Evening journal., 1900-10-19
May be Necessary to Call
Another Convention
PRESIDENT MITCHELL RETICENT
Saws lie will Not Discuss the Matter
Until lie Gives II Careful
Consideration

Scranton. Pa, Oct. 9.-Representa-
tives Of nearly all the big coal COM
panies Of the region conferred here yes
terday and made an agreement to
amend the notices already posted by
attaching the following: I'm further
explanation of the above notice. this
company desires TO say that it is its
intention to pay the advance in wages
above noted until April /, 1901, and
thereafter until further notice.
The following statement was issued
to the press:
"The representatives of the larger
coal COMPANIES, after their meeting,
stated in reply to inquiries that they
had offered their men a 10 per cent
advance, as indicated by the notices
they had posted, that this notice
specifically stated that the reduction Of
powder from S2.75 to S1.50 would be
considered in arriving at the wages Of
their contract miners. 1t was expected
when the notices were posted that the
offer was to stand until April 1. and in
definitely thereafter, but inasmuch as
there seems to be some misunderstand-
ing in the matter, they have agreed to
add to their notice a clause to the erect
that It is their intention to pay the ad-
vance in wages until April /, 1901, and
thereafter until further notice"
National President Mitchell, District
President 7. d. Nichols, District Secre-
tary John T. Dempsey and National
Organizer Fred Dilcher, of the United
Mine Workers, have all been quoted as
saying that the resolutions Of the
Scranton convention contemplated
straight advance of ten per cent for al
parts of the region, and that the matter
of having this increase made up in part
by a decrease in the cost of powder in
these upper regions, where powder Is
sold for S2.75 a keg, was not to be
agreed to. The powder question, they
one and all said, was left out Of thi
present negotiations, with the under
standing that it should form one Of th'
grievances to be adjusted in the con
ference which the offer says the oper
ators agree to have with their men t'
take up any grievances they ma!
have"
President Mitchell when informed
by telephone Of the action of the oper
ators. stated that he would have Il
decline to discuss its probable effec
in regarding a settlement until he ha'
given the matter careful consideration
He would not say whether or not i
would be possible to deal with tn
difficulty without calling another con
vention.
President Nichols, whose whole dis
trict is affected by the powder ques
ton, said that it looked to him as
another convention was necessary. "
do not know that the delegates vii
consent to waving their demand for
straight increase and allowing the sub
stitution of this clause about powde
which the operators are so insisten
about" said he. But without thei
consent l do not see how the matte
can be adjusted. To me it looks lik
a prolongation Of the fight"
The Gibbons Coal company's drift
which supplies fuel for the city schools
started up yesterday morning ful
handed with the approval of the Uni
ted Mine Workers. 1t is understoo
that the company shall mine only sui
ficient coal to fill its contract with tn
school district. The men are to receiy
the straight 10 per cent advance Fl
ty hands are employed.