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 1.-THE committee rep
| resenting the merchants of Pottsville, Shenan-
doah and other towns in the Schuylkill mining
| region, appointed to consult with Mr. Austin
| Corbin with the object of bringing about set
| Element Of the differences between the manage
ment of the Philadelphia & Reading company
| and its employees. received by Mr.. Corbin at
the companys Office. on Fourth street. at IL
o'clock this morning. The conference lasted
about three quarters of an hour, and upon its
conclusion Mr.. Corbin, we'll the members
of the committee positively refused to give any
information as to what had trauspired,
OF what proposition argument had
been presented by the visitors. One of
the latter, however, admitted that arbitration
had been proposed, but would give no intima-
ton as the nature of the proposition. nor whether
or not it was entertained by Mr. Corbin The
latter, when seen after the meeting, said that ne
could not say thing about the proceedings, as
it the request of the committee that moth
ing whatever should be made public regarding
their deliberations. A member of the COM
mittee said their conference with Mr.. Corbin
was entirely satisfactory to them, and that they
would leave the city for their respective homes
this afternoon.
It was learned this evening from a delegate
that the proposition of Mr.. Corbin, whatever 1t
is, will be presented to a meeting of the bust
ness men of Pottsviile. to be called at once. It
was cleaned that the merchants are to under
take to treat in some manner with the strike
leaders with view to coming to under
standing. This is the reason why it was i'm
possible or iudiscreet to divulge the facts of the
conference to- day.
While settlement of the Reading strike has
has lisha
dictate that plans for the termination of the
trouble are now being formulated. 1t is the
general belief that Mr.. Corbn will meet repre-
sentatives of the miners either tomorrow or
Friday.
The Record, for tomorrow, in speaking about
President Corbin's conference with the coal-re
gion business men. will say that it lasted nearly
an hour and half and the ground was fully
gone in that time. Among other mat
tiers brought to the attention OF President
Corbin were the resolutions adopted at q general
meeting of the business of the region,
and which were, in effect. that effort should
be made to bring both SIDES together to arbltrate
the question. member of the committee
stated that President Corbin said he would be
willing to hold a conference with the representa-
tives of the organizations who are out OH strike.
The result of the interview will be brought be-
fore a general meeting of the business men OF
the coal regions to be held to-day Thursday at
Pottsville. 1.-The position OF the company was
put by President Corbin," remarked Chairman
Wharton. sin light. and we were told
things that did not know before. L
think the prospect of settlement of the dlfh-
Guilty is not far off many persons belle
Only one individual collery in the Shenandoah
district is now in operation. The VIM Penn
Coal Company was forced to shut down this
morning. These miners were making as high as
So a day under the basis, while the outside
men were receiving from 81 90 to So per DAY:
The advancing scale of coal prices was expected
to largely increase these rates. The colliery
employs 700 hands An order was issued not to
give the strikers any more credit at the com
paUy's store, and similar action will be taken by
many business There promises to be
coal famine in the heart of the coal field. Dis
content and dissatisfaction is beginning to show
itself on the faces of the men. They are becom-t
ing conscious that by connecting themselves in
the railroad trouble they losing ground IN
their fight. Already there are mutterlngs
of coming storm.
Fifty loaded coal cars is all that passed
through Reading from the coal regions sine
up to a late hour tonight, and there Is
every indication that coal mining in the Schuyi-
kill regions is at perfect standstil. All the
towns and villages in the Schuylkill valley re-
port a great scarcity of coal, almost bordering
a famine.
Subdivision IL, of the Miners National Dis
trict, No 135, at Pottsville, unanimously and
officially decided, to-day, to recognize the rail-
readers troubles and join forces with them. In
order that all concerned could have full partci-
patton in making this decision, the joint com
mittee requested the subdivisions of the thirty
local assemblies in the coal regions to at once
send three representatives, with full power to
act, to meet the joint committee at Pottsvie
this evening, when final and sufficient action
was taken The Reading city executive COM
mittee took similar action. Secretary Bense-
man, in the name OF chairman, John L. Lee,
officially promug gated the strike by which not a
colliery goes into operation as long as the Read
ing company uses non union train hands to ship
the coal. and this has been finally and assuredly
determined upon The terms of such settle
ment are now given out by the labor leaders as
follows:
First-All matter looking toward settlement
ha limit tad to thoi nirfG
Second-The 8-per cent to the miners must
be continued.
Third--All trainmen discharged after the
order was given to return to work to be REIN
stated.
Fourth-An new men put on to take dis
charged mems places must be taken off.
Fifth-AI men discharged for attending labor
meetings TO be reinstated.
Sixth-The trouble at Port Richmond ana
Elizabethport to be arbitrated afterwards.
On Monday evening the Mechanics assembly,
comprising machiniSts carpenters and skilled
workmen employed in and about Pottsvilie by
the Coal and Iron company, decided almost
unanimously that they would not strike under
any conditions, matter who gave the order.
Like action was taken by the skilled mechanics
at Reading city The order strike issued
tonight included however, all laborers, helpers,
yard hands and minor employees at the shops
and every wnere NOT now OUT ms action was
suggested at the general executive board con-
ference, and wnen the strike IS IN force the
leaders are to officially place it before the board
and they 20 place it before Powderly.
Pennsylvania Employees Getting Restless.
PITTsBURG, jan 1.-The officials of the
Pennsylvania have not yet answered the petit
ton of their employees for advance of wages,
and according to the statement of of the
leaders in the movement for higher wages. the
getting restless at the delay.
eve are determined to haye the increase"
said he, "and unless answer is given to us
before next Wednesday a strike extending
the entire system will be inaueurated' He
stated further that 90 per cent. of the en-
ployed by the Pennsylvania members of the
railway labor organizations. and if a strike is
ordered they will all come
At the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Com
pany in this city it was learned that the demands