Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-28
Operatives in Bituminous Coal
Fields May Become Involved.
PRESIDENT MITCHELL'S ACT.
Has Been Watching Soft Coal Fields in Or.
der to Head or ANY Effort to Supply
Anthracite Coal Markets Witt Soft Coal
Archbishop Ryan aud Senator Hanna
concessions Reported to Have Been
Mnde-Mr. Mitchell Talks The Halle.
ton Mining Region Quiet.
tBy Telegraph to virginian-PIlot.>

(By Telegraph to Virgi1ian- Pilot)
Hazieton, Pa. Sept. 27.-President
Mitchell. of the United Mine Workers,
to-day sent telegram to the Central
Pennsylvania bituminous coal fields,
which possibly may have the effect OF
bringing the soft coal mine workers
into the contest which the anthracite
workers are now waging against the
mine owners. The telegram was sent
to Richard Gilbert, secretary of Dis
trict No. 2, Clearfeld. Pa. 1t was as
follows:
Issue circular letters instructing all
mine workers in Central PENNSYLVANIA
that they are not to load coal for ship
ment into markets formerly supplied
by anthracite operators. We are in
formed that the Philadelphia and Read
ing, Delaware and Hudson and the Jer-
sey Central Railroads are now at
tempting to defeat anthracite strike by
sending their cars into Central Penn
Sylvania to have them loaded with BIZ
luminous COAL Please comply with
this request at once.
HAS BEEN WATCHING.
President Mitchell said that he had
been watching the bituminous coal
field closely for just such Il move as he
alleges has been made by the railroads
mentioned in his telegram. and he does
not fear that they will make much of
success In getting the soft coal into
the anthracite market. The miners in
the Central Pennsylvania region. he
continues. are In thorough sympathy
with their fellowworkmen in the east
ern part of the State, and President
Mitchell feels sure that as soon as they
find that the coal they may be loading
or asked to load is TO take the place of
hard coal they will refuse to handle ii.
WHAT LABOR LEADERS THINK.
Labor leaders do not anticipate any
suspension of work in the soft coal
fields unless the operators insist upon
sending their coal to the anthracite
market. They also say that the Phia-
delphia and Reading, Delaware and
Hudson and Jersey Central Railroads
being unable to I'll their contracts for
hard coal are prevailing upon their Gus
toners to accept the soft coal wherever
1t can be used as a substitute.
Considerable Interest is being mani
tested as to the effect of President
Mitchell's action in attempting 40 de-
feat the alleged move of the coal car
rying roads.
A DAY OF RUMORS.
This was a day of rumors. Around
strike headquarters there were stories
in circulation that Archbishop Ryan
and Senator Hanna were coming here
to see President Mitchell; that all the
coal carrying roads had agreed to ar
bitrate all differences. and that the
strike had been settled. The last men
the labor leaders paid any attention
to, and in connection with it they sent
Il telegram to the presidents of the
union in the three districts comprising
the entire anthracite coal fields of
Pennsylvania. The telegram is as fol-
lows:
CONCESSIONS REPORTED.
Report is current that operators
haze nadn--cnncasSinns-IIa ga si&t+e1
and will attempt to induce mine work
ers to resume work. Please advise all
miners in your district that no at
tention should be given TO these re-
ports, and that they will be officially
notified should any offer of settlement
be made. Under no consideration
whatever should work be resumed UNI
less authorized by a convention repre-
senting all mine workers in the an
thracite field. II is vitality important
that all miners stand firm and de-
termined, and not be deceived by those
whose interest it is to defeat the pur-
pose for which the strike was inau-
gurated."
MIR. MITCHELL TALKS.
In speaking about the rumors of a
settlement Mr.. Mitchell said the strike
could not be ended without him know
ing 1t, and that he had no knowledge
OF any effort that might now be in
progress which would lead to an i'm
mediate settlement. Mr.. Mitchell's at
lelllOH was Cttileu W u blspbttH III
which ]. p. Morgan is credited with
saying that he (NlitcheiD would accept
n ten per cent. advance. Mr.. Mitchell
said:
1T is absolutely untrue. I am not
empowered to accept anything less
than what the miners in convention
decided to ask for. Anything under
those demands must be acted upon by
n regular convention of delegates rep
resenting the anthracite Miners
Mr.. Mitchell also denied having any
knowledge of the opening of negotia-
tions mentioned by President Trues-
dale. of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western railroad. He does not know
who the third person is that Mr. Trues-
dale speaks of and says he has not
been approached in any way.
THE REGION QUIET.
The entire Hazleton region was quiet
to-day, and the only noticeable change
in the strike situation was at the col
lieries OF G.. B. Markle & Co, AS pre-
dicted by the strike leaders yesterday,
there was a considerable reduction in
the forces working at the various col
lieries operated by this firm.
Treasurer Wilson, of the United
Mine Workers. arrived to-day from In
dianapolis. He said nothing definite
has yet been done with regard to the
payment of benefits to the striking
men. The question, he said will pro-
badly be settled within the next few
days,
An Ehtfnr attlfaA