Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-15
DEMAND MORE.
Miners Accept Operators
Proposition With Conditions.
Advance Must Be Paid Until April and
Sliding Scale Abolished.
Growing Belief That Greater Difficulties Than
Ever Will Now Result

Scranton, Pa, Oct. 14-The authra-
cite coal miners now on strike after
two days convention. late Saturday af-
ternoon decided to accept the 10 per
cent. net increase in wages offered by
the mine owners, provided they will
continue the payment of the advance
until next April and will abolish the
sliding scale. If the operators consider
the proposition unacceptable the min
ers are willing to arbitrate the ques-
tons at issue. They also decided TO
continue the strike until the operators
agree 10 the conventions proposal The
resolution is as follows:
We. your committee. respectfully
submit the following preamble and res
olutions for your consideration:
Whereas, the anthracite coal opera
tors have posted notices Offering an
advance Of 10 per cent over wages for
merry paid. and have signified their
willingness TO adjust other grievances
with their own employees; and.
Whereas. They have failed To spec
ify the length of time this advance
would remain in force. and have also
failed 70 abolish the sliding scale meth
cd of determining the wages We would
recommend
THAT this convention accept an adj
vance Of 10 ner cent. provided the op-
orators vii! continue its payment I'M
til April /. 1901, and will abolish the
sliding scale in the Lehigh and Schuyl-
kill regions: the scale Of wages in the
AZ in
stationary at 10 per cent above the
present basis price: and that the COM
panies will agree 10 adjust other sriev-
ances complained of with committees
of their own employees.
Should this proposition he unac-
ceptable to the operators We recon-
mend that the convention propose that
all questions at issue be submitted to
a fair and impartial board Of arbitra-
ton
we would further recommend that
under no circumstances whatever
should there be q resumption Of work
at any Of the collieries until the oper-
ators signify their acceptance Of this
proposition. and you are notified Off
cially that the strike is ended and all
return 40 work in q body on the same
day"
Judging by the unanimity Of the
miners in accepting the above resolu-
ton. and by the determined stand TAX
on by the operators. il is generally be
lieVed that a long contest between the
strikers and mine owners is not I'M
likely There was great enthusiasm in
the convention when the counter pro-
80. 4
ana three cheers We're given for Presi-
dent Mitchell The resolutions were
drafted by a committee Of IS, appoint
ed at the morning session, Of which
the national president was chairman.
Mr.. Mitchell in an interview with 4
representative of The Associated Press
on the outcome Of the convention. said:
The action Of the delegates in CON
vention. Saturday. in accepting an ad-
vance Of 10 per cent. provided they re-
ceive assurances the advance will con-
tinue in force until April !. next year
demonstra tes that the miners are con-
siderate of the public interest involved
and are disposed 10 be conciliatory.
and yet the mine owners refuse to join
hands with the miners in bringing the
strike TO a close.
The responsibility for the suffering
that will entail on the poor in the
large Eastern cities will rest entirely
with the operators. The operators
have now an opportunity to prove that
The proposition offered by them was
made in good faith. If they are will
ing to pay 10 per cent. advance they
certainly ought to continue to pay for
six months. The mine workers will
all remain on strike until they are Of
ficially notified by the officers Of the
union that the strike is declared at an
end There will be no exception to this
rule. | cannot understand any good
rea son why the operators should not
accept the conditions named in the
miners resolutions. /, Of course. hope
that there Will be a speedy tcrmina-
ton of this contest, and | believe that
in the futrre the operators will be dis
posed TO treat with more considerat ton
their employees than they have in the
past
Il am entirely satisfied with the ac
ton taken by the miners. They dill
not decide the question with a view of
pleasing me. but took The step because
it satisfied them. Ii was in their hands
and they showed an extraordinary
spirit OF fairness
When Mr.. Mitchell was asked in
what manner the operators would be
notified. in view that they do not rec
ognize the United Mine Workers. he
said the employers would probably find
it out through the newspapers.
We gathered most of our informa-
ton as to what the operators are do
ing" he said from the newspapers.
CONTINUED on page 80