Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-10-08

Philadelphia, Oct. 1.-The mine
operators of the Wyoming, Lackawan-
ma and Lehigh regions yesterday at
meeting at Wilkesbarre followed the
action of the Reading company in Of
fering an increase of 10 per cent. in
wages to the mine workers. They
furthermore decided to reduce the
charge for powder from $2.75 to $3.50
per keg. The latter price prevailed at
the Reading company's mines for
long time. The action of the Wilkes
barre meeting means an increase OF
~ per cent. to all mine workers ex-
cept miners. The latter will earn an
increase of about 10 per cent by rea-
son of the reduced cost of powder.
The meeting was attended by repre-
sentatives of all the leading railroad
companies which own mines IN the
regions named. Some independent op-
orators opposed the proposed increase,
unless the coal carrying companies
should reduce the tolls on their prod
uct to tidewater.
The strikers, however, show no in
dication of accepting the offer. None
returned to work yesterday at the
Reading company's collieries in re-
Spouse to the notice of higher wages,
and in fact many who had been at
work there quit and Joined the ranks
of strikers. AS a result there were
fewer collieries in operation yester-
day in the Schuylkill region than at
any time since the strike
began. In other regions there
were also additions to the strik-
ers' forces. Notices Of the increase
in pay were posted throughout the en-
tire anthracite region last night, but
the opinion is general that few il any
strikers will return to work. The
strikers say they have other gr1ev-
ances to be adjusted besides wages
and powder charges, and, further, they
want recognition of their union. Pres
ident Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers will visit Wilkesbarre today
to address a mass meeting and review
a parade of miners.
At the United Mine Workers head
quarters this statement was given out:
what we want is: Ia better en-
forcement of existing mine laws. 2
To obtain that which is fully our own,
i. e. the value of the labor actually
performed and hitherto taken from us.
3-To obtain the right to purchase the
implements of labor at fair market
value and escape from the compulsory
rule which forces us to pay the opera
tors more than twice what the same
materials can be purchased for at re-
tail in the open market. ITO allow
a readjustment Of the wage scale that
will more nearly conform to the condi-
tions of the anthracite trade and es-
tablish as nearly as practicable uni
form price for each class of work in
and around the mines." The strikers
say that unless these concessions are
granted and the union recognized, they
will not return to work.
Strikers Are Obdurate.
Hazleton, Oct. 2.-Although labor
leaders positively said they were
pleased to learn that 10 per cent.
advance had been granted by the Phil
adelphia & Reading Coal and Iron
company, it was totally ignored by the
striking mineworkers yesterday. 1t
was predicted that many strikers
would return to work under the belief
that the 10 per cent increase would
be the limit of the operators conces-
sions, but the unanimity of the men
in deciding to stand out for further
advance caused much surprise. 1t was
expected in some quarters yesterday
would bring the turning point in the
strike, but nothing came to the sur
face that would lead to any indica-
ton the strike was nearing an end.
Since the operators began to hold
conferences President Mitchell is re-
ceiving more information than for
merly and giving out less. There is
still lack of anything tangible on
which to base report Of immediate
settlement. Several hundred men
quit work at the Calvin Pardee
mines and at Latimer as result of
persuasion on the part of 400 march
ing strikers, and at Oneida and Gran
berry the coal companies lost addi-
tional men. No collieries closed down
in this region yesterday.