Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-11-02
60 BACK TO WORK.
Order Issued by Mine Workers
Officials.
The Strike In tho Anthracite Coal
Fields Is Declared or at All NHine.
where the Owners Agree 20
Pay N 10 Per Cent. Adj
vance In Wages.

ing statement was given out for pub
bcation last night by President
Mitchell, of the United Mine Work.
ers:
ITO the Miners and Mine Workers
of the Anthracite Region: Gentle
men: After carefully canvassing the
strike situation we, your officers
district and national--have concluded
that your victory is so nearly COM
plete that no good end can be served
by continuing the strike longer. The
contest has been in progress for 80
days and the companies employing
you have, with few exceptions, signi-
ned their willingness to pay the scule
OF wages formulated by the Scrant ton
convention of October 12 and 10.
we are aware that some disap-
pointment has been caused by the
failure of the operators in Districts
1 and TO separate the reduction in
the price of powder from the advance
In wages. but after careful inquiry
we are satisfied chat each mine en-
ploye will actually receive an advance
of 10 per cent. OH the wages formerly
paid. In the Schuylkill and Lehigh
regions the largest companies have
agreed that the sliding scale should
be suspended, and that wages should
remain stationary at 10 per cent. un-
tll April ], 1901, thus removing one of
the iniquities of which you have COM
planned for many years.
while it is true that you have not
secured redress for all your wrongs;
while It is true that the increase in
your earnings will not fully compen-
safe you for the arduous labor YOU
are compelled TO perform in the
mines. you have established power
full organization which, if maintained
and conducted on business principles,
will enable you to regulate many of
your local grievances and make your
employment less hazardous and more
profitable than before the strike be-
gan.
THE companies agree. in their no.
tices, to take up with their mine en-
ployes all grievances complained of.
We would therefore advise that when
work is resumed, committees be Sc
iected by the mine employees and that
they wait upon the superintendents
of the companies and present their
grievances in an orderly, business-lilte
manner and ask that they be cor
rected.
Your attention is called to the
fact that the laws of PENNSYLVANIA
provide that miners should be paid
semi-monthly upon demand; we there
fore advise that each mine employe
serve notice on the companies that
he expects to be paid his wages twice
each month, as provided by law.
"The practical benefits to the mi
ners which accrue from thorough or
ganization have been SO clearly dem
onstrated during this strike that it
should he needless for us to urge
upon you the necessity of maintain
ing your union intact. We trust,
however, that those who are now
members of the union will be unceas-
ing in their efforts to induce all other
mine workers to ally themselves with
the United Mine Workers of America
at once, as it will be impossible for
you to secure higher wages in the
future, or even to maintain the pres
ent rate of wages, unless YOU are
prepared to offer a united resistance
If any attempt is made to reduce
your earnings upon the expiration of
the present offer.
"As there are some few companies
who have neither posted, notified nor
signified in any other manner their
Willingness to pay the 10 per cent
advance in wages and suspend the
sliding scale, we would advise that
unless the men employed by such
m nj.
day that the advance will be paid.
they remain away from the mines
and continue on strike until the COM
panies employing them agree to the
conditions offered by the other COM
panies, and the employees of the COM
panies who have offered the advance
of 10 per cent. and abolished the slid
ing scale are hereby authorized to
resume work Monday morning, Octo-
ber 20. and to be prepared, if called
upon, to contribute a reasonable por-
toin of your earnings for the mainte-
nance of those who may be compelled
to continue on strike"
There was much rejoicing here
when the announcement was made
that the coal strike was at an end
insofar as was concerned the collier
les where the conditions demanded
by the miners had been complied
with. The news spread rapidly and
soon telegrams began to arrive at
headquarters.
The United Mine Workers officials
believe that all the operators against
whom the strike has not been declar-
ed off will concede the miners de-
mands by Monday. In fact it was
said by one of the higher officials of
the union that the statement was not
drawn up until positive assurances
had been received that the other com
panies would comply with demands.
No assurance, however, was receiv-
cd, as far as could be learned, from
G. b. Markle & Co., which is the only
company that has not offered an in
crease of wages.
A Series OF Explosions.
Washington, Oct. ga series of