The age-herald., 1900-09-20
Say That the Reports Are En-
 Couraging.
MORE MEN JOIN THE RANKS
Meeting at Jeddo One of Most Remark able Ever Held in the State-Prop- osition to Arbitrate Turned
 Down by the Miners.

1dzletOit, Ed, oeptSHnpeI 1hC eaii VI day of the strike passed off as quietly as the two preceding days. Beyond the oc- casonal stoning of mine worker going to or from his work, there has been no dis order. It was estimated tonight that about 70 per cent of the mine workers of this re- zion were idle today, which is quite an increase over yesterdays figures.
 The operators claim that the workmen who are still going to the mines are being intimidated and even threatened with seri- ous bodily harm if they do not quit work.
 The meeting this afternoon at Jeddo o1 the employees of G. B. Markle & Co.,, who operate the Jeddo, Ebbervale, Highland and Oakdale collieries, proved to be probably the most remarkable gathering of its kino ever held in the anthracite regions. It was expected to be heart-to-heart talk be- tween John Markle, managing partner oi the firm and his employees, now numbering 25GO but 1t developed into joint debate, in which MT. Markle, President Mitchell, Rev Father Phillips and National Com mitteeman Benjamin James took part. It began in oignlfled manner, but gradually degraded into impaslsoned argument and wound up very close to personalities.
 A miner in the crowd moved that the UtH III tuc Seilhc. <A Nifd vote was called and a great roar of yes came forth.
 President Mitchell said he regretted that the men of the Markle mines were divided, but was glad that those who opposed the strike were in the minority. He said the eyes of 1SS, 900 miners were looking towards them, and if they all stopped work the victory would be won John Markle was unable to speak for awhile because of in- terruptions by many in the crowd. Several of the United Mine Workers officials at tempted to get the crowd to disperse and not to listen to MT. Markle. The latter, however, won over the gathering. He told them the company stood ready to arbitrate any difficulties with the men and proposed that the company select one arbitrator and the men choose one; if the two fail to agree that these men could invite a third man to settle matters between them. He said that he would abide by the decis- ion of the arbitrators no matter what the award might be. MT. Markle closed his address by paying his respects to the United Mine Workers officials, calling them agitators and charging them with being responsible for all the turmoil in the region. Mir Mitchell then got on the steps and standing beside MT. Markle told the crowd that the United Mine Workers could not accept arbitration on that basis It must be the whole region and not a part of it.
 MT. Markle again addressed the men, and reiterated what he said last Sunday-that he would accept Archbishop Ryan of Phil adelphia as an arbitrator. Then MT. Mitch ell replied that he would accept the arch bishop on the basis that the United Mine Workers proposed-arbitration for the whole region at one and the same time. At this point Father Phillips, who in the crowd, was called upon, and delivered a speech favoring arbitration. He told the men there was a chance to arbitrate their honest differences and If they did not st ze the opportunity they would be giving or ganized labor the hardest blow 1t has ever been dealt, and that all the men who re- fused the offer deserved all the hardships that the operators could put upon them in a hundred years. The meeting lasted two hours, breaking up at twilight.
 The strike leaders claim that as a result of the meeting the Markle mine will be closed tomorrow, while the firm claims that the meeting was packed and that their mines will operate tomorrow as usual. The Reading Company Is getting ready to reap the harvest due to the tie-up of the other coal districts. Nearly all its collieries in the Schuyikill region have been working three-quarters time, and henceforth all the mines will be operated to their full capac- ity. Even with this extra output the com- pany cannot supply the demand, and 1t traordinary orders could not be filled. Meanwhile, reports are coming from all parts of the country of large increase in the price of coal to consumers to keep the orders down.