New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-15
WHAT OPERATORS SAY.
THEY WILL TREAT WITH THEIR OWN
MEN, But REFUSE TO RECOG-
NIZE THE UNION.

wilkesbarre PENN Oct "A (Special).-Operators
who were interviewed to-day and asked what are
the prospects of the anthracite strike being set
tied said the men return to work again as soon
as they accept the offer of the companies TO in
crease their wages 10 per cent. Officially they 90
not know of any oyertures by the strikers for a
settlement any other basis. They have READ
of the action Of the convention at Scranton yes
tsrdsv but it was q convention Of United Mine
workers and they do not and will not recognize
the union.
Their first official knowledge of any proposals
by the strikers will be when the of each COM
pany represented by committee, call on the of11-
Gals of the company and declare the men have
agreed TO go back work if the operators will
grant their requests and then they will submit the
resolution OF the convention as their proposal Tor
q settlement This is the only way in which the
operators Will receive any communication from
the men These will probably be made tomorrow,
and the operators will return the answer that the
men either accept or refuse their oher OF 10
per cent as it was made ON October and after
ward, and it has remained since unchanged.
Several Of the companies have made no offer
Of any increase, and what answer they will return
is doubtful. The proposal of their employees VIII
have TO be differently worded from that of the
others as it will bind the to return to work
providing the operators gPeRt what the convention
specified High in mining circles the end of the
strike is expected for some time and then only
by the giving in. The operators will stand
by their first offer. and say they will not increase
Company said:
The operators will not agree to continue the
payment of the &c per cent Increase for any fixed
time The other demand-aboishing the slid
ing seaIe-docs not apply 10 this region, although
the Lehigh Valley Company has some coluerles IN
the Leigh ana Schuylkin region which pay by
that system. Here the men are paid by the car
of the operators. and it is impossible to say what
the operators would not object greatly to trying
m rbf frafi IN ne
posed to it, and will refuse 1T in any form, They
aIe T bn heg lave swaJs BEEN and this is no
change. Afarkles experience with arbitration, they
Il is alfogether one sided Despite the fact that
each Of Msrhes tT9ntyye t hundred employees
grievances they had they al went on strike at
bitration. The operators declare agreement to
arbitrate would be binding 10 one side only that
h,d SnI ne say wond he for tbe men to scb
place a certain in the hands of a third party
a guarantee to keeping the contract. If the
convention, the strike is apparently far from an
ending. The final proposition that no men should
return TO work until all the operators accept the
proposition. and then all return to work in body
and by many who are impartial judges of the situa-
tion as impossible. Even if of the operators
The offer Of 10 per cent Increase is not uaan-
nous and acceptance Of the proposition could
her6 he expected o
The operators say that if work was resumed by
1 tA on Ge pack PACK to P %o fe"s Re
offer has been made to only that many. and it
operators would be forced into line and make
similar OFFER. Some surprise manifested at
the proposition Of the strikers TO have the oper-
atoTs promise keep the 10 per cent increase in
force until April l. 1901 only. It expected they
would specify q year But this is explained by
the fact that the bituminous scale expires April
next This effort have the operators released
from the contract they asked sign at the
same time the bituminous yearly scale ends por-
tends in some quarters a general strike of hard
and soft coal miners for large increase in wages
and a bettermenu Of conditions The almost COM
plete organization IN both districts makes this
possible, and it IS expected by a great many, in
GLIDING some Of the leading operators.
WHAT SENATOR HANNA SAID OF STRIKE.
chtcacn 0cttun4 nnltical rnantirr lnst ,irl.t