New-York tribune., 1900-09-22
ARBITRATION IDEAS SECUTED
LEADERs-sCHoOLs WILL HAVE
TO CLOSE.
rpr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1Brxr,I


Wilkesbarre Sept 21-The operators of
the Lehigh Valley the Lehigh and Wilkes
barre. Delaware Lackawanna and Western.
Delaware and Hudson and Susquehanna Coal
companies whose headquarters in this city,
have not been approached with any proposals
of arbitration. despite persistent rumors to that
effect. and if they offered any opportunity
to arbitrate they will refuse. They said to-day
that such plan absurd. that It might cost
them millions Of dollars, while the miners had
nothing 10 lose. and that nothing further
from their thoughts than 10 allow the questions
in dispute TO be settled by anybody but them
selves
They criticise the strike leaders for putting
the idea in the heads of their men that such
thing is possible and say the leaders came here
from the soft coal fields with the opinion that
the conditions were virtually the same and
they could the methods in adjusting
the differences. They want it understood thor
oughly that they not only have not considered
arbitration as course toward a settlement. but
will not. The operators report generally for the
whole region that they we'll satisfied With
the conditions under the circumstances, and
say that the situa ton to-day showed not much
loss or gain for either side.
A VICTORY FOR THE STRIKERS.
The strikers in this district are gaining
notable victory at the West End mine at Moca-
naqua, and they hope to be able to shut 1t down
/ tomorrow. Although the mine worked steadily
during the first days of the strike ana the union
! organizers were unable to make any impression
/ on the men. they kept at the work and made
! their first gain Wednesday, when they got
ten men to quit work Yesterday this number
! was increased 10 sixty. and last night and this
! morning the union men managed to get 100
| more to Join their ranks They say that the
number of strikers will be increased to $50 to-
morrow. and that they will he able to close
! down the mine.
The operators kept the works going to-day. but
! fear tomorrow will finish their opera tions. This
| will put end the coal production in this
! upper coal field except at a mine which is about
10 be opened under peculiar conditions. 1t is a
| small place with the coal in drift not more
/ than ten feet from the surface and easily mined
| It is owned by ex-SheriT James Martin. who
commanded the deputies at Lattimer when the
marching strikers were shot down three years
! ago. That he should be about TO supply coal
now. when many Of the strikers whom his
deputies fired strike again is an interest
! ing coincidence. II is doubtful too how the
strikers here will receive his plan. The ex-
! Sheriff says he is ready to supply coal 10 any
one in this vicinity. He is willing to pay the
wages demanded. and because of MAT fact hopes
70 be allowed TO conduct his operations without
interruption lie will pay day wages and fur
nish the powder and other materials The
| breaker is not Yet completed and necessarily the
coal cannot be prepared, but will be delivered as
lump coal and mixed sizes--a condition that
would he acceptable IL a coal famine is precipi-
tated by q prolonged strike. The conditions are
such now that number of people out OF
coal and cannot get any one TO deliver IT.
SHERIFF POPULAR WITH THE MINERS
Sheriff James G. Harvey communicated TO-DAY
by telephone with his once In this city stating
that he is wellnigh exhausted from loss Of sleep
He said: Il have been foot most OF the time
since Monday night and day going from on;
point 10 another, wherever my services ar,
needed. The situation. instead of improving /.