The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-03
THE STRIKING
COAL MINERS
STAND FIRM.
Tho Great Demonstration Yesterday
ut Wilkesbarre Participated
in by $4,000.
THE TENPER.CENT CONCESSION
By the Operators Apparently Has
Not Weakened the Minersia
Their Big Fight.

--l-Lt
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. mo break
has yet occurred In the ranks OF the
striking mine workers. though addI-
tlonal notices OF the offer of an increase
OF 10 per cent In wages were posted
throughout the region. In fact there
were many Indications to-day Of an in-
tent on the part OF the strikers to In
slst on other concessions and to also re-
main out until the operators give recog-
milton to their national organization.
The feature Of the day was the parade
and mass meeting OF mine workers at
Wilkesbarre with the object OF demon
stratlng the strength OF the United Mine
Workers. a conservative estimate
places the number of strikers In thu
procession ut 1900 and the day was
generally given up as holiday by the
people OF Wilkesbarre and other Lu-
Zerne county towns.
The mass meeting was addressed by
President Mitchell and other officers OF
the miners organization. President
Mitchell. In his speech, congratulated
the strikers on having already received
q proffer OF 10 per cent increase In
wages. He said their cause had been
recognized everywhere as u righteous
one and the time was not far distant
when they would receive proper COM
pensation for their labor. He advised
them to stand firmly together. He said
the strike shall not be ended by him,
and could only be closed when con-
Hention of miners acts.
1t Is estimated that there were fully
$4,000 men and boys In line. The boys
constituted the working force in the
beakers. They were only a small part
OF the procession. The great bulk OF
the paraders were made OF stalwart
men. AS a rule they were oil well dress
cd and some OF them might be taken
for 4 body OF we'll fed farmers. They
walked six, five and four abreast. The
/. music was furnished by about forty
bands of music and drum corps.
There were many banners Of various
designs carried by the men.
The parade passed over the principal
streets OF the city and thousands OF
people lined the sidewalks. Here and
there an enthusiastic admirer Of Presf-
dent Mitchell would break through the
lines and insist on shaking hands with
him. One of the features OF the big
procession was n brass band from Nam
ticoke. the members Of which were
dressed In overaIls. They played excel
lent music. The Pittston locals had
float with four men representing coal
barons. They were dressed accordingly
and were busy drinking champagne.
Directly following was L float with dust
begrlmed miners dining on bread and
water. A stretcher was carried con-
tanning n dummy, representing miner
who had just lost his lie in the Mines
while in the discharge OF his duty.
When President Mitchell reviewed the
great army Of marchers on the rive-
common. he seemed TO be very proud
man. He was generously applauded by
the marchers. Business was at u stand
still In the city all afternoon.
It was after 4 o'clock when the last
OF the marchers swept past President
Mitchell. Then he and his colleagues
were driven to West Side Park, where
the big mass meeting was held, For
several hours crowd had been gathcr-
cd there, and It was estimated that
nearly 10000 persons, were massed In
front of the stand, when the labor pres
ident began 10 speak. The reception he
received frvm the vast crowd was u
most enthusiastic one.
Mr.. Mitchell was expected to Indicate
In his speech his view on the 10 per cent
increase conceded by the operators. but
beyond noting 1t as victory he had
nothing 10 say on that point.
Neither did he intimate anything as
to the probability of an early conven-
tlon OF miners, and after the meeting,
when questioned on that subject. he
said that not a local mine had request
ed the calling OF n convention.
a significant move. In this direction.
however. developed tonight at shenan-
donh. where all the local branches OF
the United Mine Workers held meetings
and selected delegates to n convention
to be called later by. President Mitchell.
This is the first announcement OF the
selection OF convention delegates.
The entire region was quiet to-day
,rd vary foy ,,Ip,s v,r. in nnnro tI,p